### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **çôbel**, represented by `{{H5448}}`, refers to a figurative **burden** or load. It appears only **3 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible, exclusively within the book of Isaiah. Its meaning is consistently tied to the weight of oppression imposed upon a people.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H5448}}` always appears in the context of divine deliverance. The prophet Isaiah uses the term to describe a weight that will be lifted. In [[Isaiah 9:4]], God breaks "the yoke of his **burden**." Similarly, prophecies declare that this **burden** will "depart from off their shoulders" [[Isaiah 14:25]] and be "taken away from off thy shoulder" [[Isaiah 10:27]]. This load is identified as belonging to an "oppressor" [[Isaiah 9:4]] and specifically "the Assyrian" [[Isaiah 14:25]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the nature of this **burden**:
* `{{H5923}}` **ʻôl** (yoke): This word for a **yoke** is paired with `{{H5448}}` in all of its occurrences, such as in the phrase "the yoke of his burden" [[Isaiah 9:4]]. It emphasizes the theme of forced servitude and control.
* `{{H7926}}` **shᵉkem** (shoulder): Defined as the neck as the place of burdens, the **shoulder** is the location from which the burden `{{H5448}}` is physically carried and ultimately removed ([[Isaiah 10:27]], [[Isaiah 14:25]]). It grounds the figurative weight in a physical reality.
* `{{H5065}}` **nâgas** (oppressor): This term identifies the source of the burden. It is defined as one who harasses or tyrannizes, and in [[Isaiah 9:4]], it is the rod of the **oppressor** that is broken along with the yoke of the burden.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5448}}` is centered on God's power to deliver His people from subjugation.
* **Symbol of National Oppression:** The **burden** is not a personal trial but the collective weight of a hostile nation, specifically identified as "the Assyrian" [[Isaiah 14:25]] and an "oppressor" [[Isaiah 9:4]].
* **Promise of Liberation:** The word is never mentioned without a corresponding promise of its removal. God's action is the focus, as He is the one who will break the yoke [[Isaiah 9:4]] and cause the **burden** to depart [[Isaiah 10:27]].
* **Tangible Picture of Servitude:** By being paired with **yoke** `{{H5923}}` and **shoulder** `{{H7926}}`, `{{H5448}}` creates a powerful, physical metaphor for the experience of being under an oppressor's control.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5448}}` **çôbel** is a concise and potent term for a figurative **burden**. Used exclusively in Isaiah, it functions to illustrate the heavy weight of national oppression. Its significance lies not in the burden itself, but in its promised removal, serving as a powerful testament to God's role as a deliverer who breaks the yokes and lifts the burdens of His people.
TRV