CategoryArchaic Word
Modern Equivalentburdened; distracted; weighed down.
KJV Word TypeAdjective / past participle
DefinitionBurdened, distracted, hindered, or weighed down.
Key Verses"But Martha was cumbered about much serving." (Luke 10:40)
KJV Usage NoteOften describes being weighed down by many concerns or duties.
Common MisunderstandingIt does not mean “encumbered with clutter” only; it can describe distraction or anxious busyness.
EtymologyFrom Old French combrer, “to hinder or obstruct.”