A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "a little" is repeated not just to show laziness, but to highlight how tiny compromises and justifications, each seeming insignificant, build into a destructive pattern that blinds us to approaching ruin. It’s the subtle, creeping nature of self-indulgence that the text warns us about, not a single instance of oversleeping.
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a stark warning against laziness, contrasting the industrious ant with the slothful person. The verses leading up to this describe the consequences of indolence, picturing poverty as an approaching assailant. The sluggard's response, given in these lines, expresses a desperate desire to postpone duty and continue in their comfort, even as ruin looms.
Ever felt like you just need a few more minutes of sleep? That feeling is exactly what Proverbs is talking about, and it's more dangerous than you think.
The verse paints a picture of a sluggard who is asked to wake up but responds with a series of small requests for more rest.
The 'Little' Trap
It's not about one big decision to be lazy. It's about a series of tiny concessions: 'a little sleep,' then 'a little slumber,' and finally 'a little folding of the hands to rest.' Each step seems insignificant on its own.
Habit Forming
These small choices, repeated over time, build into habits. What starts as a minor indulgence can harden into a character flaw, making it increasingly difficult to break free. The 'little' excuses create a path that leads to ruin.
Proverbs isn't just describing a lazy person; it's showing the unavoidable consequence of that lifestyle. What arrives after 'a little more' rest?
This verse is a stark warning about the end result of persistent slothfulness. The small concessions to sleep and rest aren't harmless; they are the paving stones on the road to poverty and powerlessness.
The Arrival of Poverty
While this specific verse doesn't detail the consequences, the surrounding context in Proverbs 6 (verses 11 and 6:6-8) makes it clear: the result of this 'little sleep' is destitution. It's not a distant threat; it's something that creeps up and eventually attacks with overwhelming force.
Ask a follow-up
Shamed by Creation
The proverb contrasts the sluggard's behavior with the diligence of the ant. The natural world, from the smallest insect, operates with purpose and foresight. The sluggard, by contrast, is a failure to meet even the most basic standards of effective living, a shame to themselves and a burden to others.
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 describes the scouts from Dan, who, after finding Laish, use casual language that hints at a relaxed, almost lazy approach to their mission, mirroring the 'little sleep' mentality.
Matthew 25:5The parable of the ten virgins shows how a 'little slumber' led to missing a crucial moment and opportunity, illustrating the severe consequences of the sluggard's mindset.
Romans 13:11This verse calls believers to 'wake up from sleep,' directly contrasting the spiritual inertia described in Proverbs with the urgent call to live fully in God's present salvation.
2 Thessalonians 3:10This passage explicitly states, 'If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat,' providing a clear consequence and practical counterpoint to the sluggard's desire for rest without labor.
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.
The phrase "a little" is repeated not just to show laziness, but to highlight how tiny compromises and justifications, each seeming insignificant, build into a destructive pattern that blinds us to approaching ruin. It’s the subtle, creeping nature of self-indulgence that the text warns us about, not a single instance of oversleeping.
This passage is part of a stark warning against laziness, contrasting the industrious ant with the slothful person. The verses leading up to this describe the consequences of indolence, picturing poverty as an approaching assailant. The sluggard's response, given in these lines, expresses a desperate desire to postpone duty and continue in their comfort, even as ruin looms.
This passage is part of a stark warning against laziness, contrasting the industrious ant with the slothful person. The verses leading up to this describe the consequences of indolence, picturing poverty as an approaching assailant. The sluggard's response, given in these lines, expresses a desperate desire to postpone duty and continue in their comfort, even as ruin looms.
"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest," — The phrase "a little" is repeated not just to show laziness, but to highlight how tiny compromises and justifications, each seeming insignificant, build into a destructive pattern that blinds us to a…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026