Charles Ellicott Commentary Galatians 6:5

"For each man shall bear his own burden." — Galatians 6:5 (ASV)

Every man shall bear his own burden.—The word for “burden” here is different from the one that had been used above, though its meaning is very much the same. The distinction would be sufficiently represented if we were to translate in the one case burden, in the other load.

The context, however, is quite different. In Galatians 6:2, the Christian is instructed to bear the burdens of others, in the sense of sympathizing with them in their troubles. Here he is told that he must bear his own load, in the sense that he must answer directly to God for his own actions. His responsibility cannot be shifted onto others. He will be no better because there are others worse than himself.