The term "slothful" in the Bible is often associated with laziness, idleness, and a lack of diligence or effort in one's duties and responsibilities. It is considered a vice that leads to poverty, ruin, and spiritual decay. The Bible frequently warns against slothfulness, emphasizing the importance of hard work, diligence, and stewardship.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, the Book of Proverbs provides numerous insights into 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."

Proverbs 10:4 states, "Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth." This verse highlights the direct correlation between laziness and poverty, contrasting it with the prosperity that comes from diligence.

Proverbs 19:15 further warns, "Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger." Here, slothfulness is depicted as leading to a state of unpreparedness and lack, both physically and spiritually.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, slothfulness is addressed in the context of spiritual fervor and service. Romans 12:11 exhorts believers, "Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." This verse encourages Christians to maintain their enthusiasm and dedication in their service to God, warning against the dangers of becoming spiritually lazy.

The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 also illustrates the consequences of slothfulness. The servant who buried his talent out of fear and laziness is rebuked by his master: "You wicked, lazy servant!" (Matthew 25:26). This parable underscores the expectation that believers should actively use their God-given gifts and opportunities for the advancement of God's kingdom.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, slothfulness is seen as a failure to fulfill the God-given mandate to work and steward creation. Genesis 2:15 describes how God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden "to work it and keep it," establishing work as a divine ordinance. Slothfulness, therefore, is not merely a personal failing but a neglect of one's divine calling and responsibility.

Moreover, slothfulness can be viewed as a form of spiritual apathy, where individuals become indifferent to their spiritual growth and the needs of others. This apathy can lead to a weakened faith and a diminished witness to the world.

Practical Applications

The Bible encourages believers to combat slothfulness by cultivating diligence, discipline, and a strong work ethic. Colossians 3:23 instructs, "Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men." This verse calls Christians to approach all tasks with a sense of purpose and dedication, recognizing that their work is ultimately for God's glory.

Additionally, believers are encouraged to be vigilant in their spiritual lives, as seen in 1 Peter 5:8 : "Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." This vigilance extends to all areas of life, urging Christians to remain active and engaged in their faith and responsibilities.

In summary, the Bible presents slothfulness as a significant moral and spiritual issue, urging believers to pursue diligence and faithfulness in all aspects of life.(a.) Inactive; sluggish; lazy; indolent; idle.3576. nothros -- sluggish, slothful
... sluggish, slothful. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: nothros Phonetic
Spelling: (no-thros') Short Definition: dull, sluggish Definition: blunt, dull ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3576.htm - 6k

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

4190. poneros -- toilsome, bad
... Adjective Transliteration: poneros Phonetic Spelling: (pon-ay-ros') Short Definition:
evil, bad, wicked Definition: evil, bad, wicked, malicious, slothful. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4190.htm - 8k

2655. katanarkao -- to grow numb
... to burden. From kata and narkao (to be numb); to grow utterly torpid, ie (by
implication) slothful (figuratively, expensive) -- be burdensome (chargeable). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2655.htm - 7k

6102. atsel -- sluggish, lazy
... 12). slothful, sluggard. From atsal; indolent -- slothful, sluggard. see HEBREW
atsal. 6101, 6102. atsel. 6103 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6102.htm - 6k

6101. atsel -- to be sluggish
... root Definition to be sluggish NASB Word Usage delay (1). be slothful. A primitive
root; to lean idly, ie To be indolent or slack -- be slothful. 6100, 6101. ...
/hebrew/6101.htm - 5k

7503. raphah -- sink, relax
... draw (toward evening), fail, (be) faint, be (wax) feeble, forsake, idle, leave,
let alone (go, down), (be) slack, stay, be still, be slothful, (be) weak(-en). ...
/hebrew/7503.htm - 6k

7423. rmiyah -- deceit, treachery
... remissness, treachery From ramah; remissness, treachery -- deceit(- ful, -fully),
false, guile, idle, slack, slothful. see HEBREW ramah. 7422, 7423. ...
/hebrew/7423.htm - 5k

