Proverbs 19:15
Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
Original Language Analysis
תַּפִּ֣יל
casteth
H5307
תַּפִּ֣יל
casteth
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
2 of 6
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
וְנֶ֖פֶשׁ
soul
H5315
וְנֶ֖פֶשׁ
soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
4 of 6
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
Cross References
Proverbs 23:21For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.Proverbs 20:13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.Proverbs 24:33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:2 Thessalonians 3:10For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
Historical Context
Agrarian Israelite society required consistent labor for survival. Those who refused to work during planting and harvest seasons would inevitably face starvation, making this proverb a practical warning with immediate consequences.
Questions for Reflection
- In what areas of life are you tempted toward slothfulness rather than faithful diligence?
- How does understanding work as a divine calling transform your daily labor?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Slothfulness produces a spiritual stupor ('deep sleep') that blinds one to reality and urgency. The sluggard lives in a dream world, oblivious to approaching consequences. The inevitable result is hunger—both physical want and spiritual poverty. This verse connects laziness with its natural consequences in God's moral order. Work is not a curse but part of God's creational design (Genesis 2:15), and refusal to work brings self-imposed suffering. The Reformed tradition has always emphasized diligent labor as a calling and means of glorifying God. Sloth is ultimately a sin against the Creator who fashioned us for purposeful activity.