[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/burden/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [B](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/b/) / burden # burden noun (a burden, burdens); verb (burden, burdens, burdened, burdening) «burden» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. A heavy load that you carry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/burden/#m1) 2. A difficult duty, worry or problem that is hard to deal with. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/burden/#m2) 3. (verb) To give someone a heavy load or a worry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/burden/#m3) 4. (law) Burden of proof: the duty to show that something is true. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/burden/#m4) ### In the lessons Used in stories (a donkey carrying a burden), feelings (worries as a burden), adult life (money burdens, debts) and law (burden of proof). It tells the reader someone carries something heavy, in the body or the mind. Phrases: a burden to, ease the burden, burden of proof, a weight off my shoulders. ### Examples - The donkey carried a heavy burden up the hill. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/burden/#x1) - She didn't want to be a burden to her family. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/burden/#x2) - Sharing a worry with a friend eases the burden. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/burden/#x3) - Homework felt like a burden this week. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/burden/#x4) - Don't burden yourself with too many clubs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/burden/#x5) - In court, the burden of proof is on the person who accuses. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/burden/#x6) - Debt can be a heavy burden for a family. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/burden/#x7) - Here he rested his burden against the wall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/burden/#x8) ### Note Countable: burdens. Adjective: burdensome. Similar: load, weight, strain. "Beast of burden" means an animal that carries loads, like a donkey or camel. ## In Jewish tradition It can mean a heavy load, the forced labor of the Israelites in Egypt, or a duty of carrying. The Levites had the burden of carrying the holy tent and its furnishings. In the prophets "burden" is also a heavy message from God about a place or people, such as "the burden of the wilderness of the sea". **Interpretation.** The rabbis saw the burdens in Egypt as the start of Israel's suffering, and the Levite burden as a holy task. Moses' words about bearing the people alone are read as the reason he appointed judges to help him. A prophet's "burden" is read as a weighty word that the prophet must carry and deliver. ### Examples - Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. (Torah EXO.1.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/burden/#x1) - How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife? (Torah DEU.1.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/burden/#x2) - These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting. (Torah NUM.4.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/burden/#x3) - The burden concerning the Valley of Vision. (Prophets ISA.22.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/burden/#x4) - The burden of the wilderness of the sea. (Prophets ISA.21.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/burden/#x5) - The burden of the beasts of the South. (Prophets ISA.30.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/burden/#x6) ### Note Countable: burdens. Adjective: burdensome. Similar: load, weight, strain. "Beast of burden" means an animal that carries loads, like a donkey or camel. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «burden» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/burden/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«burden» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/burden.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «burden» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/burden/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«burden» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/burden.html) on Mova free.