βαρέω
I weight, load, burden
Definition
The verb βαρέω means 'to weigh down,' 'to burden,' or 'to oppress.' It is used both literally, to describe physical heaviness like sleep (Luke 9:32), and metaphorically, to describe emotional or circumstantial burdens. In 2 Corinthians 1:8, Paul speaks of being 'burdened beyond measure' by affliction in Asia, while in 2 Corinthians 5:4, he uses it for the mortal body's burden. In a social context, it refers to not burdening others financially (1 Timothy 5:16).
Biblical Usage
βαρέω appears six times in the New Testament across Gospels and Epistles. In the Gospels, it describes the disciples' eyes being 'weighed down' with sleep (Matthew 26:43; Mark 14:40; Luke 9:32). In Paul's letters, it conveys metaphorical burdens: overwhelming trouble (2 Corinthians 1:8), the weight of mortality (2 Corinthians 5:4), and the financial burden a believer should not place on the church (1 Timothy 5:16).
Etymology
Derived from the adjective βαρύς (barys, G926), meaning 'heavy' or 'weighty.' The verb form carries the sense of making something heavy or imposing a load. Cognates include βάρος (baros, G922), meaning 'weight' or 'burden,' showing a family of words centered on the concept of heaviness.
Semantic Range
This word enriches understanding of human experience and Christian responsibility. It depicts the human condition under sin and suffering—the 'burden' of mortality (2 Corinthians 5:4) and affliction (2 Corinthians 1:8). It also informs ecclesiology, teaching that believers should manage their households to avoid burdening the church (1 Timothy 5:16), emphasizing communal stewardship and self-sufficiency.
In the ancient world, burdens were often physical—carrying loads or labor. The metaphorical use for sleep (heavy eyelids) was common. The instruction in 1 Timothy 5:16 reflects cultural expectations of family responsibility, where the primary care for widows fell to relatives, not the community, to preserve church resources.
φορτίζω (phortizō, G5412) — to load like a ship or beast, often with a duty or obligation; βάρος (baros, G922) — the noun for 'weight' or 'burden,' often moral or spiritual; καταβαρέω (katabareō, G2599) — to weigh down heavily, an intensive form.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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