Proverbs 19:15 - Exposition

Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; "causes deep sleep to fall upon a man" (comp. Proverbs 6:9 ; Proverbs 13:4 ). The word for "sleep" ( תַרדֵמָה , tardemah ) is that used for the supernatural sleep of Adam when Eve was formed ( Genesis 2:21 ), and implies pro. found insensibility. Aquila and Symmachus render it, ἔκστασιν , "trance." Slothfulness enervates a man, renders him as useless for labour as if he were actually asleep in his bed; it also enfeebles the mind, corrupts the higher faculties, converts a rational being into a witless animal. Otium est vivi hominis sepultura, "Idleness is a living man's tomb." An idle soul shall suffer hunger. We have many gnomes to this effect (see Proverbs 10:4 ; Proverbs 12:24 ; Proverbs 20:13 ; Proverbs 23:21 ). The LXX . has introduced something of this verse at Proverbs 18:8 , and here render, δειλία κατέχει ἀνδρόγυνον , "Cowardice holdeth fast the effeminate, and the soul of the idle shall hunger." "Sloth," as the proverb says, "is the mother of poverty."