Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terms, the concept of "load" often refers to a burden or weight that one must carry, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. The Bible addresses the idea of loads in various contexts, emphasizing the importance of bearing one another's burdens and the personal responsibility each individual has for their own load.
Old Testament ReferencesThe Old Testament frequently uses the imagery of a load to describe the burdens carried by individuals or groups. In Exodus, the Israelites are described as being under the heavy load of slavery in Egypt. God hears their cries and promises deliverance, highlighting His concern for those who are oppressed by heavy burdens (
Exodus 3:7-8).
In the wisdom literature, particularly in the book of Proverbs, the concept of a load is often metaphorical, representing the weight of foolishness or sin.
Proverbs 27:3 states, "A stone is heavy and sand a burden, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both." This verse illustrates the idea that certain emotional or relational burdens can be more taxing than physical ones.
New Testament TeachingsThe New Testament expands on the theme of loads, particularly in the teachings of Jesus and the apostolic writings. Jesus invites those who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest, offering a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light (
Matthew 11:28-30). This passage underscores the spiritual relief and support found in Christ, contrasting the heavy burdens imposed by legalistic interpretations of the law.
The Apostle Paul addresses the concept of loads in his epistle to the Galatians. In
Galatians 6:2, he instructs believers to "Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." This directive emphasizes the communal aspect of the Christian faith, where believers are called to support each other in times of need. However, just a few verses later, Paul also notes, "For each one should carry his own load" (
Galatians 6:5). This distinction suggests that while Christians are to help each other, there is also an individual responsibility for one's own life and actions.
Spiritual ImplicationsThe biblical concept of a load carries significant spiritual implications. It serves as a reminder of the human condition, marked by the burdens of sin, guilt, and the challenges of life. Yet, it also points to the hope and relief found in Christ, who offers to share and lighten these burdens. The call to bear one another's burdens reflects the love and compassion that should characterize the Christian community, as believers are encouraged to support each other in their spiritual journeys.
In summary, the biblical understanding of "load" encompasses both the personal responsibility each individual has and the communal support that believers are to provide for one another. Through Christ, the ultimate burden-bearer, Christians find the strength and grace to navigate the weights of life.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A burden; that which is laid on or put in anything for conveyance; that which is borne or sustained; a weight; as, a heavy load.
2. (n.) The quantity which can be carried or drawn in some specified way; the contents of a cart, barrow, or vessel; that which will constitute a cargo; lading.
3. (v.) That which burdens, oppresses, or grieves the mind or spirits; as, a load of care.
4. (n.) A particular measure for certain articles, being as much as may be carried at one time by the conveyance commonly used for the article measured; as, a load of wood; a load of hay; specifically, five quarters.
5. (n.) The charge of a firearm; as, a load of powder.
6. (v.) Weight or violence of blows.
7. (n.) The work done by a steam engine or other prime mover when working.
8. (v. t.) To lay a load or burden on or in, as on a horse or in a cart; to charge with a load, as a gun; to furnish with a lading or cargo, as a ship; hence, to add weight to, so as to oppress or embarrass; to heap upon.
9. (v. t.) To adulterate or drug; as, to load wine.
10. (v. t.) To magnetize.
