### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun `{{H4614}}` (מַעֲמָסָה, maʻămâçâh) is derived from the verbal root `{{H6006}}` (עָמַס, ʻāmas), which means "to load, to lay a burden upon." As a noun, `{{H4614}}` signifies the state or quality of being burdensome, hence "burdensomeness," or it can refer to the burdensome thing itself, a "heavy load" or "oppressive burden." It conveys a sense of weight, difficulty, and often the weariness or distress associated with carrying or enduring something arduous. Unlike a general "load," `{{H4614}}` emphasizes the oppressive or difficult nature of the burden.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H4614}}` appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in the book of Nehemiah.
* **[[Nehemiah 13:15]]**: "In those days I saw in Judah people treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs, and *all kinds of burdens* [וְכָל־מַשָּׂא וּמַעֲמָסָה, *v'khol-massa u-ma'amasa*], which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them on the day they sold food."
In this context, Nehemiah is confronting the people of Judah for their profanation of the Sabbath. The phrase "all kinds of burdens and burdensomeness" (combining `{{H4853}}`, massa', a general term for "load," with `{{H4614}}`) specifically describes the heavy, laborious loads of agricultural produce and goods that were being transported into Jerusalem for commerce on the holy day. The use of `{{H4614}}` here intensifies the description of the loads, emphasizing their oppressive nature and the arduous work involved, which directly violated the spirit and letter of the Sabbath command for rest from toil. It highlights the extent of their disregard for God's law.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **`{{H6006}}` (עָמַס, ʻāmas):** The foundational verb meaning "to load, to lay a burden on." This root appears frequently, illustrating the act of imposing or carrying a physical load (e.g., [[Genesis 44:13]]) or even the oppressive labor imposed upon the Israelites in Egypt ([[Exodus 1:11]]).
* **`{{H4853}}` (מַשָּׂא, maśśāʼ):** A very common noun meaning "load, burden, carrying, tribute," and even a "prophetic utterance" (as a heavy word from God). In [[Nehemiah 13:15]], `{{H4614}}` is used in conjunction with `{{H4853}}`, suggesting that while `{{H4853}}` refers to the general load, `{{H4614}}` specifically denotes its burdensome quality.
* **`{{H5447}}` (סָבַל, sāḇal):** Another verb meaning "to bear a burden, carry." Often implies the act of enduring or suffering under a heavy load (e.g., [[Isaiah 53:4]]).
* **`{{H3515}}` (כָּבֵד, kāḇēḏ):** An adjective meaning "heavy, weighty, difficult." This word describes the quality of being burdensome, whether literally heavy or metaphorically difficult, as in a "heavy heart" or "difficult task." While `{{H4614}}` is a noun for the state of burdensomeness, `{{H3515}}` describes the characteristic.
These related terms collectively paint a rich picture of the biblical concept of burdens, encompassing physical toil, oppressive labor, and the weight of sin or divine judgment.
### Theological Significance
The singular appearance of `{{H4614}}` in [[Nehemiah 13:15]] carries profound theological weight, particularly in the context of the Sabbath. The Sabbath was divinely instituted as a day of rest from all labor (`{{H4399}}`, melakhah), a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, and a reminder of God's creative rest and His deliverance from the burdens of Egyptian slavery. By engaging in "all kinds of burdens and burdensomeness" on the Sabbath, the people were not merely breaking a rule; they were rejecting a divine gift and a spiritual principle.
This word underscores the inherent conflict between human desire for material gain and God's design for human flourishing. The people chose to impose upon themselves and their animals heavy, arduous work on a day meant for spiritual renewal and physical rest. This action revealed a spiritual insensitivity, prioritizing commerce over communion with God. The "burdensomeness" of their loads on the Sabbath served as a poignant symbol of the spiritual burden they were accumulating through their disobedience. It teaches that true rest and freedom are found in obedience to God's commands, whereas rebellion leads to self-imposed toil and spiritual oppression.
### Summary
`{{H4614}}` (מַעֲמָסָה, maʻămâçâh) is a potent Hebrew noun signifying "burdensomeness" or an "oppressive load," derived from the root `{{H6006}}` ("to load"). Its sole biblical appearance in [[Nehemiah 13:15]] is highly contextual, describing the heavy agricultural "burdens" brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. This specific usage emphasizes the arduous and inappropriate nature of the activity on a day consecrated for rest. The word serves as a stark reminder of the theological truth that disregarding God's commands, particularly regarding sacred time and rest, leads to self-imposed toil and spiritual burden, contrasting sharply with the divine provision of rest and the lightness found in obedience.
TRV