Definition and General Understanding:
Laziness, often referred to as slothfulness in biblical terms, is characterized by an unwillingness to work or exert effort. It is frequently associated with idleness and a lack of productivity. In the Bible, laziness is viewed negatively and is often contrasted with diligence and industriousness.

Biblical References:

1. Proverbs on Laziness:
The Book of Proverbs contains numerous warnings against laziness, emphasizing the importance of hard work and the consequences of slothfulness. Proverbs 6:6-11 advises, "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise. Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food at harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? 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."

2. Consequences of Laziness:
Proverbs 10:4 states, "Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth." This highlights the direct correlation between laziness and poverty, suggesting that a lack of effort leads to a lack of resources. Similarly, Proverbs 19:15 warns, "Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger."

3. Laziness and Wisdom:
Proverbs 26:13-16 portrays the lazy person as one who makes excuses to avoid work, saying, "The sluggard says, 'There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!' As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly."

4. New Testament Teachings:
The New Testament also addresses laziness, particularly in the context of Christian living and community. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, Paul instructs, "For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat. Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies. We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living."

5. Parable of the Talents:
In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells the Parable of the Talents, which underscores the importance of using one's gifts and resources wisely. The servant who buried his talent out of fear and laziness is rebuked by his master, who calls him "wicked and lazy" (Matthew 25:26). This parable illustrates the expectation that believers should actively use their abilities for the Kingdom of God.

Theological Implications:
Laziness is often seen as a failure to fulfill one's God-given responsibilities and potential. It is considered a vice that can lead to spiritual stagnation and a lack of growth in one's faith. The Bible encourages believers to be diligent and to work as if serving the Lord, as stated in Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men."

Practical Application:
Christians are encouraged to cultivate a strong work ethic, not only in their professional lives but also in their spiritual pursuits. This includes being active in prayer, study of the Scriptures, and service to others. By doing so, they honor God and contribute positively to their communities and the body of Christ.1. (superl.) Disinclined to action or exertion; averse to labor; idle; shirking work.

2. (superl.) Inactive; slothful; slow; sluggish; as, a lazy stream.

3. (superl.) Wicked; vicious.

3636. okneros -- shrinking, timid, hence idle, lazy, troublesome
... shrinking, timid, hence idle, lazy, troublesome. Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: okneros Phonetic Spelling: (ok-nay-ros') Short Definition: slothful ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3636.htm - 7k

692. argos -- inactive, idle
... inactive, idle. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: argos Phonetic Spelling:
(ar-gos') Short Definition: idle, lazy, thoughtless Definition: idle, lazy ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/692.htm - 6k

3576. nothros -- sluggish, slothful
... sluggish, remiss, slack. 3576 -- properly, , sluggish (); (figuratively)
because; lazy, inert, listless (lackadaisical). Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3576.htm - 6k

6102. atsel -- sluggish, lazy
... 6101, 6102. atsel. 6103 . sluggish, lazy. Transliteration: atsel Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-tsale') Short Definition: sluggard. Word ...
/hebrew/6102.htm - 6k

7503. raphah -- sink, relax
... 1), courage* (1), discouraged* (2), discouraging* (1), drawn (1), dropped (2), fail
(5), fall limp (2), feeble (1), forsake (1), hang limp (2), lazy (3), leave ...
/hebrew/7503.htm - 6k

7423b. remiyyah -- laxness, slackness
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition laxness, slackness NASB Word Usage idle
(1), lazy man (1), negligent (1), negligently (1), slack (1). ...
/hebrew/7423b.htm - 5k

Of a Lazy Brother who Tried to Persuade Others to Leave the ...
... Prolegomena. Chapter XX. Of a lazy brother who tried to persuade others
to leave the monastery. We know a brother, whose name we ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xx of a lazy.htm

The Troubles of those who are Lazy
... THE SAYINGS OF THE WISE THE TROUBLES OF THOSE WHO ARE LAZY. The lazy man
says, "A lion is outside! I shall be killed in the streets ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the troubles of those who.htm

Saved by Grace Alone.
... If we are children of God we ought not to have a lazy drop of blood in our veins. ...
In all my experience I never knew a lazy man to be converted"never. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/sovereign grace/chapter ii saved by grace.htm

Ode to the North-East Wind
... and breathless air. Tired of listless dreaming, Through the lazy day: Jovial
wind of winter Turns us out to play! Sweep the golden ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/ode to the north-east wind.htm

Sappho
... Far below The lazy sea-weed glistened in the sun; The lazy sea-fowl dried their
steaming wings; The lazy swell crept whispering up the ledge, And sank again. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/sappho.htm

Pharaoh the Stubborn Ruler
... But you shall demand of them the same number of bricks that they have been making
before; you shall not lessen the number at all, for they are lazy; that is ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/pharaoh the stubborn ruler.htm

The Perfect Love.
... the good news of Passion-week; a gospel which men are too apt to forget, even to
try to forget, as long as they are comfortable and prosperous, lazy and selfish ...
/.../kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon ii the perfect love.htm

The Sluggard's Reproof
... that sin. Perhaps we have many other vices more rife in our midst than
that, but in the East almost every man is a lazy man. If ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the sluggards reproof.htm

Bear up the Hands that Hang Down, by Faith and Prayer...
... Spurgeon. It may be said with emphasis that no lazy saint prays. Can there
be a lazy saint? Can there be a prayerless saint? Does ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter ix bear up the.htm

Great is the Reward of Good Works with God. Joined Together in ...
... The good servant [139] receives the bread of his labour with confidence;
the lazy and slothful cannot look his employer in the face. ...
/.../chapter xxxiv great is the reward.htm

Lazy (10 Occurrences)
... 2. (superl.) Inactive; slothful; slow; sluggish; as, a lazy stream. 3. (superl.)
Wicked; vicious. Multi-Version Concordance Lazy (10 Occurrences). ...
/l/lazy.htm - 9k

Sluggard (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A person habitually lazy, idle, and inactive;
a drone. 2. (a.) Sluggish; lazy. ... He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. ...
/s/sluggard.htm - 11k

Idle (33 Occurrences)
... 4. (superl.) Given rest and ease; averse to labor or employment; lazy; slothful;
as, an idle fellow. 5. (superl.) Light-headed; foolish. ...
/i/idle.htm - 18k

Shiftless (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Lacking ambition; inefficient; lazy; destitute of
expedients, or not using successful expedients; characterized by failure ...
/s/shiftless.htm - 7k

Leach (1 Occurrence)

/l/leach.htm - 7k

Lazily (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In a lazy manner. Multi-Version Concordance
Lazily (1 Occurrence). 2 Corinthians 11:9 And being ...
/l/lazily.htm - 6k

Laziness (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The state or quality of being lazy.
Multi-Version Concordance Laziness (4 Occurrences). 2 Corinthians ...
/l/laziness.htm - 7k

Lazuli (3 Occurrences)

/l/lazuli.htm - 7k

Idleness (4 Occurrences)
... i'-d'-l, i'-d'-l-nes: Both words, adjective and noun, render different Hebrew words
(from `atsel, "to be lazy," raphah, "to relax," and shaqaT, "to be quiet"). ...
/i/idleness.htm - 9k

Indolent (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Habitually lazy; avoiding labor and exertion; inactive;
as, an indolent man. Multi-Version Concordance Indolent (3 Occurrences). ...
/i/indolent.htm - 7k

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