Proverbs 19:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.

NIV: A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth!

NASB: The lazy one buries his hand in the dish, But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

CSB: The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth!

NLT: Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

KJV: A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

NKJV: A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

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).

Proverbs 19:22–29 continues to dispense wisdom, with a focus on integrity, the fear of the Lord, laziness, the value of discipline, the shame of unruly children, the sin of lying, and the inevitable punishment that comes with foolishness.

Several themes are associated with these statements. Among them are the idea that personal integrity is worth much more than earthly wealth or success. Solomon discusses the unfortunate habit of favoring the rich and dismissing the poor, while commending those who care for the unfortunate. Many references are made to the consequences of foolish behavior, including the shame and punishment such things can bring.

This series of proverbs is part of Solomon's writing on wisdom (Proverbs 10:1), a long chain continuing into chapter 22. As do other segments, this speaks on the harsh realities of poverty, the need for integrity, the dangers of laziness, the value of loving discipline, and the consequences of acting foolishly.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.