The term "sluggard" is prominently featured in the wisdom literature of the Bible, particularly in the Book of Proverbs. It is used to describe a person characterized by laziness, idleness, and a lack of diligence. The sluggard is often portrayed as a cautionary figure, serving as a warning against the perils of slothfulness and the virtues of hard work and responsibility.

Biblical References:

1. Proverbs 6:6-11: "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise. Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food at harvest. 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."

This passage contrasts the sluggard with the industrious ant, highlighting the ant's self-motivation and foresight. The sluggard's love for sleep and rest is depicted as leading to poverty and want.

2. Proverbs 10:26: "Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him."

Here, the sluggard is likened to irritants, emphasizing the frustration and disappointment they cause to those who rely on them.

3. Proverbs 13:4: "The soul of the sluggard craves, yet gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied."

This verse contrasts the unfulfilled desires of the sluggard with the satisfaction of the diligent, underscoring the rewards of hard work.

4. Proverbs 19:24: "The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth."

This hyperbolic image illustrates the extreme laziness of the sluggard, who is too indolent to complete even the simplest tasks.

5. Proverbs 20:4: "The sluggard does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks but finds nothing."

The sluggard's failure to work at the appropriate time results in a lack of harvest, symbolizing the consequences of neglecting one's duties.

6. Proverbs 26:13-16: "The sluggard says, 'There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!' As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly."

This passage highlights the sluggard's tendency to make excuses, his love for sleep, and his unwarranted self-confidence.

Theological Implications:

The depiction of the sluggard in Proverbs serves as a moral and spiritual lesson. Laziness is not merely a personal failing but is seen as contrary to the divine order and purpose for humanity. The Bible encourages diligence, responsibility, and stewardship, reflecting God's character and His intentions for human flourishing. The sluggard's behavior is antithetical to these values, leading to personal and communal detriment.

Practical Applications:

For believers, the warnings against slothfulness serve as a call to examine one's work ethic and responsibilities. Christians are encouraged to emulate the diligence of the ant, to be proactive in their duties, and to avoid the pitfalls of laziness. The teachings on the sluggard remind the faithful of the importance of discipline, perseverance, and the pursuit of excellence in all endeavors, as acts of worship and service to God.1. (n.) A person habitually lazy, idle, and inactive; a drone.

2. (a.) Sluggish; lazy.

SLUGGARD

slug'-ard: Found only in the Old Testament, and there only in Proverbs. It is the rendering given the word 'atsel everywhere in the Revised Version (British and American), but in the King James Version only in Proverbs 6:6, 9; Proverbs 10:26; Proverbs 13:4; Proverbs 20:4; 26:16 (elsewhere the King James Version translates by "slothful"). The root meaning of ['atsel] is "to be sluggish," "stupid." The English word "slug" is said to be "allied to slack" (Webster).

6102. atsel -- sluggish, lazy
... 6101, 6102. atsel. 6103 . sluggish, lazy. Transliteration: atsel Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-tsale') Short Definition: sluggard. ... slothful, sluggard. ...
/hebrew/6102.htm - 6k

The Sluggard
... SONNETS i The Sluggard. Go to the ant ... food in the harvest. How long wilt thou
sleep, O Sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/i the sluggard.htm

The Sluggard.
... Divine Songs For Children. The Sluggard. 1 'Tis the voice of the Sluggard.
I heard him complain "You have waked me too soon! I must ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/divine songs for children/the sluggard.htm

Song 1. The Sluggard.
... Divine Songs Song 1. The sluggard. The sluggard. 12,12,12,12. 'Tis the voice of
the Sluggard: I heard him complain,. You have waked me too soon! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/divine and moral songs/song 1 the sluggard.htm

The Sluggard in Harvest
... THE PROVERBS THE SLUGGARD IN HARVEST. 'The sluggard will not plow by reason of the
cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.'"Proverbs 20:4. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the sluggard in harvest.htm

The Sluggard.
... VI. CAUTIONS. Hymn 78 The sluggard. John Newton 8,6,8,6. The sluggard. The wishes
that the sluggard frames, Prov 6:10; 24:30; 22:13; 20:4. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 78 the sluggard.htm

The Sluggard's Garden
... THE PROVERBS THE SLUGGARD'S GARDEN. 'I went by ... 30, 31. This picture of the
sluggard's garden seems to be intended as a parable. No ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the sluggards garden.htm

The Sluggard's Reproof
... The Sluggard's Reproof. ... "Tis the voice of the sluggard; I heard him complain,.
You have waked me too soon, I must slumber again.'". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the sluggards reproof.htm

The Sluggard's Farm
... The Sluggard's Farm. A sermon (No.2027) intended for reading on Lord's Day, June
3rd 1888, delivered by CH Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the sluggards farm.htm

How the First of These Calls is of no Use to a Sluggard, and the ...
... Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter V. How the first of these calls is of
no use to a sluggard, and the last is no hindrance to one who is in earnest. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter v how the first.htm

On the Duty of Working for a Livelihood.
... be idle. So says Solomon somewhere: "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider
her ways diligently, and become wiser than she. For ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec viii on the duty of.htm

Sluggard (14 Occurrences)
...SLUGGARD. slug'-ard: Found only in the Old Testament, and there only in Proverbs. ...
Sluggard (14 Occurrences). Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard. ...
/s/sluggard.htm - 11k

Sluggard's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Sluggard's (1 Occurrence). Proverbs 13:4 A sluggard's
soul desireth and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. ...
/s/sluggard's.htm - 6k

Burieth (4 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Proverbs 19:24 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will
not so much as bring it to his mouth again. (ASV DBY JPS). ...
/b/burieth.htm - 7k

Buries (6 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Proverbs 19:24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will
not so much as bring it to his mouth again. (WEB NAS RSV NIV). ...
/b/buries.htm - 8k

Sluggish (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (a.) Having no power to move one's self or itself; inert. 4. (a.) Characteristic
of a sluggard; dull; stupid; tame; simple. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/s/sluggish.htm - 7k

Hinge (1 Occurrence)
... The proverb, "As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the sluggard upon his
bed" (Proverbs 26:14), describes the ancient mode of ingress and egress into ...
/h/hinge.htm - 9k

Streets (83 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS). Proverbs 22:13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! ...
Proverbs 26:13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! ...
/s/streets.htm - 34k

Cold (25 Occurrences)
... They wrap up their heads in shawls and coverings and only the most energetic venture
out: "The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter" (Proverbs 20:4 ...
/c/cold.htm - 18k

Dish (54 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Proverbs 19:24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not
so much as bring it to his mouth again. (WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/d/dish.htm - 24k

Lion (92 Occurrences)
... Proverbs 22:13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I ... Proverbs
26:13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A ...
/l/lion.htm - 46k

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