Proverbs 26:15

15 A person who doesn't want to work leaves his hand in the dish. He acts as if he is too tired to bring it back up to his mouth.

Proverbs 26:15 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 26:15

The slothful hideth his hand in [his] bosom
To keep it warm; Jarchi's note is,

``he puts his hand in a hot basin, because of the cold.''
The word F3 for "bosom" does sometimes signify a "pot" or basin. Or he hides it under his "arm holes", as some render it, not caring to make use of it for labour; or covers it out of sight in his bosom, pretending some weakness or ailment in it, which hinders him from working; see ( Proverbs 19:24 ) ; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth;
from under his arm holes, or out of his bosom, or even out of the platter, where his food is; an hyperbolical expression, setting forth his excessive sloth; and such an one ought not to eat, but starve indeed. It may be rendered, "he is weary"; it is a "weariness" F4 to him; it is even a labour too much for him to feed himself, so great is his sloth: and such is the sloth of carnal men; it is a weariness to them to hear the word, and attend on ordinances, and to lift up their hands in prayer to God; or to make use of any means, that they may have food for their souls; praying, hearing, and reading, are a burden to them; and therefore it is but just with God to send them a famine of the word, and take away the whole stay and staff of bread and water.
FOOTNOTES:

F3 (txlub) "in patina vel olla", Vatablus; "in patinam", Tigurine version; "lebete", Mercerus; "in paropside", Cocceius; "in paropsidem", Schultens.
F4 (haln) "fatigatur", Mercerus, Gejerus; "defessus fit", Michaelis; "defetiscitur", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Schultens.

Proverbs 26:15 In-Context

13 A person who doesn't want to work says, "There's a lion in the road! There's an angry lion wandering in the streets!"
14 A person who doesn't want to work turns over in bed just like a door that swings back and forth.
15 A person who doesn't want to work leaves his hand in the dish. He acts as if he is too tired to bring it back up to his mouth.
16 A person who doesn't want to work is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who give careful answers.
17 Don't get mixed up in someone else's fight as you are passing by. That's like picking a dog up by its ears.
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