Proverbs 6:10
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 6:10
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse captures the insidious way laziness creeps in: not as one giant leap, but as a series of small, seemingly harmless concessions. The repetition of "a little" emphasizes how the sluggard rationalizes delaying responsibility, believing a brief pause won't have lasting consequences.
This passage, following the example of the diligent ant, directly addresses the "sluggard." It describes the sluggard's own lazy excuses for delaying work, framing these desires for more sleep and rest as the path that inevitably leads to destitution. The verses immediately following will show the stark consequence of this "little sleep" and "little slumber"—poverty arriving suddenly and overwhelmingly.
Ever told yourself, 'Just a little longer,' or 'I'll do it tomorrow'? This verse captures that exact feeling. It's the voice of procrastination whispering sweet nothings.
The sluggard in Proverbs isn't just lazy; they're masters of self-deception.
The Gradual Slide
Verse 10 uses a progression: 'a little sleep,' then 'a little slumber,' and finally 'a little folding of the hands to rest.' It’s not one big decision to be lazy, but a series of small concessions.
The Habitual Trap
Each 'little' step seems harmless, but it builds a habit. These repeated actions, as scholars note, create an 'indolence' that eventually becomes impossible to break. The consequence isn't sudden; it creeps in, like a traveler approaching on foot, until it's an 'armed man' too strong to resist.
When challenged to wake up and work, what's the sluggard's reply? It’s not defiance, but a soft, persistent plea for more ease.
Proverbs 6:10 paints a vivid picture of the sluggard’s mindset when faced with a call to action. They aren’t necessarily arguing against the need to work; they are trying to postpone it.
The Plea for Rest
Commentators describe this verse as the sluggard's internal (or external) dialogue. Instead of getting up, they ask for just a bit more sleep, a moment more of slumber, a brief pause before finally settling in. The 'folding of the hands' is the very posture of surrender to rest.
The Shame of the Ant
This contrasts sharply with the diligence of the ant, a creature Proverbs often uses to shame the lazy. While the ant works when it can, the sluggard seeks rest even when there's work to be done. This isn't just about efficiency; it's a deep-seated aversion to effort and responsibility.
Understand the original words
tenumah · Hebrew Noun
A state of light, drowsy, or semi-conscious rest. It represents a transition into or lingering in a state of laziness and lack of productivity.
This passage speaks of not allowing freedom to become an excuse for indulging the flesh, which echoes the warning against the 'little sleep' that leads to ruinous sloth.
Matthew 25:26Jesus' parable of the talents highlights the severe consequences of inaction and dormancy, similar to how the 'little sleep' of the sluggard leads to poverty and powerlessness.
Romans 13:11This verse calls believers to wake up from sleep, urging them to cast off deeds of darkness and put on light, directly contrasting the sluggard's desire for more sleep and rest.
Hebrews 6:12This passage warns against becoming sluggish, encouraging instead imitation of those who inherit God's promises through faith and patience, directly opposing the spirit of Proverbs 6:10.
pulpitProverbs 6:10: "Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:"
Verse 10. - Yet a Little sleep, etc. Is this the answer of the sluggard which the teacher takes up and repeats ironically, and in a tone of contempt? or is it the teacher's own language describing how the sluggard slides on insensibly to ruin? The Vulgate favours the latter view, "Thou shalt sleep a little, thou shalt slumber a little, thou shalt fold thy hands to sleep, and then," etc. Habits, as Ari…
clarkeProverbs 6:10: "Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:"
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber - This, if not the language, is the feeling of the sluggard. The ant gathers its food in summer and in harvest, and sleeps in winter when it has no work to do. If the sluggard would work in the day, and sleep at night, it would be all proper. The ant yields him a lesson of reproach.
This verse captures the insidious way laziness creeps in: not as one giant leap, but as a series of small, seemingly harmless concessions. The repetition of "a little" emphasizes how the sluggard rationalizes delaying responsibility, believing a brief pause won't have lasting consequences.
This passage, following the example of the diligent ant, directly addresses the "sluggard." It describes the sluggard's own lazy excuses for delaying work, framing these desires for more sleep and rest as the path that inevitably leads to destitution. The verses immediately following will show the stark consequence of this "little sleep" and "little slumber"—poverty arriving suddenly and overwhelmingly.
This passage, following the example of the diligent ant, directly addresses the "sluggard." It describes the sluggard's own lazy excuses for delaying work, framing these desires for more sleep and rest as the path that inevitably leads to destitution. The verses immediately following will show the stark consequence of this "little sleep" and "little slumber"—poverty arriving suddenly and overwhelmingly.
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"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest," — This verse captures the insidious way laziness creeps in: not as one giant leap, but as a series of small, seemingly harmless concessions. The repetition of "a little" emphasizes how the sluggard rat…