The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 22:13
What does Proverbs 22:13 mean?
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Proverbs 22:13
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The sting of this proverb lies not just in the excuse itself, but in its utter absurdity: the slothful person fears a lion in the open country and assassins in the streets. This highlights how laziness breeds an imagination that conjures up impossible dangers to justify inaction.
The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights the absurd excuses the lazy person invents to avoid work, imagining outlandish dangers like lions outside or murder in the streets. These absurd fears prevent them from venturing out for their livelihood, even though the dangers are imaginary and lions wouldn't typically be found in city streets. The verses immediately surrounding this one speak of the importance of diligent work and the consequences of laziness, setting up this proverb as a stark, satirical example of that very laziness.
Ever felt too afraid to try something new because of 'what ifs'? The sluggard in Proverbs gives us a masterclass in creative avoidance.
Proverbs paints a vivid picture of the lazy person's mind. They conjure up the most ridiculous dangers to justify their idleness.
Imaginary Lions
The sluggard claims a lion is outside, threatening danger in the open country. This isn't just a fear of wild animals; it represents any perceived external obstacle that prevents action.
Street Danger
Then, they add that they'll be killed in the streets. This is the truly absurd part! Lions don't typically roam city streets. This highlights how excuses can be illogical and disconnected from reality, yet still powerful enough to paralyze the inactive.
The core message? The sluggard isn't facing a real lion; they're trapped by the lions of their own excuses, invented to avoid the hard work required for progress.
Why do we make excuses? Often, it's to quiet our own conscience. The sluggard is a master of this art.
The sluggard's excuses aren't just for others; they are a way to self-justify their laziness.
A Conscience Soothed
By creating these outlandish scenarios – a lion in the fields and murder in the streets – the sluggard can feel unable to act. Their conscience is appeased because the obstacles seem insurmountable and beyond their control.
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Avoiding Responsibility
This isn't about genuine fear, but about sidestepping responsibility. Instead of facing the need for diligence, planning, and effort, they construct a narrative of victimhood. The external 'lion' and 'danger' become the villains, absolving them of the need to try.
Understand the original words
ʿāṣēl · Hebrew Noun
A lazy or indolent person; one who lacks motivation and diligence in life and spiritual duty, often serving as a warning against spiritual apathy.
This passage echoes Proverbs 22:13 with a similar image, highlighting the absurd and self-deceptive excuses the lazy person will invent to avoid work, portraying them as utterly unable to venture out. It reinforces the theme of the sluggard's irrational avoidance.
Matthew 25:25The parable of the talents shows a servant who, out of fear and a desire to avoid risk (similar to the sluggard's fear of a 'lion'), buries his talent instead of investing it. This connects by illustrating the destructive consequence of allowing fear and excuses to paralyze one from fruitful action.
Romans 8:6This verse contrasts the 'mind set on the flesh,' which leads to death, with the 'mind set on the Spirit,' which leads to life and peace. The sluggard's excuse-making, rooted in a fleshly desire for ease and avoidance of effort, mirrors the 'mind set on the flesh' that Paul warns against.
Hebrews 12:12-13The author encourages believers to 'lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,' urging them to 'make straight paths for your feet.' This speaks directly to the physical and spiritual lethargy the sluggard embodies, calling for renewed effort and purpose.
clarkeProverbs 22:13: "The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets."
The slothful man saith, There is a lion without - But why does he say so? Because he is a slothful man. Remove his slothfulness, and these imaginary difficulties and dangers will be no more. He will not go abroad to work in the fields, because he thinks there is a lion in the way, he will not go out into the town for employment, as he fears to be assassinated in the streets! From both these circu…
ellicottProverbs 22:13: "The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets."
(13) The slothful man saith, There is a lion without . . . —No excuses are too absurd for him, he fears to meet a lion in the open country, or, he might be murdered in the streets.
The sting of this proverb lies not just in the excuse itself, but in its utter absurdity: the slothful person fears a lion in the open country and assassins in the streets. This highlights how laziness breeds an imagination that conjures up impossible dangers to justify inaction.
This verse highlights the absurd excuses the lazy person invents to avoid work, imagining outlandish dangers like lions outside or murder in the streets. These absurd fears prevent them from venturing out for their livelihood, even though the dangers are imaginary and lions wouldn't typically be found in city streets. The verses immediately surrounding this one speak of the importance of diligent work and the consequences of laziness, setting up this proverb as a stark, satirical example of that very laziness.
This verse highlights the absurd excuses the lazy person invents to avoid work, imagining outlandish dangers like lions outside or murder in the streets. These absurd fears prevent them from venturing out for their livelihood, even though the dangers are imaginary and lions wouldn't typically be found in city streets. The verses immediately surrounding this one speak of the importance of diligent work and the consequences of laziness, setting up this proverb as a stark, satirical example of that very laziness.
"The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”" — The sting of this proverb lies not just in the excuse itself, but in its utter absurdity: the slothful person fears a lion in the open country and assassins in the streets. This highlights how lazi…
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Last reviewed October 2026