Define

• Hebrew: maśśāʾ (מַשָּׂא) A masculine noun meaning a load, burden (something carried or lifted); also tribute, porterage; figuratively an utterance/oracle (especially a prophetic pronouncement, often of doom).

  • Derived from the root verb nāśāʾ (נָשָׂא) to lift, carry, bear, take up, forgive (the idea of "lifting" something onto oneself, whether a physical load, sin, or responsibility).
  • Nehemiah 13:15–19 uses the same word for loads of wine, grapes, figs, and other burdens brought in on the Sabbath
  • Jer 17:21–22 — The term refers to literal loads carried through the city gates on the Sabbath. It is strictly concrete: do not lift, bring in, or carry loads.

• sēbel (סֵבֶל) – a load or forced labor (e.g., Exod 1:11; 1 Kgs 5:15).

• ʿōl (עֹל) – yoke/burden (e.g., Isa 10:27; Matt 11:30 in NT Greek parallel)

• Greek: the Septuagint translates massaʼ with forms of phortion (φορτίον) — “load,” “burden,” “something carried.” Same word appears in:

  • Matt 11:30 (“My burden is light
  • Acts 15:28 (“no greater burden than these requirements”)
  • Gal 6:5 (“each must bear his own load / phortion”)

Related words

Additional Info

In the Old Testament has a wide range of meanings:

• Physical loads (e.g., on animals: Exod 23:5; 2 Kgs 5:17; 8:9; or sacred items in the tabernacle: Num 4 multiple times).
• Figurative burdens (people as a burden to leaders: Num 11:11, 17; Deut 1:12; iniquities: Ps 38:4).
• Tribute paid to a king (2 Chr 17:11).
• Prophetic oracles, especially judgments (the heading "burden/oracle of…" in Isa 13:1; 15:1; Nah 1:1; Hab 1:1; Zech 9:1; 12:1; Mal 1:1; and ironically in Jer 23:33–38 where false prophets mockingly call God's word a "burden").

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