Proverbs 19 · Verse 24

Proverbs 19:24

A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
Proverbs 19:24, King James Version

Proverbs 19:24 in other translations

BSBThe slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.
WEBThe sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
ASVThe sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
YLTThe slothful hath hidden his hand in a dish, Even unto his mouth he bringeth it not back.
DARBYA sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, and will not even bring it to his mouth again.
BBEThe hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin, and will not even take it to his mouth again.
WebsterA slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

What does Proverbs 19:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
24. bosom--literally, a wide dish in which the hand was plunged in eating (Mt 26:23). Compare Pr 26:15, the sentiment expressed with equal irony and less exaggeration.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom - Is too lazy to feed himself, If he dip his hand once in the dish, he is too lazy to put it in a second time. It is a strange case that a man, through his excessive slothfulness, would rather starve than put himself to the trouble to eat.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Indolence, when indulged, so grows upon people, that they have no heart to do the most needful things for themselves.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 19:24 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

טָ֘מַ֤ןta.Manhe hidesH2934
עָצֵ֣ל'a.Tzela sluggardH6102
יָ֭דוֹya.dohand hisH3027
בַּצַּלָּ֑חַתba.tza.La.chatin the dishH6747
גַּם\־gam-alsoH1571
אֶל\־'el-toH413
פִּ֝֗יהוּPi.humouth hisH6310
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
יְשִׁיבֶֽנָּה\׃ye.shi.Ve.nahhe brings back itH7725

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 19:24

  • Proverbs 15:19

    The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

  • Proverbs 6:9-10

    How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

  • Proverbs 26:13-16

    The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

  • Proverbs 24:30-34

    I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: …

  • Proverbs 19:15

    Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

  • Mark 14:20

    And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.

  • Proverbs 12:27

    The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

  • Matthew 26:23

    And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

  • Psalms 74:11

    Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
15; 6:9,10; 12:27; 15:19; 24:30-34; 26:13-16; Ps 74:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 19:23

    The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

  • Proverbs 19:24

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

  • Proverbs 19:25

    Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

Read all of Proverbs 19

Proverbs 19:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El perezoso esconde su mano en el seno: aun á su boca no la llevará.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le paresseux enfonce sa main dans le plat, et il ne la ramène pas à sa bouche.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Hat der Faule seine Hand in die Schüssel gesteckt, nicht einmal zu seinem Munde bringt er sie zurück.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Abscondit piger manum suam sub ascella, nec ad os suum applicat eam.