How the Slothful and the Hasty are to be Admonished.
... How the slothful and the hasty are to be admonished. (Admonition 16.)
Differently to be admonished are the slothful and the hasty. ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xv how the slothful.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xxv. 24, Etc. , Where the ...
... On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xxv. 24, etc., where the slothful servant who
would not put out the talent he had received, is condemned. [XCIV. Ben.] ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xliv on the words.htm

A Triplet of Graces
... 'Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.'"Romans 12:11. ...
'Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.'. ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/a triplet of graces.htm

The Sluggard's Garden
... 'I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void
of understanding; 31. ... I. Note first who the slothful man is. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the sluggards garden.htm

Against those who Object Because the Devil Has not Been Put Out of ...
... For if thou lettest the adversary remain, the more slothful are injured, not on
account of the more diligent, but by their own slothfulness; whereas if thou ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily ii against those who.htm

On the Duty of Working for a Livelihood.
... thee as an evil runagate." [2859] And again: "He that manageth his own land shall
be filled with bread." [2860] And elsewhere he says: "The slothful has folded ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec viii on the duty of.htm

Rejoicing Before God.
... And so there is such a thing as a slothful joy over even so great events
as those which we remember on days like this. For the man ...
/.../schleiermacher/selected sermons of schleiermacher/x rejoicing before god.htm

Another Sermon of M. Latimer, Concerning the Same Matter.
... On the contrary, a slothful servant, when his master commandeth him to do any thing,
by and by he will ask questions, "Where?" "When?" "Which way?" and so forth ...
/.../sermons on the card and other discourses/another sermon of m latimer.htm

The Sluggard's Farm
... "I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of
understanding; And, lo, it ... First think of Solomon's description of a slothful man. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the sluggards farm.htm

One Lion Two Lions no Lion at All
... "The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the
streets.""Proverbs 22:13. "The slothful man saith, There ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/one lion two lions no.htm

Slothful (22 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Slothful (22 Occurrences). Matthew 25:26 "But
his lord answered him,'You wicked and slothful servant. You ...
/s/slothful.htm - 12k

Lazy (10 Occurrences)
... 2. (superl.) Inactive; slothful; slow; sluggish; as, a lazy stream. ... Matthew
25:26 "But his lord answered him,'You wicked and slothful servant. ...
/l/lazy.htm - 9k

Filth (21 Occurrences)
... In Apocrypha we have (Ecclesiasticus 22:1): "A slothful man is compared to a filthy
(ardaloo) stone," the Revised Version (British and American) "a stone that ...
/f/filth.htm - 17k

Filthiness (16 Occurrences)
... In Apocrypha we have (Ecclesiasticus 22:1): "A slothful man is compared to a filthy
(ardaloo) stone," the Revised Version (British and American) "a stone that ...
/f/filthiness.htm - 16k

Filthy (22 Occurrences)
... In Apocrypha we have (Ecclesiasticus 22:1): "A slothful man is compared to a filthy
(ardaloo) stone," the Revised Version (British and American) "a stone that ...
/f/filthy.htm - 16k

Diligent (33 Occurrences)
... after God. (WEY). Romans 12:11 as to diligent zealousness, not slothful;
in spirit fervent; serving the Lord. (DBY). 2 Corinthians ...
/d/diligent.htm - 18k

Hideth (28 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV WBS). Proverbs 19:24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom,
and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. (KJV WBS). ...
/h/hideth.htm - 14k

Bosom (47 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Proverbs 19:24 A slothful man hideth his hand
in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. (KJV WBS). ...
/b/bosom.htm - 26k

Broad (113 Occurrences)
... (ASV DBY JPS YLT). Proverbs 22:13 The slothful hath said, 'A lion 'is' without,
In the midst of the broad places I am slain.' (YLT). ...
/b/broad.htm - 40k

Zealousness (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Zealousness (1 Occurrence). Romans 12:11 as to diligent
zealousness, not slothful; in spirit fervent; serving the Lord. (DBY). ...
/z/zealousness.htm - 6k

What does the Bible say about laziness? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about being late or lateness? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about managing your finances? | GotQuestions.org

Slothful: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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