Paragraph 11:28–30

11:28a

all you who are weary and burdened: This clause refers to the hard work involved in obeying the Jewish law. Obeying all the laws made people tired. Jesus compared it to carrying a heavy burden. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

all who are tired and are carrying the heavy burden ⌊of the law⌋
-or-
Everyone who is tired ⌊from obeying all the laws⌋, and everyone ⌊for/to whom obeying the law is like⌋ carrying a heavy burden

This clause does not refer to literally carrying some heavy material goods.

weary: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as weary has two related meanings:

(1) It means tired/weary. For example:

are tired (New Century Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Century Version, God’s Word, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It means hard work. For example:

labor (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, English Standard Version, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is the meaning that the majority of English versions use. Here the focus is probably on those who are tired as a result of hard work.

burdened: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as burdened means “carry a heavy burden/load.” As mentioned above, the law was considered to be a load.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

carry heavy burdens (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
have heavy loads (New Century Version)

11:28b

I will give you rest: This clause means “I will refresh you” or “I will give you relief from these burdens.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

I will cause/allow you to rest
-or-
I will give you relief from your fatigue/tiredness.

-or-

I will remove your burden.

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