Proverbs 18:9
in Proverbs 18Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
He also that is slack in his work Is brother to him that is a destroyer.
KJV
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
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This verse in Proverbs 18
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
A fool’s lips enter into contention
on Proverbs 18:6-9
A fool's lips walk straight into a quarrel, and his mouth invites the very blows it should avoid, his own destruction and his soul's snare in one line. The talebearer's words are wounds that go down into the innermost parts, an image repeated later at 26:22 that the bench reads as the book's settled verdict on gossip's real damage. The slothful worker is named brother to a great waster, since wasted effort and wasted time spend the same coin.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
He who is lazy and slack in his work, etc. Because he who does not strictly follow through with good beginnings imitates the hand of a destroyer through the laziness of negligence.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He also that is slothful in his work,.... Remiss in it; hangs down his hands, and does not care to make use of them, but neglects his business: is brother to him that is a great waster: a prodigal man, who spends his substance in riotous living: the sluggard and the prodigal are brethren in iniquity; for, though they take different courses, they are both sinful, and issue in the same manner; both bring to poverty and want.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
He also that is slothful - A slothful man neglects his work, and the materials go to ruin: the master, he destroys the materials. They are both destroyers.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
The name of the Lord is a tower of strength; the righteous runs into it and is strengthened Heb. ונשגב.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| גַּ֭ם | gam | also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| מִתְרַפֶּ֣ה | mitrapeh | [one who] shows himself idle | H7503 → | 46 times |
| בִמְלַאכְתּ֑וֹ | vimlakhto | in work his | H4399 → | 167 times |
| אָ֥ח | ʾach | [is] a brother | H251 → | 630 times |
| ה֝֗וּא | hu' | he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| לְבַ֣עַל | levaal | of a master of | H1167 → | 84 times |
| מַשְׁחִֽית׃ | mashchit | destruction | H4889 → |
גַּ֭םalso
gamH1571 →769 times
מִתְרַפֶּ֣ה[one who] shows himself idle
mitrapehH7503 →46 times
בִמְלַאכְתּ֑וֹin work his
vimlakhtoH4399 →167 times
אָ֥ח[is] a brother
ʾachH251 →630 times
ה֝֗וּאhe
hu'H1931 →1879 times
לְבַ֣עַלof a master of
levaalH1167 →84 times
מַשְׁחִֽית׃destruction
mashchitH4889 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 12:11Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
it leads to
- Proverbs 13:4
The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 6:10–11
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Acts 18:25
He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
- Revelation 3:15–16
I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other!
- Colossians 3:22–24
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.
- Proverbs 13:4
Through
Hebrews 6:12Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
- Hebrews 10:36
You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
- Hebrews 13:7
Through
Proverbs 10:4Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
it leads to
- Proverbs 19:15
Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
- Proverbs 19:15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.