Quick Definition
I weight, load, burden
Strong's Definition
to weigh down (figuratively)
Derivation: from G926 (βαρύς);
KJV Usage: burden, charge, heavy, press
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
βαρέω, βάρω: to burden, weigh down, depress; in the N. T. found only in the passive, viz., present participle βαρούμενοι, imperative βαρείσθω; 1 aorist ἐβαρήθην; perfect participle βεβαρημενος; the better writings do not use the present; they use only the participles, βεβαρηως and βεβαρημενος; see Matth. § 227; Winers Grammar, 83 (80); (Buttmann, 54 (47); Veitch, under the word). Used simply: to be weighed down, oppressed, with external evils and calamities, 2Co_1:8; of the mental oppression which the thought of inevitable death occasions, 2Co_5:4; ὀφθαλμοί βεβαρημένοι, namely, ὕπνῳ, weighed down with sleep, Mar_14:40 (L T Tr WH καταβαρυνόμενοι); Mat_26:43; with ὕπνῳ added, Luk_9:32; ἐν (αΐΜ) κραιπάλῃ, Luk_21:34 Rec. βαρυνθῶσιν (see βαρύνω) (Homer, Odyssey 19, 122 οἴνῳ βεβαρηοτες, Diodorus Siculus 4, 38 τῇ νόσῳ); μή βαρείσθω let it not be burdened, namely, with their expense, 1Ti_5:16, (ἐισφοραις, Dio Cassius, 46, 32). (Compare: ἐπιβαρέω, καταβαρέω.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
βαρέω bareō 6x
to be heavy upon, weigh down, burden, oppress, as sleep, Mat_26:43 ; Mar_14:40 ; Luk_9:32 ;
calamities, 2Co_1:8 ; 2Co_5:4 ; or, trouble, care, expense, etc. 1Ti_5:16
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
βαρέω , -ῶ
(later form of βαρύνω , q.v. ),
[in LXX : Exo_7:14 , 2Ma_13:9 * ;]
to depress, weigh down . In NT, in pass . only: Mat_26:43 , Luk_9:32 ; Luk_21:34 , 2Co_1:8 ; 2Co_5:4 , 1Ti_5:16 .†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
βαρέω [page 103]
The verb is only found in perf. pass. in LXX, and only twice ( Exo_7:14 , 2Ma_13:9 ) : see Thackeray Gr. i. p. 261. Similarly in NT we have only the passive, but the present and aorist are used. The record fits its early history, for βεβαρημένος is the oldest form after the Homeric βεβαρηώς ; and Hippocrates is the first to use βαρέεται . See Anz Subsidia , p. 266 ff. Instances of the active are late in appearing. Anz quotes Lucian s censure on βαρεῖν for βαρύνειν , and mentions CIG 5853 .15 (A.D. 174) ἵνα μὴ τὴν πόλιν βαρῶμεν . MGr has βαρῶ , strike, as well as βαρειοῦμαι , be weary of (Thumb Handbook , p. 321).
The use of the verb in the papyri tallies with this record. Thus P Tebt II. 327 .25 (late ii/A.D.), γ ]υνὴ οὖσα ἀβοήθητος πο̣[λλο ]ῖς ἔτεσι βεβαρημένη , a defenceless woman weighted with many years (Edd.), P Oxy VI. 939 .23 (iv/A.D.) ήνίκα ἐβαρεῖτο τῇ νόσῳ . It becomes a formula in a group of documents relating to taxation. P Giss 1.4 .11 (A.D. 118) αὐτοί τε βεβαρημένοι πολλῶι χρόνωι δημ̣οσ̣ίοις [ . . . ], ib. 6 .7 (A.D. 117) αὐτὸς δ̣ὲ βαροῦμαι τῷ ἐκφορίῳ : so ib. 6 ii. 10 , two documents in Archiv v. p 245 f., and another in P Ryl II. 96 .8 , all with the same phraseology, and dated about the same time. Similarly P Brem 73 .5 (in Chrest. I, p. 277) ( c. A.D. 117) ὅπως μὴ βαρηθῶσιν ἢ παραπραχθῶσιν οἱ ἐνχώριοι ἢ συκοφαντηθῶσιν , Syll 418 .85 (A.D. 238) ἐὰν βαρούμεθα (needlessly emended -ώμεθα ), φευξόμεθα ἀπὸ τῶν οἰκείων (query οἰκ (ε )ιῶν ?) καὶ μεγίστην ζημίαν τὸ ταμεῖον περιβληθήσεται , ib. 422 .3 (iv/A.D.) ὁ νομίζων βαρῖσθαι δέει τοῦ δικαστοῦ . These illustrate the use in 1Ti_5:16 : cf. also CIG 5853 .15 (= OGIS 595 .15 ) as above. Other examples of the verb from the inscriptions are Kaibel 335 .4 θνήσκω ] δ᾽ οὐχὶ ν [όσ ]ῳ βεβαρημένος , 608 .6 (ii/iii A.D.) κεῖτε δ [ὴ ] γήρᾳ βεβαρη [μέ ]νος . In Anth. Pal. vii. 290 we have πυμάτῳ βεβαρημένου ὕπνῳ : cf. Mat_26:43 , Luk_9:32 . The curious list of prognostications to be drawn from involuntary twitchings, P Ryl I. 28 .164 ff. (iv/A.D.), has σφυρὸν εὐώνυμον ἐὰν ἅληται ἐν κρίσει βαρη [θ ]ε̣ι̣̣ς ἔσται καὶ ἐκφεύξεται , if the left ankle quiver he will be burdened with a trial, and will be acquitted (Ed.). This metaphorical usage, as in 2Co_1:8 ; 2Co_5:4 , may be further illustrated from P Oxy III. 525 .3 (early ii/A.D.) where, with reference to a voyage he was undertaking the writer complains καθ᾽ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν βαροῦμαι δι᾽ αὐτὸν καὶ λείαν τω̣̑ πράγματι καταξύομαι , every day I am burdened on account of it and I am extremely worn out with the matter (Edd.). Further instances of the active are P Oxy VIII. 1159 .2 (late iii/A.D.) ἵνα μὴ βα̣ρήσω̣ αὐτῷ ὀφωνίου , that I may not trouble him about provisions (Ed.), and the late ib. I. 126 .8 (A.D. 572), where one Stephanous undertakes βαρέσαι τὸ ἐμὸν ὄνομα , to burden herself, with certain imposts hitherto paid by her father. See also ib. X. 1224 Fr. 2 recto ii. 2 (uncanonical Gospel iv/A.D.) με ἐβάρησεν , overcame me, where the editor suggests φόβος or λύπη as a possible subject, as well as ὕπνος (cf. the citation from the Anth. Pal. above).
