BURDEN is represented by several Heb. terms and by a greater variety of Gr. words. The most important are as follows:

1. מַשָּׂא֒, H5362, tr. mostly by these terms in the LXX: φορτίον, G5845, (also various verbal forms), designating something being carried (Exod 23:5; 2 Kings 5:17; 8:9; Jer 17:21, etc.), or, more fig., an emotional problem (Job 7:20); a spiritual problem or concern (Num 11:11, 17; Deut 1:12; 2 Sam 15:33; etc.), a religious duty (Num 4:27; etc.), a social obligation (2 Sam 19:35), a legal obligation (2 Chron 17:11; Neh 10:31); ῥῆμα, G4839, or λῆμμα, either of which denote an oracle delivered by a prophet. A few examples are found in Proverbs 30:1; 31:1; Isaiah 13:1; 15:1; 17:1, etc.; Ezekiel 12:10; Hosea 8:10; Nahum 1:1; etc. Usually these oracles are pronouncements of judgment. Cognates of the Heb. word, i.e. מַשָּׂאָה, H5366, מַשְׂאﯴת, H5367, have mostly the meaning of something lifted up, but in KJV is sometimes rendered as “burden” (Isa 30:27; Lam 2:14; Amos 5:11; Zeph 3:18).

2. סָבַל, H6022, pointed variously as sabbal, sēbel, sōbel, sebalah; the first a verb and the last three nouns. In the LXX they are usually paraphrased or transformed into verbal constructions. The Heb. nouns normally denote loads which are carried (Exod 1:11; 2:11; 5:4, 5; 6:6, 7; 1 Kings 5:15; 2 Chron 2:2, 18; 34:13; Ps 81:6), as symbol of captivity (Isa 9:4; 10:27; 14:25). The Heb. verb has a pronounced spiritual overtone, for that which is carried as a burden is sorrow or iniquity (Isa 46:4; 53:4, 11).

3. עָמַס, H6673, and cognate מַעֲמָסָה, H5098. There seems to be no exact equivalent in the LXX for these words. Basically these words refer to the act of carrying a load and the KJV tr. both as “burden” in Zechariah 12:3. In the NT six verbs have the concept of “burden.” Βάρος, denoting labor (Matt 20:12), or a spiritual load (Acts 15:28; Gal 6:5; Rev 2:24); γόμος, G1203, representing a ship’s cargo (Acts 21:3); φορτίον, G5845, as spiritual burdens (Matt 11:30; 23:4; Luke 11:46; Gal 6:5); καταβαρέω, G2851, as religious duty (2 Cor 12:16); θλῖψις, G2568, denoting a spiritual sense (8:13); and βαρούμενοι with a similar meaning.