βάρος (baros)
baros
burden
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun baros denotes a weight or burden, carrying both literal and metaphorical senses in Scripture. In its physical sense, it refers to heaviness, but more frequently it describes the emotional or spiritual load of trouble and difficulty. This dual usage allows the word to bridge the gap between tangible pressure and the inner strain of life’s challenges.
A key distinction appears in how translators handle specific contexts. In 1 Thessalonians 2:6, some versions render it as "burdensome," highlighting an oppressive quality, while others suggest "dignity" or "authority" based on later Greek usage. This reflects a semantic shift where weight implies importance or status, showing how the term can describe not just what weighs one down, but what carries significant value.
The word often appears in lists of responsibilities or trials. For instance, Paul speaks of afflictions as a burden that is momentary yet produces glory (2 Corinthians 4:17), and the early church council describes their decisions as necessary burdens for believers (Acts 15:28). It captures the essence of what must be carried, whether it is the weight of sin, the pressure of ministry, or the dignity of apostolic authority.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word baros reminds us that life carries weight. Sometimes this is the heavy load of daily struggles or emotional strain. Other times it refers to the responsibilities we hold for others. Scripture does not promise a life without pressure, but it offers grace to carry what comes.
In Galatians 6:2, believers are invited to share these loads with one another. This shared burden lightens the path for everyone involved. You do not have to bear your struggles alone. The community of faith is designed to support you in times of need.
Even when trials feel overwhelming, they can produce a lasting hope. As noted in 2 Corinthians 4:17, our current difficulties are temporary compared to the eternal glory they help shape. This perspective brings peace and strength to those who wait on God’s timing.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- burden2×
- weight1×
- burdens1×
- burden,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- βάρος3×
- βάρος,1×
- βάρη1×
Key Verses
-
Galatians 6:2
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
This verse commands mutual support, showing that sharing burdens fulfills the core ethic of Christ's love.
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Acts 15:28
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:
The early church leaders used this term to describe necessary guidelines, distinguishing essential faith requirements from unnecessary heavy loads.
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II Corinthians 4:17
For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory,
Paul contrasts the temporary heaviness of affliction with the enduring weight of eternal glory, offering hope in suffering.