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
βαρέω [Etym: βαρύς] "to weigh down, depress", Luc. intr. in epic perf. part. βεβαρηώς, "weighed down, heavy", οἴνωι βεβαρηότες Od. : later in part. pass. βεβαρημένος, Theocr. , Anth. , etc.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
βαρέω, -ῶ (later form of βαρύνω, which see),
[in LXX: Exo.7:14 (כָּבֵד), 2Ma.13:9 * ;]
to depress, weigh down. In NT, in pass. only: Mat.26:43, Luk.9:32 21:34, 2Co.1:8 5:4, 1Ti.5:16.†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Burdened (overcome, weighed down) (916) bareo
Being burdened (916) (bareo from baros = weight, heaviness, figuratively a burden as in Gal 6:2) means to lay on a heavy load; to encumber with weight, to weigh down, to burden. Figuratively, to oppress with any thing grievous; as, to burden a nation with taxes. The effect of drowsiness = "Heavy eyes" (Mt 26:43, Mk 14:40) "Overcome (heavy) with sleep" (Lk 9:32).
Bareo - 6x in the NT: Mt 26:43 Mk 14:40 Lk 9:32 Lk 21:34 2Co1:8 2Co 5:4 1Ti 5:16. NAS = burdened(3), heavy(1), overcome(1), weighted down(1).
The only Septuagint (LXX) use of bareo is Ex 7:14 describing Pharaoh's heart as "stubborn" (English translation of Septuagint = "made hard")
Here in 2Co 5:4 bareo describes the present state of the regenerate soul confined in “the earthly house of this tabernacle."
Paul used bareo figuratively to describe afflictions earlier in this letter...
2Cor 1:8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life. (cp 2Co 11:16-33).
Giving instructions to Timothy Paul writes...
1Ti 5:16 If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, let her assist them, and let not the church be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.
Vincent comments: Holtzmann quotes an inscription in the chapel of the Villa Albani at Rome: “To the good Regina her daughter has erected this memorial: to the good Regina her widowed mother, who was a widow for sixty years and never burdened the church after she was the wife of one husband. She lived 80 years, 5 months, and 26 days.” - Word Studies in the New Testament
Jesus warns...
Be on guard, (prosecho in the present imperative = calls for continual attention = Be ready for His return at all times! Are you ready? If not, why not? See Imminency or another discussion on imminency. Cp parallel warning in Lk 21:36 = both involve remaining spiritually alert, prepared and faithful!) so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day (The Day of Christ's Return - cp Lk 21:27 - cp Second Coming) will not come on you suddenly like a trap (Lk 21:34).
Comment: It is important to note that whenever Jesus discusses His Second Coming, He invariably enjoins watchfulness (cf. Lk 12:37 38 39 40; Mt 25:13; Mk 13:33, 34, 35, 36, 37).
In English the verb to burden means to cause worry, hardship or grief to someone. The present tense pictures this as a continuous burden.
Want (2309) (thelo) refers to a desire that comes from one’s emotions. It involves an active decision of one's will, and thus implies volition and purpose.
As an aside Jerry Bridges reminds us that it is...
the will that ultimately makes each individual choice of whether we will sin or obey. It is the will that chooses to yield to temptation or to say "No". Our wills, then, ultimately determine our moral destiny, whether we will be holy or unholy in our character and conduct. (Ed: Compare Jesus' words on will - Lk 22:42, Jn 4:34, 17:4, Jn 5:30, Jn 6:38, cp Jn 8:29, Heb 10:7, 8, 9, 10 - may God's Spirit enable us to fix our eyes on Jesus' pattern of a life that pleases the Father.)