Proverbs 6:10

10 Thou sleepest a little, and thou restest a little, and thou slumberest a short , and thou foldest thine arms over thy breast a little.

Proverbs 6:10 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 6:10

[Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber
Or, "little sleeps, little slumbers" ^F19. These are the words of the sluggard, in answer to the call of him to awake and arise, desiring he might not be disturbed, but be suffered to sleep on longer: there is a very beautiful climax or gradation in the words, aptly expressing the disposition and actions of a sluggard; he first desires a "few sleeps" more, some sound sleeps one after another; which is quite agreeable to his character: and if he cannot be allowed them, then he requests a "few slumbers" at least, some dozings, till he can get himself thoroughly awake; and if these cannot be granted, yet he prays however that this might be admitted, a little folding of the hands to sleep;
or, "to lie down" ^F20; a few tossings and tumblings upon the bed more, with his hands folded about his breast; a sleeping gesture, and the posture of sluggards. The Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "a little thou wilt embrace the breast with the hands"; and the Syriac version, "and a little thou wilt put thine hand upon thy breast". The Jewish commentators understand this as a direction and command to sleep and slumber but little, since a little sleep is sufficient for nature; or otherwise poverty will come but the former sense is best.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (twmwnt jem twnv jem) "parvis somnis, parvis dormitationibus", Pagninus; "pauculis somnis, pauculis dormitationibus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
F20 (bkvl) "cubando", Junius & Tremellius; "cubare", Piscator; "ad cubandum", Cocceius.

Proverbs 6:10 In-Context

8 he prepares food for himself in the summer, and lays by abundant store in harvest. Or go to the bee, and learn how diligent she is, and how earnestly she is engaged in her work; whose labours kings and private men use for health, and she is desired and respected by all: though weak in body, she is advanced by honouring wisdom.

9 How long wilt thou lie, O sluggard? and when wilt thou awake out of sleep?

10 Thou sleepest a little, and thou restest a little, and thou slumberest a short , and thou foldest thine arms over thy breast a little.

11 Then poverty comes upon thee as an evil traveller, and want as a swift courier: but if thou be diligent, thine harvest shall arrive as a fountain, and poverty shall flee away as a bad courier.

12 A foolish man and a transgressor goes in ways that are not good.