Topical Encyclopedia
The term "sluggish" in the biblical context often refers to a lack of diligence, zeal, or spiritual fervor. It is associated with laziness, indifference, and a failure to act with the urgency or commitment that faith in God demands. The Bible warns against sluggishness, particularly in spiritual matters, as it can lead to spiritual stagnation and a failure to fulfill God's purposes.
Biblical References:1.
Proverbs 6:6-11 · The book of Proverbs frequently addresses the dangers of laziness and sluggishness. In
Proverbs 6:6-11, the sluggard is admonished to learn from the ant, which is industrious and prepares for the future. The passage warns that poverty will come upon the lazy person like a thief, emphasizing the consequences of a sluggish lifestyle.
2.
Hebrews 6:12 · In the New Testament, the author of Hebrews exhorts believers not to become sluggish: "so that you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised" . This verse highlights the importance of perseverance and active faith in the Christian life.
3.
Romans 12:11 · The Apostle Paul encourages believers to be fervent in spirit and not to be sluggish in their zeal: "Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord" . This call to maintain spiritual enthusiasm underscores the need for continuous dedication to God's work.
4.
Matthew 25:26-30 · In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus describes a servant who is condemned for being wicked and lazy. The master rebukes the servant for not using his talents wisely, illustrating the spiritual peril of sluggishness and the expectation that believers actively use their gifts for God's kingdom.
Theological Implications:Sluggishness is seen as a spiritual danger because it reflects a heart that is not fully committed to God. It can lead to missed opportunities for service, growth, and the advancement of God's kingdom. The Bible encourages believers to be diligent, proactive, and fervent in their faith, recognizing that spiritual sluggishness can hinder one's relationship with God and effectiveness in ministry.
Practical Application:Believers are called to examine their lives for areas of sluggishness and to seek God's strength to overcome it. This involves cultivating habits of discipline, prayer, and study of Scripture, as well as engaging actively in the life of the church and service to others. By doing so, Christians can ensure that they are living out their faith with the vigor and commitment that God desires.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Habitually idle and lazy; slothful; dull; inactive; as, a sluggish man.
2. (a.) Slow; having little motion; as, a sluggish stream.
3. (a.) Having no power to move one's self or itself; inert.
4. (a.) Characteristic of a sluggard; dull; stupid; tame; simple.
Greek
3576. nothros -- sluggish, slothful ... sluggish, slothful. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: nothros Phonetic
Spelling: (no-thros') Short Definition: dull,
sluggish Definition: blunt, dull
... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3576.htm - 6k988. blasphemia -- slander
... Cognate: 988 (from , "sluggish/slow," and 5345 , "reputation, fame") -- - literally,
slow (sluggish) to call something (that ) -- and slow to identify what is ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/988.htm - 7k
987. blasphemeo -- to slander, hence to speak lightly or profanely ...
... 987 (from , "sluggish, slow" and 5345 , "reputation, fame") -- properly, to acknowledge
good (worthy of respect, veneration); hence, to which moral values. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/987.htm - 9k
917. bareos -- heavily
... Cognate: 917 -- properly, heavily; (figuratively) , and disinterested listening,
ie done in a sluggish (unperceptive) fashion. See 922 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/917.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
6102. atsel -- sluggish, lazy... 6101, 6102. atsel. 6103 .
sluggish, lazy. Transliteration: atsel Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-tsale') Short Definition: sluggard. Word
... /hebrew/6102.htm - 6k 6101. atsel -- to be sluggish
... to be sluggish. Transliteration: atsel Phonetic Spelling: (aw-tsal') Short Definition:
delay. ... root Definition to be sluggish NASB Word Usage delay (1). ...
/hebrew/6101.htm - 5k
6313. pug -- to grow numb
... cease, be feeble, faint, be slacked. A primitive root; to be sluggish -- cease,
be feeble, faint, be slacked. 6312, 6313. pug. 6314 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6313.htm - 5k
1679. dobe -- perhaps rest
... strength. From an unused root (compare dabab) (probably meaning to be sluggish,
ie Restful); quiet -- strength. see HEBREW dabab. 1678, 1679. dobe. 1680 . ...
/hebrew/1679.htm - 6k
Library
Christ Stimulating Sluggish Discipleship
... ST. MATTHEW Chaps. I to VIII CHRIST STIMULATING SLUGGISH DISCIPLESHIP.
