6102. atsel

Strong's Lexicon

atsel: Sluggard, lazy, idle

Original Word: עָצֵל
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: `atsel
Pronunciation: ah-tsale'
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-tsale')
Definition: Sluggard, lazy, idle
Meaning: indolent

Word Origin: Derived from the root עָצַל (atsal), which means to be sluggish or idle.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek equivalent often used in the Septuagint for "atsel" is ὀκνηρός (oknēros), which also means lazy or idle. This term appears in the New Testament, such as in Matthew 25:26, where the unfaithful servant is described as "wicked and lazy."

Usage: The term "atsel" is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe a person who is habitually lazy or idle. It often carries a negative connotation, highlighting a lack of diligence or effort. The sluggard is depicted as someone who avoids work, neglects responsibilities, and fails to act with urgency or purpose.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite society, diligence and hard work were highly valued traits, essential for survival and prosperity. Agriculture was the primary occupation, and a strong work ethic was necessary to ensure a successful harvest and the well-being of the community. Laziness was seen as a vice that could lead to poverty and shame, not only for the individual but also for their family and community.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from atsel
Definition
sluggish, lazy
NASB Translation
lazy (1), lazy one (1), sluggard (12).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

עָצֵל₁₄ adjective sluggish, lazy; — always ׳י absolute; — ׳אִישׁעֿ Proverbs 24:30; elsewhere substantive sluggard Proverbs 6:6,9 10t. Prov + ׳הֶע Proverbs 10:26.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

slothful, sluggard

From atsal; indolent -- slothful, sluggard.

see HEBREW atsal

Forms and Transliterations

הֶ֝עָצֵ֗ל העצל וְ֝עָצֵ֗ל ועצל עָ֭צֵל עָצֵ֑ל עָצֵ֣ל עָצֵ֥ל ׀ עצל ‘ā·ṣêl ‘āṣêl aTzel he‘āṣêl he·‘ā·ṣêl heaTzel veaTzel wə‘āṣêl wə·‘ā·ṣêl

Englishman's Concordance

Proverbs 6:6
HEB: נְמָלָ֥ה עָצֵ֑ל רְאֵ֖ה דְרָכֶ֣יהָ
NAS: to the ant, O sluggard, Observe
KJV: to the ant, thou sluggard; consider
INT: the ant sluggard Observe her ways

Proverbs 6:9
HEB: עַד־ מָתַ֖י עָצֵ֥ל ׀ תִּשְׁכָּ֑ב מָ֝תַ֗י
NAS: will you lie down, O sluggard? When
KJV: How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise
INT: long How slothful lie How

Proverbs 10:26
HEB: לָעֵינָ֑יִם כֵּ֥ן הֶ֝עָצֵ֗ל לְשֹׁלְחָֽיו׃
NAS: So is the lazy one to those who send
KJV: to the eyes, so [is] the sluggard to them that send
INT: to the eyes So is the lazy send

Proverbs 13:4
HEB: וָ֭אַיִן נַפְשׁ֣וֹ עָצֵ֑ל וְנֶ֖פֶשׁ חָרֻצִ֣ים
NAS: The soul of the sluggard craves
KJV: The soul of the sluggard desireth,
INT: and nothing the soul of the sluggard the soul of the diligent

Proverbs 15:19
HEB: דֶּ֣רֶךְ עָ֭צֵל כִּמְשֻׂ֣כַת חָ֑דֶק
NAS: The way of the lazy is as a hedge
KJV: The way of the slothful [man is] as an hedge
INT: the way of the lazy A hedge of thorns

Proverbs 19:24
HEB: טָ֘מַ֤ן עָצֵ֣ל יָ֭דוֹ בַּצַּלָּ֑חַת
NAS: The sluggard buries his hand
KJV: A slothful [man] hideth his hand
INT: buries the sluggard his hand the dish

Proverbs 20:4
HEB: מֵ֭חֹרֶף עָצֵ֣ל לֹא־ יַחֲרֹ֑שׁ
NAS: The sluggard does not plow after
KJV: The sluggard will not plow
INT: the autumn the sluggard does not plow

Proverbs 21:25
HEB: תַּאֲוַ֣ת עָצֵ֣ל תְּמִיתֶ֑נּוּ כִּֽי־
NAS: The desire of the sluggard puts him to death,
KJV: The desire of the slothful killeth
INT: the desire of the sluggard puts for

Proverbs 22:13
HEB: אָמַ֣ר עָ֭צֵל אֲרִ֣י בַח֑וּץ
NAS: The sluggard says, There is a lion
KJV: The slothful [man] saith,
INT: says the sluggard lion outside

Proverbs 24:30
HEB: שְׂדֵ֣ה אִישׁ־ עָצֵ֣ל עָבַ֑רְתִּי וְעַל־
NAS: by the field of the sluggard And by the vineyard
INT: the field of the sluggard passed and by

Proverbs 26:13
HEB: אָמַ֣ר עָ֭צֵל שַׁ֣חַל בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ
NAS: The sluggard says, There is a lion
KJV: The slothful [man] saith,
INT: says the sluggard lion the road

Proverbs 26:14
HEB: עַל־ צִירָ֑הּ וְ֝עָצֵ֗ל עַל־ מִטָּתֽוֹ׃
NAS: on its hinges, So [does] the sluggard on his bed.
KJV: upon his hinges, so [doth] the slothful upon his bed.
INT: on hinges So the sluggard on his bed

Proverbs 26:15
HEB: טָ֘מַ֤ן עָצֵ֣ל יָ֭דוֹ בַּצַּלָּ֑חַת
NAS: The sluggard buries his hand
KJV: The slothful hideth his hand
INT: buries the sluggard his hand the dish

Proverbs 26:16
HEB: חָכָ֣ם עָצֵ֣ל בְּעֵינָ֑יו מִ֝שִּׁבְעָ֗ה
NAS: The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
KJV: The sluggard [is] wiser
INT: is wiser the sluggard eyes seven

14 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6102
14 Occurrences

‘ā·ṣêl — 12 Occ.
he·‘ā·ṣêl — 1 Occ.
wə·‘ā·ṣêl — 1 Occ.