Proverbs 20:4

Proverbs 20:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
• New International Version (NIV)Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

Context of Proverbs 20:4

2The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; One who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life. 3Avoiding strife is an honor for a person, But any fool will quarrel. The lazy one does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing. 5A plan in the heart of a person is like deep water, But a person of understanding draws it out. 6Many a person proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy person?

Proverbs 20:4 word by word

מֵ֭חֹרֶף עָצֵ֣ל לֹא־יַחֲרֹ֑שׁ וְשָׁאַ֖ל בַּקָּצִ֣יר וָאָֽיִן׃Read the interlinear

• lazyעָצֵל‛âtsêl · sluggishH6102
• does not plowחָרַשׁchârash · to plow/plotH2790
• afterמִן־min minnîy minnêy · fromH4480
• the autumnחֹ֫רֶףchôreph · autumnH2779
• begsשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• during the harvestקָצִירqâtsîyr · harvestH7105
• and hasאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369

Cross-references for Proverbs 20:4

• Proverbs 10:4Poor is one who works with a lazy hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
• Proverbs 19:15Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And a lazy person will suffer hunger.
• Proverbs 26:13A lazy one says, “There is a lion on the road! A lion is in the public square!”
• Proverbs 6:10“A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest,”
• Proverbs 24:34Then your poverty will come like a drifter, And your need like an armed man.
• Matthew 25:3For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take extra oil with them;
• 2 Peter 1:5Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

Commentaries on Proverbs 20:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The sluggard will not plough - For other parts of this character, see the preceding chapter, Proverbs 19 (note). It is seldom that there is a season of very cold weather in Palestine; very cold days sometimes occur, with wind, rain, and sleet. They begin their ploughing in the latter end of September, and sow their early wheat by the middle of October. And this is often the case in England itself. The meaning of the proverb is: the slothful man, under the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Plowing time in Palestine is in November and December, when the wind blows commonly from the North.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 He who labours and endures hardship in his seed-time for eternity, will be properly diligent as to his earthly business.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. shall ... beg--literally, "ask" (in this sense, Psa 109:10).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 20:4

• Beggars
• Idleness
• Slothfulness
• Winter

In the dictionaries

• Advice
• Cease
• Counsel
• Naught
• Obscure
• Proclaim
• Pure
• Purpose
• Wait
• Cold

Commentaries on Proverbs 20

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings