"to be heavy upon, weigh down, burden, oppress, as sleep, Mt. 26:43; Mk. 14:40; Lk. 9:32; calamities, 2 Cor. 1:8; 5:4; or, trouble, care, expense, etc. 1 Tim. 5:16*"
Definition and meaning
to be heavy upon, weigh down, burden, oppress, as sleep, Mt. 26:43; Mk. 14:40; Lk. 9:32; calamities, 2 Cor. 1:8; 5:4; or, trouble, care, expense, etc. 1 Tim. 5:16*
In the original Greek the word is written: βαρέω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of bareo (G916) across the King James Bible.
And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
And when he returned, he found them asleep again,(for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.
But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
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Common questions
Strong's G916 (bareo) is a Greek word that means: to be heavy upon, weigh down, burden, oppress, as sleep, Mt. 26:43; Mk. 14:40; Lk. 9:32; calamities, 2 Cor. 1:8; 5:4; or, trouble, care, expense, etc. 1 Tim. 5:16* It appears 6 times in the King James Bible.
The word bareo (G916) appears 6 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G916 is bareo, a Greek word defined as: to be heavy upon, weigh down, burden, oppress, as sleep, Mt. 26:43; Mk. 14:40; Lk. 9:32; calamities, 2 Cor. 1:8; 5:4; or, trouble, care, expense, etc.. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
bareo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.