Hebrew word · H5448
סֹ֫בֶל
subolo
burden
A load or burden carried on the shoulder. Found only in Isaiah (9:4 [Heb 9:3]; 10:27; 14:25). Related to the verb sabal, "to carry a heavy load", and the noun sevel, "forced labor gang" (1 Kgs 11:28; Ps 81:6 [Eng. 81:6]).
Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·
What it means
burden, load
Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
From the study of Isaiah 14:25
- Range of meaning
A load or burden carried on the shoulder. Found only in Isaiah (9:4 [Heb 9:3]; 10:27; 14:25). Related to the verb sabal, "to carry a heavy load", and the noun sevel, "forced labor gang" (1 Kgs 11:28; Ps 81:6 [Eng. 81:6]).
- Against the English
"Burden" is fine, but in modern English it can sound like an emotional weight. Here it is a porter's physical load, standing for tribute and forced work.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Ps 81:6: "I removed the burden (sevel) from his shoulder", said of release from Egyptian labor. The same words for shoulder, burden and removal appear together in Isa 9:4 and 10:27.
- Range of meaning
A load or burden carried on the back or shoulder. The related noun sebel and the verb sabal ('to carry a load') are used for porterage and for forced labor gangs.
- Against the English
'Burden' in English often means something emotional or spiritual ('the burden of guilt'). Here it is a physical load, a picture of forced labor and tribute.
- How it drifted
In devotional English, 'burden' usually means worry, sin or grief. That is not wrong as later application, but it is not what the word pictured here.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Isa 10:27 and 14:25 (the same root, of Assyria's load); 1 Kgs 11:28, where Jeroboam is put over the sebel, the forced labor, of the house of Joseph; Exod 1:11 and 2:11 (sivlot, the Hebrews' forced labors in Egypt).
From the study of Isaiah 10:27
- Range of meaning
A carried load or burden. It is a rare noun (only Isa 9:4; 10:27; 14:25). It is related to sabal 'to carry a heavy load' and sabbal 'porter, burden-bearer' (1 Kgs 5:15; Neh 4:10). The root is linked to forced labour gangs (1 Kgs 11:28, sevel).
- Against the English
'Burden' is the usual rendering. In modern English 'burden' leans toward emotional or psychological weight. The Hebrew is a literal load on the back of a labourer.
- How it drifted
Devotional use of 'burden' (worry, guilt, stress) can shift the picture from a conquered people's tribute and forced labour to private inner troubles.
- Used elsewhere in the period
The three Isaiah uses all concern Assyria's oppression of Israel/Judah. The verb sabal is used of the forced labour Solomon imposed (1 Kgs 5:15).
Where it appears
Isaiah · 3
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Isaiah 9:4 סֻבֳּל֗וֹ burden its
For as in the day of Midian You have shattered the yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor.
Here: 'Its burden': the heavy load a porter or animal carries. Joined to 'yoke' it means 'the yoke that loads it down.' The 'it/his' is the nation (singular 'nation' in v. 3).
-
Isaiah 10:27 סֻבֳּלוֹ֙ burden its
On that day the burden will be lifted from your shoulders, and the yoke from your neck. The yoke will be broken because your neck will be too large.
Here: The load a porter or forced labourer carries on his shoulder. 'His' is the Assyrian king's. It is the burden of tribute and forced service he laid on Judah. The same rare word appears in Isaiah 9:4 and 14:25.
-
Isaiah 14:25 וְסֻ֨בֳּל֔וֹ and burden its
I will break Assyria in My land; I will trample him on My mountain. His yoke will be taken off My people, and his burden removed from their shoulders.”
Here: "And his load": the heavy weight a laborer or animal carries. It stands for the tribute and labor Assyria demanded.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.