Proverbs 26:15

15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

Proverbs 26:15 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
New Living Translation (NLT)
15 Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.
The Message Bible (MSG)
15 A shiftless sluggard puts his fork in the pie, but is too lazy to lift it to his mouth. Like Glaze on Cracked Pottery
American Standard Version (ASV)
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
15 A lazy person puts his fork in his food. He wears himself out as he brings it back to his mouth.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
15 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he is too weary to bring it to his mouth.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
15 A person who doesn't want to work leaves his hand in the dish. He acts as if he is too tired to bring it back up to his mouth.

Proverbs 26:15 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 26:15

The slothful hideth his hand in [his] bosom
To keep it warm; Jarchi's note is,

``he puts his hand in a hot basin, because of the cold.''
The word F3 for "bosom" does sometimes signify a "pot" or basin. Or he hides it under his "arm holes", as some render it, not caring to make use of it for labour; or covers it out of sight in his bosom, pretending some weakness or ailment in it, which hinders him from working; see ( Proverbs 19:24 ) ; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth;
from under his arm holes, or out of his bosom, or even out of the platter, where his food is; an hyperbolical expression, setting forth his excessive sloth; and such an one ought not to eat, but starve indeed. It may be rendered, "he is weary"; it is a "weariness" F4 to him; it is even a labour too much for him to feed himself, so great is his sloth: and such is the sloth of carnal men; it is a weariness to them to hear the word, and attend on ordinances, and to lift up their hands in prayer to God; or to make use of any means, that they may have food for their souls; praying, hearing, and reading, are a burden to them; and therefore it is but just with God to send them a famine of the word, and take away the whole stay and staff of bread and water.
FOOTNOTES:

F3 (txlub) "in patina vel olla", Vatablus; "in patinam", Tigurine version; "lebete", Mercerus; "in paropside", Cocceius; "in paropsidem", Schultens.
F4 (haln) "fatigatur", Mercerus, Gejerus; "defessus fit", Michaelis; "defetiscitur", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Schultens.

Proverbs 26:15 In-Context

13 A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

Cross References 1

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