Proverbs 19:24 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:24

A sluggard is here exposed as a fool, for, 1. All his care is to save himself from labour and cold. See his posture: He hides his hand in his bosom, pretends he is lame and cannot work; his hands are cold, and he must warm them in his bosom; and, when they are warm there, he must keep them so. He hugs himself in his own ease and is resolved against labour and hardship. Let those work that love it; for his part he thinks there is no such fine life as sitting still and doing nothing. 2. He will... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:24

A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom ,.... In cold weather to keep it warm, and at other times, as unwilling to use it in labour; it is the proper posture and just attitude of a slothful man. The word for "bosom" is sometimes used for a "pot" or "platter" F21 בצלחת "in patinam", Tigurine version; "in lebete", Mercerus, Michaelis; "in patinia", Cocceius; "in paropsidem", Schultens. ; and then the sense is, that he puts his hands under a pot over a fire to warm them; or in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 19:24

A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom - Is too lazy to feed himself, If he dip his hand once in the dish, he is too lazy to put it in a second time. It is a strange case that a man, through his excessive slothfulness, would rather starve than put himself to the trouble to eat. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 19:22-29

Mixed maxims of life-wisdom I. HUMAN KINDNESS . ( Proverbs 19:22 .) There is no purer delight than in the feelings of love and the practical exercise of universal kindness. If the mere pleasure of the selfish and the benevolent life be the criterion, without question the latter has the advantage. II. TRUTHFULNESS . ( Proverbs 19:22 , Proverbs 19:28 .) So the honest poor outweighs the rich or successful liar in intrinsic happiness as well as in repute. The worthless... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 19:24

A slothful man hideth him hand in his bosom ; Revised Version, the sluggard burieth his hand in the disk. The word tsallachath, translated "bosom" here and in the parallel passage, Proverbs 26:15 (where see note), is rightly rendered "dish" ( 2 Kings 21:13 ). At an Oriental meal the guests sit round a table, on which is placed a dish containing the food, from which every one helps himself with his fingers, knives, spoons, and forks being never used (comp. Ruth 2:14 ; Matthew 26:23... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 19:24

Proverbs 19:24. A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom Either to keep it warm in cold weather, or to give it rest, being unwilling to fatigue it with the labour of any action; and will not bring it to his mouth again Namely, to feed himself; as if he expected that the meat should drop into his mouth. “It is a most elegant, but hyperbolical, description of a man who hath given himself up to sloth; who refuses to do things as easy as pulling his hand out of his bosom, and as necessary... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:1-29

Lessons heeded and ignored (19:1-29)Moral uprightness is more important than wealth, and wise action is more important than hasty action. People are foolish when they blame God for the trouble they bring upon themselves through their own mistakes (19:1-3).Often the reason the rich have many friends is that these ‘friends’ hope to gain personally from their wealth or influence (4-6). The poor lose their friends, though in a sense they are rich if they maintain their understanding (7-8). People... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 19:24

bosom = bowl or wide dish. 2 Kings 21:13 . Compare Matthew 26:23 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 19:24

"The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again."We have here a classical example of hyperbole. Can anyone imagine a man so lazy that, when he is eating, he will not even lift his hand from the dish to his mouth? "The scene here is a meal and the example extremely comical."[19]; Proverbs 26:15 repeats this. This must be classified as a humorous proverb. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 19:24

Proverbs 19:24. A slothful man— This verse contains a most elegant but hyperbolical description of a man who has given himself up to sloth; who refuses to do things as easy pulling his hand out of his bosom, and as necessary as eating and drinking. See Psalms 74:11. read more