βαστάζω

I carry, carry away, bear

Definition

The verb βαστάζω primarily means 'to carry' or 'to bear,' covering both physical and metaphorical senses. In its literal sense, it refers to carrying physical objects, such as a water jar (Mark 14:13) or a burden (Luke 11:27). Metaphorically, it describes bearing responsibilities, hardships, or even spiritual realities, such as carrying one's own cross (Luke 14:27) or bearing the sins of others, as in Matthew 8:17 where Jesus 'bore our diseases.' In some contexts, it can imply 'to carry away' or 'remove,' as in John 20:15 where Mary supposes someone has 'taken away' the Lord's body.

Biblical Usage

βαστάζω appears 27 times across the Gospels, Acts, and Epistles, with notable concentration in Luke's writings. It is used in diverse contexts: for ordinary tasks (carrying a pitcher, Luke 22:10), for bearing burdens or suffering (Galatians 6:2, 5), for enduring hardship (Revelation 2:3), and for the theological concept of bearing sin or guilt (John 1:29; Romans 15:1). A pattern emerges where the literal act of carrying often illustrates a deeper spiritual principle, such as discipleship or atonement.

Etymology

The origin of βαστάζω is uncertain but likely from a pre-Greek or Eastern Mediterranean substrate. It is not derived from a clear Indo-European root. In Koine Greek, it became a common verb for carrying, with possible cognates or related forms in other languages of the region, though these are debated. Its meaning remained stable from classical through Koine Greek, encompassing both physical bearing and the extended sense of enduring or sustaining.

Semantic Range

βαστάζω is theologically significant, especially in passages about atonement and discipleship. In John 1:29, John the Baptist declares Jesus as 'the Lamb of God who takes away [βαστάζω] the sin of the world,' linking to sacrificial bearing of sin. In Matthew 8:17, it connects Jesus' healing ministry with Isaiah's prophecy of bearing infirmities, highlighting his substitutionary role. For believers, it underscores the call to 'bear one another's burdens' (Galatians 6:2) and to 'bear' one's cross in following Christ (Luke 14:27), emphasizing both communal responsibility and personal commitment.

In the first-century Mediterranean world, carrying burdens was a daily reality, often done by hand, on the shoulder, or with simple tools. The act of 'bearing a cross' (Luke 14:27) would have evoked the brutal image of condemned criminals carrying the horizontal beam (patibulum) to their execution site, making Jesus' metaphor shockingly vivid about the cost of discipleship. Understanding this cultural backdrop deepens the word's impact, contrasting with modern, often sanitized interpretations of 'bearing' difficulties.

φέρω (pherō, G5342) — Often interchangeable for 'carry' or 'bring,' but φέρω can emphasize bringing to a destination or producing something (e.g., fruit). αἴρω (airō, G142) — Means 'to lift up, take up, or take away,' sometimes overlapping in the sense of removal (e.g., John 1:29 uses βαστάζω, but αἴρω is also used for 'take away' sin in 1 John 3:5). ἀναφέρω (anapherō, G399) — Specifically 'to bear up' or 'offer up,' used for sacrifices or bearing sins to God (Hebrews 9:28).

Word Details

Scripture References