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ἐπιβαρέω

epibaréō

G1912 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To weigh heavily upon someone, either literally imposing weight or, more commonly in Koine Greek, to impose a burden or demand (especially of financial or material support) in social, communal, or personal relationships. In extended usage, to be a burden financially (i.e., to incur expense to another), or, less commonly, to be a cause of trouble or difficulty to another.

Semantic Range

to weigh upon, to be a financial burden to, to impose on, to cause trouble or inconvenience, to demand support

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἐπί ('upon') and the verb βαρέω ('to weigh down, oppress, burden'), ultimately from the root βαρ- ('heavy'). Compound formation common in Koine to intensify or specify the action of the root verb.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, βαρέω generally means 'to weigh down' or 'to oppress.' The compound ἐπιβαρέω is uncommon in classical texts but emerges in the Hellenistic and Koine periods with a stronger sense of 'imposing a burden' upon others. In the New Testament (e.g., 2 Corinthians 11:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8), ἐπιβαρέω is used especially of not being a material or financial burden upon a community or individual—usually spoken by someone (such as Paul) who insists on providing for themselves so as not to 'weigh upon' or impose on local congregations. The pecuniary sense ('to cost, to require support') becomes prominent, but the term retains a broader possible semantic range of 'trouble,' 'oppress,' or 'inconvenience.' English translations often render it 'to be chargeable,' 'to be burdensome,' or 'to impose (on),' though these may understate the nuance that the action is not merely financial but can involve social or emotional imposition. It differs from related terms like καταναρκάω (to become a deadweight) or καταβαρύνω (to overwhelm, oppress more intensely), with ἐπιβαρέω more neutral in tone and commonly used in contexts concerned about conscientious self-sufficiency rather than outright oppression or exploitation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐπί and βαρέω; to be heavy upon, i.e. (pecuniarily) to be expensive to; figuratively, to be severe towards:--be chargeable to, overcharge.

Root Family

ἐπιβαρέω (epibareō) — to be heavy, to burden, to impose

Root βαρ- to be heavy, to burden, to impose

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1912-01 ἐπιβαρῆσαί epibaresai V AOR ACT INF be a burden to impose a burden upon to burden 2
G1912-02 ἐπιβαρῶ epibaro V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG burden I may burden I may burden 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1912-02 2 Corinthians 2:5 ἐπιβαρῶ epibaro V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG burden I may burden I may burden
G1912-01 1 Thessalonians 2:9 ἐπιβαρῆσαί epibaresai V AOR ACT INF to burden to impose a burden upon to burden
G1912-01 2 Thessalonians 3:8 ἐπιβαρῆσαί epibaresai V AOR ACT INF be a burden to impose a burden upon to impose a burden upon
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