"heavy; met. burdensome, oppressive or difficult of observance, as precepts, Mt. 23:4; 1 Jn. 5:3; weighty, important, momentous, Mt. 23:23; Acts 25:7; grievous, oppressive, afflictive, violent, Acts 20:29; authoritative, strict, stern, severe, 2 Cor. 10:10*"
Definition and meaning
heavy; met. burdensome, oppressive or difficult of observance, as precepts, Mt. 23:4; 1 Jn. 5:3; weighty, important, momentous, Mt. 23:23; Acts 25:7; grievous, oppressive, afflictive, violent, Acts 20:29; authoritative, strict, stern, severe, 2 Cor. 10:10*
In the original Greek the word is written: βαρύς
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 barys (G926) across the King James Bible.
For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
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Common questions
Strong's G926 (barys) is a Greek word that means: heavy; met. burdensome, oppressive or difficult of observance, as precepts, Mt. 23:4; 1 Jn. 5:3; weighty, important, momentous, Mt. 23:23; Acts 25:7; grievous, oppressive, afflictive, violent, Acts 20... It appears 6 times in the King James Bible.
The word barys (G926) appears 6 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G926 is barys, a Greek word defined as: heavy; met. burdensome, oppressive or difficult of observance, as precepts, Mt. 23:4; 1 Jn. 5:3; weighty, important, momentous, Mt. 23:23; Acts 25:7; . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
barys is a Greek word found in the New Testament.