Proverbs 6:10
in Proverbs 6A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep:
KJV
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
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This verse in Proverbs 6
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
observe its ways and become wise
on Proverbs 6:6-11
The slacker is sent to learn from the ant, which works “Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler” and stores food in summer. The threefold “a little” mimics the slacker's own excuses, and poverty then arrives unannounced, “like a robber, and need like a bandit”.
This site's exposition
a little folding of the hands to rest
The slacker asks for only a little more sleep, a little more slumber, a little more rest for folded hands. Bede heard in this the sinner who promises to rise and repent later. Proverbs 24:33 repeats the line word for word.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,.... Or, "little sleeps, little slumbers" (s).
When wilt thou think it time to arise? " Sluggards should be roused with a How long? This is applicable, (1.) To those that are slothful in the way of work and duty, in the duties of their particular calling as men or their general calling as Christians. " How long wilt thou waste thy time, and when wilt thou be a better husband of it?
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber - This, if not the language, is the feeling of the sluggard. The ant gathers its food in summer and in harvest, and sleeps in winter when it has no work to do. If the sluggard would work in the day, and sleep at night, it would be all proper. The ant yields him a lesson of reproach.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
a little folding of the hands The sleeper folds his hands, embrasser in French (abrasar in Provencal,) umfassen [in German], to embrace. In Rashi ms. plier in French [to fold] in German et was falten, to fold a little.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
And your poverty shall come like a fast walker If you do this [keep sleeping], your loss and the thing from which you are impoverished shall come to you immediately, like a man walking fast, and your want will come and fill up
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. 5 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
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מְעַ֣ט | meat | a little of | H4592 → | 101 times |
| שֵׁ֭נוֹת | shenot | sleep<s> | H8142 → | 23 times |
| מְעַ֣ט | meat | a little of | H4592 → | 101 times |
| תְּנוּמ֑וֹת | tenumot | slumber<s> | H8572 → | 5 times |
| מְעַ֓ט׀ | meat | a little of | H4592 → | 101 times |
| חִבֻּ֖ק | chibuk | folding of | H2264 → | |
| יָדַ֣יִם | yadayim | hands | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| לִשְׁכָּֽב׃ | lishkav | to rest | H7901 → | 212 times |
מְעַ֣טa little of
meatH4592 →101 times
שֵׁ֭נוֹתsleep<s>
shenotH8142 →23 times
מְעַ֣טa little of
meatH4592 →101 times
תְּנוּמ֑וֹתslumber<s>
tenumotH8572 →5 times
מְעַ֓ט׀a little of
meatH4592 →101 times
חִבֻּ֖קfolding of
chibukH2264 →
יָדַ֣יִםhands
yadayimH3027 →1618 times
לִשְׁכָּֽב׃to rest
lishkavH7901 →212 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 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
Proverbs 6:6Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.
it leads to
- Proverbs 20:4
The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
- Proverbs 18:9
Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
- Proverbs 13:4
The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
- Proverbs 6:9
How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?
- Hebrews 6:12
Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
- Proverbs 20:4
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of 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.