Greek
5412. phortizo -- to load ... to
load. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: phortizo Phonetic Spelling:
(for-tid'-zo) Short Definition: I
load, burden Definition: I
load, burden; pass:
... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5412.htm - 6k4987. soreuo -- to heap on
... to heap on. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: soreuo Phonetic Spelling:
(sore-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I heap up, load Definition: I heap up, load. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4987.htm - 6k
916. bareo -- to weigh down
... to weigh down. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: bareo Phonetic Spelling:
(bar-eh'-o) Short Definition: I weight, load, burden Definition: I weight, load ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/916.htm - 7k
5413. phortion -- a burden
... Word Origin dim. of phortos (load, cargo); from phero Definition a burden NASB
Word Usage burden (1), burdens (3), cargo (1), load (1). burden. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5413.htm - 7k
1072. gemizo -- to fill
... gemizo. 1073 . to fill. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: gemizo Phonetic
Spelling: (ghem-id'-zo) Short Definition: I fill, load Definition: I fill, load. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1072.htm - 6k
4496. rhipto -- to throw, cast, spec. to throw off, toss
... denotes a deliberate hurl; and from teino (see in ekteino), which indicates an extended
projection); by qualification, to deposit (as if a load); by extension ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4496.htm - 7k
5278. hupomeno -- to stay behind, to await, endure
... Cognate: 5278 -- literally, (the load), bearing up (enduring); for the believer,
this uniquely happens by power (cf. 1 Thes 3:5). See 5281 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5278.htm - 8k
1195. desmeuo -- to bind together, to fetter
... bind together. From a (presumed) derivative of desmeo; to be a binder (captor),
ie To enchain (a prisoner), to tie on (a load) -- bind. see GREEK desmeo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1195.htm - 6k
3591. ogkos -- bulk, an encumbrance
... weight. Probably from the same as agkale; a mass (as bending or bulging by its load),
ie Burden (hindrance) -- weight. see GREEK agkale. (onkon) -- 1 Occurrence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3591.htm - 6k
1117. gomos -- a ship's freight, cargo
... cargo, freight, merchandise. From gemo; a load (as filling), ie (specially) a cargo,
or (by extension) wares -- burden, merchandise. see GREEK gemo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1117.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
6006. amas -- to load, carry a load... amas or amas. 6007 . to
load, carry a
load. Transliteration: amas or amas Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-mas') Short Definition: loaded. Word Origin a prim.
... /hebrew/6006.htm - 6k 2943. taan -- to load
... taan. 2944 . to load. Transliteration: taan Phonetic Spelling: (taw-an') Short
Definition: load. ... root Definition to load NASB Word Usage load (1). lade. ...
/hebrew/2943.htm - 5k
5447. sebel -- a load, burden
... a load, burden. Transliteration: sebel Phonetic Spelling: (say'-bel) Short Definition:
burden. ... From cabal; a load (literally or figuratively) -- burden, charge. ...
/hebrew/5447.htm - 6k
4853a. massa -- a load, burden, lifting, bearing, tribute
... 4853, 4853a. massa. 4853b . a load, burden, lifting, bearing, tribute.
Transliteration: massa Short Definition: burden. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/4853a.htm - 5k
4614. maamasah -- a load, burden
... 4613, 4614. maamasah. 4615 . a load, burden. Transliteration: maamasah
Phonetic Spelling: (mah-am-aw-saw') Short Definition: heavy. ...
/hebrew/4614.htm - 6k
5445. sabal -- to bear (a heavy load)
... 5444, 5445. sabal. 5446 . to bear (a heavy load). Transliteration: sabal Phonetic
Spelling: (saw-bal') Short Definition: bear. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5445.htm - 6k
5446. sebal -- to bear, carry (a load)
... 5445, 5446. sebal. 5447 . to bear, carry (a load). Transliteration: sebal
Phonetic Spelling: (seb-al') Short Definition: retained. ...
/hebrew/5446.htm - 6k
4853. massa' -- a load, burden, lifting, bearing, tribute
... 4852, 4853. massa'. 4853a . a load, burden, lifting, bearing, tribute.
Transliteration: massa' Phonetic Spelling: (mas-saw') Short Definition: burden. ...
/hebrew/4853.htm - 5k
7925. shakam -- to start or rise early
... A primitive root; properly, to incline (the shoulder to a burden); but used only
as denominative from shkem; literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast ...
/hebrew/7925.htm - 6k
2960. torach -- a burden
... Word Origin from tarach Definition a burden NASB Word Usage burden (1), load (1).
cumbrance, trouble. From tarach; a burden -- cumbrance, trouble. ...
