Luk 11:46 | RWP | e4.org | Grievous to be borne ( δυσβαστακτα ). A late word in LXX and Plutarch ( δυς and βασταζω ). Here alone in text of Westcott and Hort who reject it in where we have "heavy burdens" ( φορτια βαρεα ). In we have βαρη with a distinction drawn. Here we have φορτιζετε (here only in the N.T. and ) for "lade," φορτια as cognate accusative and then φορτιοις (dative after ου προσψαυετε , touch not). It is a fierce indictment of scribes (lawyers) for their pettifogging interpretations of the written law in their oral teaching (later written down as Mishna and then as Gemarah ), a terrible load which these lawyers did not pretend to carry themselves, not even "with one of their fingers" to "touch" ( προσψαυω , old verb but only here in the N.T.), touch with the view to remove. has κινησα , to move. A physician would understand the meaning of προσπαυω for feeling gently a sore spot or the pulse.

‏ Luke 11:46

Grievous to be borne ( δυσβαστακτα ). A late word in LXX and Plutarch ( δυς and βασταζω ). Here alone in text of Westcott and Hort who reject it in Mt 23:4 where we have "heavy burdens" ( φορτια βαρεα ). In Gal 6:2 we have βαρη with a distinction drawn. Here we have φορτιζετε (here only in the N.T. and Mt 11:28) for "lade," φορτια as cognate accusative and then φορτιοις (dative after ου προσψαυετε, touch not). It is a fierce indictment of scribes (lawyers) for their pettifogging interpretations of the written law in their oral teaching (later written down as Mishna and then as Gemarah), a terrible load which these lawyers did not pretend to carry themselves, not even "with one of their fingers" to "touch" ( προσψαυω, old verb but only here in the N.T.), touch with the view to remove. Mt 23:4 has κινησα, to move. A physician would understand the meaning of προσπαυω for feeling gently a sore spot or the pulse.