Luke 11:46
And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
Original Language Analysis
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
also
G2532
καὶ
also
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
4 of 24
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τοῖς
G3588
τοῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
νομικοῖς
ye lawyers
G3544
νομικοῖς
ye lawyers
Strong's:
G3544
Word #:
7 of 24
according (or pertaining) to law, i.e., legal (ceremonially); as noun, an expert in the (mosaic) law
ὅτι
! for
G3754
ὅτι
! for
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
9 of 24
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
φορτίζετε
ye lade
G5412
φορτίζετε
ye lade
Strong's:
G5412
Word #:
10 of 24
to load up (properly, as a vessel or animal), i.e., (figuratively) to overburden with ceremony (or spiritual anxiety)
τοὺς
G3588
τοὺς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
φορτίοις
the burdens
G5413
φορτίοις
the burdens
Strong's:
G5413
Word #:
13 of 24
an invoice (as part of freight), i.e., (figuratively) a task or service
καὶ
also
G2532
καὶ
also
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
15 of 24
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
αὐτοὶ
ye yourselves
G846
αὐτοὶ
ye yourselves
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
16 of 24
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
18 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
προσψαύετε
touch
G4379
προσψαύετε
touch
Strong's:
G4379
Word #:
22 of 24
to impinge, i.e., lay a finger on (in order to relieve)
Cross References
Luke 11:52Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.Isaiah 10:1Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;Galatians 6:13For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.Isaiah 58:6Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?Luke 11:45Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.
Historical Context
The oral law (later codified in the Mishnah and Talmud) contained thousands of detailed regulations expanding Torah's 613 commandments into all-encompassing life control. Sabbath rules alone included 39 categories of prohibited work, each with multiple subcategories. Common people couldn't possibly observe all requirements, creating permanent guilt and dependence on priestly/Pharisaic mediation.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'burdens grievous to be borne' might Christian legalism impose—standards beyond Scripture or cultural preferences presented as biblical mandates?
- How can church leaders avoid the lawyers' error of imposing requirements they don't personally bear?
- What is the difference between Jesus's 'easy yoke' and religious burdens—how does grace lighten rather than increase obligation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers (ὅτι φορτίζετε τοὺς ἀνθρώπους φορτία δυσβάστακτα, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἑνὶ τῶν δακτύλων ὑμῶν οὐ προσψαύετε τοῖς φορτίοις)—the fourth woe condemns hypocritical burden-bearing. Phortizō (lade, load heavily) describes oppressive loading of phortia (burdens) that are dusbastakta (grievous to bear, unbearable). The lawyers imposed crushing religious regulations while exempting themselves through clever loopholes.
Jesus later contrasted his burden-lifting with Pharisaic burden-imposing: 'My yoke is easy, and my burden is light' (Matthew 11:30). The lawyers' regulations (handwashing, tithing, Sabbath rules) created crushing guilt without providing grace. They wouldn't prospasauō (touch with a finger) the burdens themselves—authority without compassion, law without mercy.