/hebrew/2960.htm - 6k
Library
Burdened with a Heavy Load,
... PENITENCE AND LOVE Burdened with a heavy load,. tr., John Brownlie 7,8,7,8. I. Burdened
with a heavy load,. Lord, we come, for Thou art calling; ...
/.../brownlie/hymns from the morningland/burdened with a heavy load.htm
Letter xvi to Rainald, Abbot of Foigny
... This, too, increases the load of the horse by which it is drawn, but at the same
time renders capable of being drawn a load which without it could not be moved ...
/.../letter xvi to rainald abbot.htm
The Suffering Servant-ii
... taking their burden on His shoulders, the former implies not only the taking of
it but the bearing of it away, and the latter emphasises the weight of the load ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the suffering servant-ii.htm
Once More from Rest I Rise Again,
... I know full well; my loving God. Will send me not a hurtful load. My burden every
day is new,. ... My faithless heart? And why thus shrink. To take thy load again? ...
/.../winkworth/lyra germanica the christian year/v once more from rest.htm
Little Folks.
... stairs. As the minister was going up stairs with his load of books his little
boy came in and was very anxious to help his father. ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/little folks.htm
Whether Adam in the State of Innocence Saw the Angels through ...
... 2: Further, the soul in the present state is impeded from the knowledge of separate
substances by union with a corruptible body which "is a load upon the soul ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether adam in the state.htm
Daily Blessings for God's People
... states. Blessed be Jehovah, whether I receive the daily load of his benefits,
or whether he open for me the gates of the grace. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/daily blessings for gods people.htm
Six Cities
... It has mulberry, orange, pomegranate, and other trees mingled in with the houses,
whose odoriferous flowers load the air with delicious perfume during the ...
/.../macduff/the cities of refuge or the name of jesus/ii six cities.htm
The Burden-Bearing God
... The meaning of His 'lifting our load,' in so far as that expression refers to the
divine act rather than the divine heart, is that He breathes into us the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the burden-bearing god.htm
The Invitation
... He will take the load from our weary shoulders. ... There are many whose hearts are aching
under a load of care because they seek to reach the world's standard. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 34 the invitation.htm
Thesaurus
Load (22 Occurrences)... 1. (n.) A burden; that which is laid on or put in anything for conveyance;
that which is borne or sustained; a weight; as, a heavy
load.
.../l/load.htm - 14kDischarge (30 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To relieve of a charge, load, or burden; to empty
of a load or cargo; to unburden; to unload; as, to discharge a vessel. ...
/d/discharge.htm - 18k
Charge (379 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To lay on or impose, as a load, tax, or burden;
to load; to fill. ... 17. (n.) A load or burden laid upon a person or thing. 18. ...
/c/charge.htm - 41k
Lade (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To load; to put a burden or freight on or in; --
generally followed by that which receives the load, as the direct object. ...
/l/lade.htm - 9k
Unload (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To take the load from; to discharge of a load
or cargo; to disburden; as, to unload a ship; to unload a beast. ...
/u/unload.htm - 7k
Lading (7 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) of Lade. 2. (n.) The act of loading. 3. (n.) That which lades or constitutes
a load or cargo; freight; burden; as, the lading of a ship. Int. ...
/l/lading.htm - 10k
Loading (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Load. 2. (n.) The act of putting a load on or into. 3.
(n.) A load; cargo; burden. Multi-Version Concordance Loading (2 Occurrences). ...
/l/loading.htm - 7k
Burden (111 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) A load of any kind (Exodus 23:5). ... Noah Webster's
Dictionary. 1. (n.) That which is borne or carried; a load. ...
/b/burden.htm - 46k
Unlade (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To take the load from; to take out the
cargo of; as, to unlade a ship or a wagon. 2. (vt) To unload ...
/u/unlade.htm - 6k
Overcharge (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To charge or load too heavily; to burden;
to oppress; to cloy. ... 6. (n.) An excessive load or burden. ...
/o/overcharge.htm - 7k
Resources
What does it mean to bear one another's burdens? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to trust in Jesus? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a yokefellow in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgLoad: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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