Proverbs 18:9

9 Even he who is slack in his work, he is brother to a master of destruction.

Proverbs 18:9 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 18:9

He also that is slothful in his work
Remiss in it; hangs down his hands, and does not care to make use of them, but neglects his business: is brother to him that is a great waster:
a prodigal man, who spends his substance in riotous living: the sluggard and the prodigal are brethren in iniquity; for, though they take different courses, they are both sinful, and issue in the same manner; both bring to poverty and want. Or, "brother to a master that wastes" ^F16; a slothful servant and a wasteful master are near akin, and come into the same class and circumstances. Jarchi interprets it,

``he that separateth from the law, though a disciple of a wise man, is a brother to Satan;''

whose name is Apollyon, the waster and destroyer. A man that is slothful in spiritual things, though a professor of religion, and has a place in the house of God, is brother to him that is a waster and persecutor of it; see ( Matthew 12:30 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 (tyxvm lebl) "domino devaststionis", Gejerus; "domino dissipanti", Mercerus.

Proverbs 18:9 In-Context

7 The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, and his lips [are] a snare to his soul.

8 The words of a whisper [are] like delicious morsels, and they themselves go down [to] inner parts of the body.

9 Even he who is slack in his work, he is brother to a master of destruction.

10 A tower of strength is the name of Yahweh; into him the righteous will run and be safe.

11 The wealth of the rich [is] {his strong city}, and like a wall, it is high in his imagination.

Footnotes

• [a] Or "owner"