Proverbs 19:24

24 Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

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Proverbs 19:24 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 19:24

A slothful [man] hideth his hand in [his] bosom
In cold weather to keep it warm, and at other times, as unwilling to use it in labour; it is the proper posture and just attitude of a slothful man. The word for "bosom" is sometimes used for a "pot" or "platter" F21; and then the sense is, that he puts his hands under a pot over a fire to warm them; or in one removed at some distance from the fire, as Jarchi; or rather it may signify his putting his hand into a plate of food, and yet so slothful, as it follows, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again;
so sluggish, that he will rather starve than be at the pains to feed himself; he will not take his hand out of his bosom, to take food out of the dish to feed himself with; and even when his hand is in the dish, he will not take it from thence again, and lift it to his mouth; an hyperbolical expression. Gussetius F23 thinks, it may have respect to such slothful men, who are careless and negligent to their souls; who, though they have the holy Scriptures in their hands, like a vessel full of wholesome food for the soul, yet will not make use of the least mite out of them, that they may receive eternal life.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 (txlub) "in patinam", Tigurine version; "in lebete", Mercerus, Michaelis; "in patinia", Cocceius; "in paropsidem", Schultens.
F23 Ebr. Comment. p. 715.

Proverbs 19:24 In-Context

22 Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest.
23 Fear of the LORD leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.
24 Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.
25 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson; if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
26 Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother are an embarrassment and a public disgrace.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.