King James Version
Proverbs 19:24
24A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
Proverbs 19:24 in other versions
- New International Version (NIV)A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth!
- English Standard Version (ESV)The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.
Context of Proverbs 19:24
22The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar. 23The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. 26He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
Read all of Proverbs 19Proverbs 19:24 word by word
טָ֘מַ֤ן עָצֵ֣ל יָ֭דוֹ בַּצַּלָּ֑חַת גַּם־אֶל־פִּ֝֗יהוּ לֹ֣א יְשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Proverbs 19:24
- Proverbs 19:15Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
- Proverbs 6:9How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
- Proverbs 12:27The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
- Proverbs 15:19The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
- Proverbs 24:30I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
- Proverbs 26:13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
- Psalms 74:11Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.
Commentaries on Proverbs 19:24
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom - Is too lazy to feed himself, If he dip his hand once in the dish, he is too lazy to put it in a second time. It is a strange case that a man, through his excessive slothfulness, would rather starve than put himself to the trouble to eat.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24Hideth his hand in his bosom - Better, dippeth his hand in the dish (compare 2 Kings 21:13). The scene brought before us is that of an Eastern feast. There are no knives, or forks, or spoons. Every guest has to help himself, or be helped by the host. Compare John 13:26.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24Verse 24 Indolence, when indulged, so grows upon people, that they have no heart to do the most needful things for themselves.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 24This proverb humorously highlights the foolishness of laziness (see also Proverbs 10:4–6, 26; 12:11, 27; 13:4; 15:19; 18:9). See the parallel passage in Proverbs 26:15.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. bosom--literally, a wide dish in which the hand was plunged in eating (Mt 26:23). Compare Pr 26:15, the sentiment expressed with equal irony and less exaggeration.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 19:24
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
King James Version — Public Domain except in the United Kingdom (Crown rights)
Commentaries