ἀβαρής
abarḗs
G4 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Not burdensome; describes a person, action, or thing that does not impose hardship, weight, or difficulty on others. The primary sense is lacking weight or burden, either in a literal (rarely attested) or more commonly in a figurative sense—especially not causing inconvenience or trouble.
Semantic Range
not heavy, not burdensome, not causing hardship, unobtrusive, unoppressive
Root / Etymology
Compound of the privative prefix ἀ- (not, without) and βάρος (weight, burden). The formation signifies 'without burden' or 'not heavy.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
ἀβαρής is a rare adjective, found sparsely in extant Greek literature, but attested in philosophical, medical, and later Christian texts. In the New Testament (e.g., 2 Corinthians 11:9; 12:13), Paul uses it to characterize his conduct as not imposing a financial or practical burden on communities. Earlier and contemporary secular Greek sources (such as medical writing) occasionally use ἀβαρής of a body, object, or medicine that is not heavy or does not cause strain, but the figurative sense (not burdensome, not oppressive) predominates in later texts. English translations typically render the term as 'not burdensome,' which captures the main New Testament sense, though the imagery of 'light' or 'unweighty' can be lost. No significant nuance difference is observed between the LXX and New Testament usages, where the term is generally figurative.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from Α (as a negative particle) and βάρος; weightless, i.e. (figuratively) not burdensome:--from being burdensome.
Root Family
ἀβαρής (abarēs) — weight, heaviness, burden; without burden
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4-01 |
ἀβαρῆ | abare | ADJ.S ACC M SG |
unburdensome | an unburdensome man | unburdensome | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4-01 |
2 Corinthians 11:9 | ἀβαρῆ | abare | ADJ.S ACC M SG |
unburdensome | an unburdensome man | unburdensome |