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βαρύς

barýs

G926 attributive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Having weight or mass; heavy. In extended or figurative contexts: burdensome, severe, oppressive, serious, grave, important. The primary sense involves physical heaviness, but the term is frequently applied metaphorically to indicate something that is difficult to bear, emotionally intense, or possessing serious consequence or significance.

Semantic Range

heavy (of physical weight), burdensome (emotionally or in duty), oppressive, severe, grave, serious, important, weighty (of speech or matter), deep (of sound), dull (of pain)

Root / Etymology

From the root βαρ- (closely related to βάρος, 'weight'), with the adjective suffix -ύς. Directly tied to Greek terms expressing the idea of heaviness or burden. Cognate with Latin 'gravis'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

βαρύς appears in both classical and Koine Greek literature with the primary sense of physical heaviness, describing objects or burdens that are substantial or difficult to carry. From the classical period onward, it became common to use βαρύς in figurative senses: a 'heavy' voice (deep), 'heavy' grief (intense/serious), 'heavy' judgment (severe), or 'heavy' words (weighty/important). In Hellenistic and New Testament contexts, it often conveys that something is not merely physically weighty but difficult, oppressive, or significant—such as a 'heavy' commandment, trial, or charge. English Bible translations often render βαρύς as "grievous," "weighty," or "burdensome," but these do not always capture the full nuance, which includes gravitas and severity, as well as literal mass or force. In medical and natural philosophical writings, it can connote 'dull' (e.g., pain), as in a persistent or serious ache. Its semantic breadth stands in contrast to terms for 'light' (ἁπλοῦς, κοῦφος) and occasionally overlaps with σοβαρός (serious, august) in rhetorical or philosophical literature. Septuagint usage often follows the Hebrew כָּבֵד (kaved), which carries similar literal and figurative meanings, including 'glorious' or 'honorable' when referring to persons or deities, but this sense is rarer with βαρύς itself in Greek texts.

Translation Consistency

primary "heavy" 4 occurrences

Primary sense is physical weight, and English naturally uses “heavy” in the wide range of figurative senses listed (heavy burden, heavy heart, heavy judgment, heavy news). It is the most common, natural-wording that covers both literal and metaphorical uses and will read smoothly and consistently across contexts.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"savage" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as βάρος; weighty, i.e. (fig) burdensome, grave:--grievous, heavy, weightier.

Root Family

βαρύς (barýs) — heavy, burdensome, severe

Root βαρ- to be heavy, to be burdensome, to be severe

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G926-02 βαρεῖαι bareiai ADJ.S NOM F PL burdensome heavy ones heavy ones 2
G926-01 βαρέα barea ADJ.A ACC N PL grievous heavy things heavy 2
G926-03 βαρεῖς bareis ADJ.A NOM M PL savage heavy ones savage 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G926-01 Matthew 23:4 βαρέα barea ADJ.A ACC N PL heavy heavy things heavy
G926-03 Acts 20:29 βαρεῖς bareis ADJ.A NOM M PL savage heavy ones savage
G926-01 Acts 25:7 βαρέα barea ADJ.A ACC N PL grievous heavy things heavy things
G926-02 2 Corinthians 10:10 βαρεῖαι bareiai ADJ.S NOM F PL weighty heavy ones heavy ones
G926-02 1 John 5:3 βαρεῖαι bareiai ADJ.P NOM F PL burdensome heavy ones heavy ones
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