Someone characterised by a settled attitude of slothfulness and idleness. Such people are consistently condemned throughout Scripture.
Sluggards are characterised by slothfulness and idleness
They are lazy and refuse to work
Proverbs 6:6–8 See also Proverbs 12:27, Proverbs 15:19, Proverbs 19:24, Proverbs 20:4, Proverbs 21:25, Proverbs 24:30–31, Proverbs 26:15
Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.
They love to stay in bed when they should be up and active
Proverbs 6:9 See also Proverbs 26:14
How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?
They make excuses to avoid work
Proverbs 22:13 See also Proverbs 26:13
The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
Their desires are not met
Proverbs 13:4 See also Proverbs 20:4, Proverbs 21:25–26
The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
Their laziness leads to poverty
Proverbs 6:10–11 See also Proverbs 10:4–5, Proverbs 12:24, Proverbs 18:9, Proverbs 19:15, Proverbs 20:13, Proverbs 24:33–34; Ecclesiastes 4:5, Ecclesiastes 10:18
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
Their attitude is irritating to others
They are conceited
Sluggards condemned throughout Scripture
In the book of Proverbs
Proverbs 10:4 See also Proverbs 6:6–11, Proverbs 12:11, Proverbs 12:24, Proverbs 12:27, Proverbs 13:4, Proverbs 14:23, Proverbs 18:9, Proverbs 28:19
Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
By Jesus Christ
Matthew 20:3, Matthew 20:6, Matthew 25:24–30
In the epistles
1 Thessalonians 5:14 See also 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:10–11; 1 Timothy 5:13; Titus 1:12, Titus 3:14; Hebrews 6:12
And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.