'And another of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, suffer ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture a/christ stimulating sluggish discipleship.htm
1 Thessalonians v. 1, 2
... For if any of the young knew that before he reached old age, he should meet his
end, as the most sluggish of wild beasts, when they are taken, become still ...
/.../homily ix 1 thessalonians v.htm
The Impossibility of Failure.
... And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness
of hope even to the end: that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who ...
/.../chapter vi the impossibility of.htm
Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity Duty to New and Old Man.
... For although the Spirit truly is present and, as Christ says, willing and effective
in those that believe, on the other hand the flesh is weak and sluggish. ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/nineteenth sunday after trinity duty.htm
A Caution against Various Temptations, by which the Young Convert ...
... xvi.) are broken through."2. Particular cautions"against a sluggish and indolent
temper."3. Against the excessive love of sensitive pleasure."4 ...
/.../the rise and progress of religion in the soul/chapter xxi a caution against.htm
Chapter ix.
... for what is the real state of the case, that He may make you know: just as we speak
of a joyful day, because it makes us joyful; of a sluggish frost, because ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter ix 2.htm
John Chapter ii. 23-25; iii. 5-Jan
... But let us observe all the words what they imply, that here the sluggish may find
with what earnestness they must haste to put off their burden. ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xi john chapter ii.htm
Complaining of Spiritual Sloth.
... Complaining of spiritual sloth. 1 My drowsy powers, why sleep ye so? Awake, my sluggish
soul! ... 5 Lord, shall we lie so sluggish still, And never act our parts? ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 2 25 complaining of spiritual.htm
Letter ix. (AD 389. )
... We know that this is patent even to our senses, dull and sluggish though they are,
when the movements of the mind are somewhat vehement, as when we are angry ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter ix a d 389.htm
Complaining of Spiritual Sloth.
... My drowsy powers, why sleep ye so? Awake, my sluggish soul! Nothing has half thy
work to do,. ... He purchased with his blood! Lord, shall we lie so sluggish still,. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/hymn 25 complaining of spiritual.htm
Thesaurus
Sluggish (1 Occurrence)... 1. (a.) Habitually idle and lazy; slothful; dull; inactive; as, a
sluggish man.
2. (a.) Slow; having little motion; as, a
sluggish stream.
.../s/sluggish.htm - 7kDull (16 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) Slow of understanding; wanting readiness of apprehension; stupid; doltish;
blockish. 2. (superl.) Slow in action; sluggish; unready; awkward. ...
/d/dull.htm - 12k
Sluggard (14 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Sluggish; lazy. Int. ... The root meaning of ['atsel] is "to be sluggish," "stupid."
The English word "slug" is said to be "allied to slack" (Webster). ...
/s/sluggard.htm - 11k
Slow (43 Occurrences)
... gradual; late. 4. (superl.) Not ready; not prompt or quick; dilatory; sluggish;
as, slow of speech, and slow of tongue. 5. (superl ...
/s/slow.htm - 21k
Sullen (4 Occurrences)
... 5. (a.) Obstinate; intractable. 6. (a.) Heavy; dull; sluggish. ... 9. (vt) To make sullen
or sluggish. Multi-Version Concordance Sullen (4 Occurrences). ...
/s/sullen.htm - 8k
Kishon (6 Occurrences)
... From Sa`adiyeh it flows in a deep sluggish stream through the marsh-land to the
sea near Chaifa. In this part the crocodile is said to have been seen at times. ...
/k/kishon.htm - 12k
Leaden (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Like lead in color, etc. ; as, a leaden sky. 3. (a.) Heavy; dull;
sluggish. Multi-Version Concordance Leaden (2 Occurrences). ...
/l/leaden.htm - 7k
Lazy (10 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) Disinclined to action or exertion; averse to labor; idle; shirking
work. 2. (superl.) Inactive; slothful; slow; sluggish; as, a lazy stream. ...
/l/lazy.htm - 9k
Imitators (8 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 6:12 that you won't be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith
and patience inherited the promises. (WEB WEY ASV DBY NAS RSV). ...
/i/imitators.htm - 8k
Inherited (23 Occurrences)
... (WEB ASV NAS NIV). Hebrews 6:12 that you won't be sluggish, but imitators of those
who through faith and patience inherited the promises. (WEB). ...
/i/inherited.htm - 13k
Resources
What is a sluggard? What does Proverbs teach about sluggards? | GotQuestions.orgSluggish: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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