καταναρκάομαι G2655
to burden, be a burden to, weigh heavily upon; to press upon someone as a hardship
This verb means to burden someone, press heavily upon them, or be a weight to them. All three occurrences appear in 2 Corinthians where Paul defends his financial independence. In 11:9 and 12:13 he insists he was not a burden to the Corinthians—he didn't demand support. In 12:14 he declares he will not be a burden in his coming visit either, because he seeks them, not their resources. Classical usage includes growing numb, being reduced to torpor, and being slothful or heavy toward someone. Paul uses it for the financial burden he refused to impose, maintaining his right while choosing not to exercise it for the gospel's sake.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The sense is being a financial or material burden on someone. Paul's threefold use establishes his pattern: despite apostolic right to material support, he chose not to burden the Corinthians. The verb suggests pressing down on someone, weighing them down with demands or needs. In 12:14 he even explains his reasoning: parents provide for children, not vice versa—he's their spiritual father, so he'll support himself rather than burden them. The Spanish glosses vary ('fui carga,' 'seré carga'), while German has 'zur Last fallen' (to fall as a burden). Paul's financial independence becomes part of his defense against accusations of self-seeking—his refusal to burden them proves his motives are pure, his love genuine. 3×
AR["أُثَقِّلَكُمْ", "أُثَقِّلْ"]·ben["ভার-হব", "ভার-হয়েছিলাম"]·DE["zur-Last-fallen"]·EN["I-burdened", "I-will-burden"]·FR["paresseux"]·heb["אֶכְבִּיד", "הֶכְבַּדְתִּי"]·HI["मैं-भार-डालूंगा", "मैंने-भार-डाला"]·ID["aku-akan-membebani", "aku-membebani", "membebani"]·IT["pesare"]·jav["kula-ngrèpèhi"]·KO["칭엄하지-않았다", "칭엄하지-않았다는", "칭엄하지-않을-것이다"]·PT["fui-pesado", "serei-pesado"]·RU["обременил", "обременю", "обременял"]·ES["fui-carga", "os-fui-carga", "seré-carga"]·SW["sikuwa-mzigo", "sitakuwa-mzigo;"]·TR["yük-olacağım", "yük-oldum"]·urd["بوجھ-بنا", "بوجھ-بناؤں-گا"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
καταναρκάομαι, Ionic dialect καταναρκ-έομαι, passive, grow quite numb, Refs 5th c.BC+; to be reduced to a torpid condition, Refs 1st c.BC+ __II active, καταναρκᾶν τινος to be slothful towards, press heavily upon.. , NT