Proverbs 26:15 - The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
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What does "Proverbs 26:15" mean?
Proverbs 26:15, "The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth," is a vivid and humorous description of extreme laziness. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"The sluggard buries his hand in the dish..." This paints a picture of a lazy person already at the point of accessing food. The food is right there, within reach, literally in the same dish as his hand.
"...he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth." This is the punchline. Even though the food is already within his grasp, the sluggard is so incredibly lazy that he can't even muster the effort to lift his hand and bring the food to his mouth to eat it.
Meaning/Interpretation:
The verse illustrates the absurdity and self-defeating nature of extreme laziness. It highlights:
Inaction despite opportunity: The lazy person has the opportunity right in front of them (food easily accessible), but refuses to act.
Self-inflicted suffering: By being too lazy to eat, the sluggard effectively denies himself nourishment. His laziness leads to his own detriment.
Exaggeration for emphasis: The verse uses hyperbole (exaggeration) to drive home the point. It's unlikely someone would literally be unable to lift their hand to their mouth if they were hungry. The point is to show the degree of laziness.
Warning against sloth: The verse serves as a warning against becoming lazy. It shows how laziness can lead to absurdity and self-harm.
In essence, the proverb teaches that laziness is not just about avoiding work, but also about refusing to take the necessary actions to meet even basic needs. It satirizes the absurd lengths to which a lazy person will go to avoid effort, even when it is to their own disadvantage. It's a memorable and impactful way to discourage sloth and encourage diligence.
Proverbs 26:15 - The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
What does "Proverbs 26:15" mean?
Proverbs 26:15, "The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth," is a vivid and humorous description of extreme laziness. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"The sluggard buries his hand in the dish..." This paints a picture of a lazy person already at the point of accessing food. The food is right there, within reach, literally in the same dish as his hand.
"...he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth." This is the punchline. Even though the food is already within his grasp, the sluggard is so incredibly lazy that he can't even muster the effort to lift his hand and bring the food to his mouth to eat it.
Meaning/Interpretation:
The verse illustrates the absurdity and self-defeating nature of extreme laziness. It highlights:
Inaction despite opportunity: The lazy person has the opportunity right in front of them (food easily accessible), but refuses to act.
Self-inflicted suffering: By being too lazy to eat, the sluggard effectively denies himself nourishment. His laziness leads to his own detriment.
Exaggeration for emphasis: The verse uses hyperbole (exaggeration) to drive home the point. It's unlikely someone would literally be unable to lift their hand to their mouth if they were hungry. The point is to show the degree of laziness.
Warning against sloth: The verse serves as a warning against becoming lazy. It shows how laziness can lead to absurdity and self-harm.
In essence, the proverb teaches that laziness is not just about avoiding work, but also about refusing to take the necessary actions to meet even basic needs. It satirizes the absurd lengths to which a lazy person will go to avoid effort, even when it is to their own disadvantage. It's a memorable and impactful way to discourage sloth and encourage diligence.