What does Proverbs 19:24 mean?

As he does so often in this book (Proverbs 10:4; 12:24; 18:9; 19:15) and others (Ecclesiastes 10:18) Solomon observes that laziness is counterproductive. This proverb depicts someone too lazy to lift his hand from the dish to his mouth. This is a common visual joke in modern comedy: a person so overfed or lazy that they can't even get the fork or food to their face anymore. There's a sense of mockery and ridicule here; gaining a reputation for laziness is rightly embarrassing.

The Bible frequently decries laziness. Proverbs 6:9 asks, "How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?" This passage also makes a dire prediction: "Poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man" (Proverbs 6:11). Laziness isn't just unattractive and harmful, it's dangerous (Proverbs 20:4; 23:21).

In Bible times, a dish of broth, paste, or other food would be placed in the middle of the table at dinner. Guests dipped their hands or pieces of bread in it to draw out food. At the Passover supper, Jesus identified Judas as His betrayer by saying, "He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me" (Matthew 26:23).