6102. atsel

Lexical Summary

atsel: sluggard, lazy, lazy one

Original Word: עָצֵל
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: `atsel
Pronunciation: ah-tsale'
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-tsale')
KJV: slothful, sluggard
NASB: sluggard, lazy, lazy one
Word Origin: [from H6101 (עָצַל - delay)]

1. indolent

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

slothful, sluggard

From atsal; indolent -- slothful, sluggard.

see HEBREW atsal

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.

Topical Lexicon

Definition and Central Theme

עָצֵל portrays the habitual sluggard of Proverbs—one who shrinks from constructive effort and thus violates the created order of purposeful labor. His indolence is moral, not merely physical; it springs from misplaced desire, self-deception, and an unwillingness to heed wisdom’s call.

Occurrences and Literary Setting

The term appears fourteen times, all in Proverbs (6:6; 6:9; 10:26; 13:4; 15:19; 19:24; 20:4; 21:25; 22:13; 24:30; 26:13; 26:14; 26:15; 26:16). These sayings are scattered through the main Solomonic collection (10:1–22:16), the sayings of the wise (22:17–24:34), and the later Hezekian appendix (25:1–29:27). The concentration in wisdom literature underscores that laziness is not a social inconvenience but a breach of godly wisdom.

Character Portrait of the Sluggard

• Spiritually dull: “How long will you lie there, O sluggard?” (Proverbs 6:9).
• Oblivious to creation’s lessons: urged to consider the ant’s industry (6:6–8).
• Excuse-maker: invents dangers—“There is a lion outside!” (22:13; 26:13).
• Restless yet inactive: “As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed” (26:14).
• Self-indulgent: so lethargic he “buries his hand in the bowl” but will not lift it to his mouth (19:24; 26:15).
• Self-important: “The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven who answer discreetly” (26:16).

Consequences of Laziness

1. Sudden poverty—“and need like a bandit” (6:11; 24:34).
2. Unfulfilled cravings—“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing” (13:4).
3. Social irritation—“Like vinegar to the teeth… is the sluggard to those who send him” (10:26).
4. Lost opportunity—plows not in season (20:4) and faces want at harvest.
5. Self-destruction—“The craving of the sluggard kills him” (21:25).

Contrasts with Diligence and Wisdom

Proverbs pits the sluggard against the diligent (10:4), the upright (15:19), and the wise (21:20). Diligence is a pathway cleared of thorns; laziness is a barricaded alley. The ant becomes wisdom’s living parable, showing that foresight, initiative, and perseverance reflect the fear of the LORD.

Theological and Redemptive Significance

Work is woven into creation (Genesis 2:15) and affirmed in redemption (Ephesians 2:10). Laziness therefore rejects both God’s design and His purpose for human stewardship. In light of Christ, who declared, “My Father is always at His work, and I too am working” (John 5:17), the believer is redeemed from sloth to serve (Titus 2:14). New-covenant exhortations—“If anyone is unwilling to work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)—echo Proverbs, demonstrating canonical unity.

Practical Ministry Application

• Discipleship: use Proverbs 6 and 26 to expose self-deception and cultivate disciplines of prayer, study, and vocation.
• Stewardship teaching: link diligence to faithful management of time, talents, and resources.
• Counseling: confront the root idols of comfort and fear that fuel procrastination.
• Leadership training: highlight the cost of delegating responsibility to the habitually lazy (10:26).

Key References

• Proverbs 6:6-8 – “Go to the ant, O sluggard; observe her ways and be wise. Without commander, overseer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer; she gathers her food at harvest.”
• Proverbs 6:9-11 – “How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.”
• Proverbs 15:19 – “The way of the sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.”
• Proverbs 21:25 – “The craving of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to work.”
• Proverbs 26:14 – “As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.”
• Proverbs 26:16 – “The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.”

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.