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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.

Context of Proverbs 20:4

2A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion; those who anger him forfeit their lives. 3It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing. 5The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out. 6Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?

Proverbs 20:4 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• The sluggardעָצֵל‛âtsêl · sluggishH6102
• will not plowחָרַשׁchârash · to plow/plotH2790
• by reason of the coldחֹ֫רֶףchôreph · autumnH2779
• shall he begשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• in harvestקָצִירqâtsîyr · harvestH7105

Cross-references for Proverbs 20:4

• Proverbs 10:4Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.
• Proverbs 19:15Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry.
• Proverbs 26:13A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
• Proverbs 6:10A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
• Proverbs 24:34and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
• Matthew 25:3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.
• 2 Peter 1:5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, 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