merimna denotes concerns that can burden, distract, or be entrusted to another.

The dominant attested use concerns life’s pressures as obstacles that weigh down hearts or choke what has been heard; a smaller set concerns personal burdens, whether pressure for the churches or care cast upon God.

1. Life concerns that obstruct receptivity · dominant

   In Matthew 13:22 and Mark 4:19, the noun occurs in the clause where concerns of the age join deceitful riches and desires in choking the word so that it becomes unfruitful. In Luke 8:14, the plural genitive stands with riches and pleasures of life as what chokes those who have heard, while Luke 21:34 places plural dative concerns of life among what can weigh down the heart; the APB renders these clauses with “cares” and “worries.”

   Matthew 13:22Mark 4:19Luke 8:14Luke 21:34
2. Personal burden or care · occasional

   In 2 Corinthians 11:28, the singular nominative noun is the daily pressure described in relation to all the churches; the APB renders the clause “concern for all the churches.” In 1 Peter 5:7, the singular accusative noun is what is to be cast upon him, and the APB renders it “all your concern.”

   2 Corinthians 11:281 Peter 5:7

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across the occurrences, the APB uses “concern,” “cares,” and “worries” in clauses about pressure, choking, weighing down, and casting burdens upon him. Because the APB is a whole-verse translation, these are verse renderings rather than fixed equivalents for the term.