καταβαρύνω (katabarunō)
katabarunō
to burden
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb katabarunō means to make heavy or to burden someone with a weight that presses them down. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Mark 14:40, where it describes the disciples’ exhaustion after Jesus’ arrest. The text says they were weighed down by sleep, unable to stay awake and support Him in His hour of need.
This word carries a physical sense of heaviness that translates into spiritual or emotional fatigue. In this specific instance, it is not about moral guilt but about the human limitation of the body yielding to rest despite the disciples' desire to remain vigilant. The weight here is literal sleep, yet it underscores the contrast between their fragile strength and Jesus’ unwavering resolve.
Some manuscript traditions read a simpler form of the word for "to burden" or "to grow heavy," but the meaning remains consistent: an overwhelming pressure that leads to collapse. This rare usage highlights the vulnerability of even those closest to Jesus, showing that human endurance has its limits when faced with profound spiritual trials.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word katabarunō describes a heavy weight that presses down upon us, often leaving us unable to respond or act. In Mark 14:40, it captures the physical exhaustion of Jesus’ disciples who fell asleep in Gethsemane. This is not a condemnation of their failure but a honest look at human limitation. Even those closest to Him felt the crushing weight of fatigue.
When you feel spiritually or physically drained, this word reminds you that you are not alone in your weakness. The Bible does not hide the fact that we get tired. Instead, it shows us Jesus’ patience with His friends despite their inability to stay awake. Your limits do not disqualify you from His love.
God sees your heavy eyes and your weary heart. He meets you in your exhaustion rather than rejecting you for it. There is grace in knowing that He carries the weight when you cannot. Rest is not a sin; it is part of being human. Let this truth bring you peace today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- being wearied,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- καταβαρυνόμενοι,1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 14:40
Again he returned and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they didn’t know what to answer him.
This verse uses katabarunō to describe the disciples' physical heaviness from sleep, highlighting their human vulnerability rather than moral failure.