Proverbs 26:13 — Word Study
WLCאָמַ֣ר עָ֭צֵל שַׁ֣חַל בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ אֲ֝רִ֗י בֵּ֣ין הָרְחֹבֽוֹת׃
BSAThe slackerʻâtsêl [slothful man, hater of work, lazy person] saysʼâmar■ A lionshachal [is] in the roadderek [way, path, journey] A fierce lionʼărîy [roams]bêyn [is in, present in] the public squarerᵉchôb [street, plaza, marketplace, broad places]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אָמַ֣ר | he says | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| עָ֭צֵל | a sluggard | Adj |
| שַׁ֣חַל | a lion | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ | [is] in the road | Preposition, noun common both singular absolute |
| אֲ֝רִ֗י | a lion | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| בֵּ֣ין | [is] between | Prep |
| הָרְחֹבֽוֹת׃ | the open places | Particle, noun common feminine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!” |
| KJV | The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. |
| ASV | The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets. |
| YLT | The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.' |
| WEB | The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!” |
| BBE | The hater of work says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. |
Where they part company is עָצֵל — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause introduces the slacker's statement, followed by two exclamatory clauses that express his exaggerated fears.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectעָצֵל
verbאָמַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 26:13
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Folly of Lazinessgenerated
Proverbs 26:13 illustrates the mindset of a slacker who makes excuses to avoid responsibility. This verse is part of a broader discussion in Proverbs about the consequences of laziness and the folly of avoiding work. The surrounding verses emphasize the contrast between wisdom and foolishness, highlighting the lack of productivity in the life of the lazy.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 15:19 | The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. |
| 2 | Proverbs 19:15 | Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger. |
| 3 | Proverbs 22:13 | The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עָצֵל, 'A.tzelgenerated
The word עָצֵל (atzel) describes a person who is habitually lazy or idle. It conveys a sense of sluggishness and reluctance to engage in work or effort. This adjective is used in various contexts throughout the Bible to illustrate the negative traits associated with laziness.
The parsing indicates that it is an adjective, which characterizes the subject of the verse, the slacker. In this context, it highlights the foolishness of making excuses instead of taking action.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB has slacker, and so do the KJV and the ASV: all three convey the idea of a lazy person.
Where others part company with the BSB they part company over a real fork in the lexicon, not over style. Slothful man (DRA, KJV, NWB) and hater of work (BBE) both emphasize the negative connotation of laziness, while lazy person (ULB) is a more straightforward description.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is governed by the verb אָמַר, he says, which introduces the slacker's statement. The structure includes multiple clauses that express the slacker's exaggerated claims about lions, emphasizing his avoidance of responsibility.
The sentence structure highlights the slacker's excuses by placing his claims about the lions at the forefront, illustrating the absurdity of his reasoning.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אָמַר as λέγει (legei), meaning 'he says.' This choice retains the meaning of speaking or asserting, aligning closely with the Hebrew.
The use of ὀκνηρὸς (oknēros) for עָצֵל reflects a similar characterization of laziness, emphasizing the sluggard's reluctance to act.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 26:13 shows how a lazy person makes excuses to avoid work, claiming there are lions in the road and public square. This highlights the foolishness of avoiding responsibility by creating exaggerated fears.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
A sluggard is someone who is habitually lazy and avoids work, often making excuses to justify their inactivity.
The mention of lions serves as an exaggerated excuse to avoid responsibility, illustrating the absurdity of the slacker's reasoning.
This verse reminds us to confront our responsibilities instead of making excuses, encouraging a proactive approach to our tasks.
The overall message warns against laziness and the folly of making excuses instead of taking action.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some excuses I use to avoid responsibilities?
- How can I cultivate a more diligent attitude in my daily life?
- In what areas do I need to confront laziness and take action?
- How can I encourage others to overcome their excuses and be more productive?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Bede comments on this verse, noting how people often blame external forces like the devil for their inaction, rather than taking responsibility.
The sluggard says, A lion is in the way, etc. Many, when they hear words of exhortation, blame the devil, saying that they indeed wish to begin the path of righteousness, but are hindered by Satan so that they might not accomplish it;Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 26 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 26:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe slothful [man] saith,.... Within himself; or to such that excite him to diligence and industry, to go about the business of his calling, to till his field, and dress his vineyard.
Read John Gill on Proverbs 26 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. (There is) a lion in the way. Energy soon puts to flight such lions (Proverbs 22:13).
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 26 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleTo excuse his idleness, and keeping himself at home. See Poole "".
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 26 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 26:13 The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion in the way; a lion [is] in the streets.Ver. 13. The slothful man sayeth, There is a lion.]
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 26 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(13) The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way . . .—See above on Proverbs 22:13.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 26 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 13. The slothful man saith] See Clarke on Proverbs 22:13.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 26 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges13. Almost identical with Proverbs 22:13, where see note. the slothful man] Rather, the sluggard. See Proverbs 26:16, note.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 26 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleCompare the marginal reference note. Here there is greater dramatic vividness in the two words used: (1) A roaring one, (2) a lion, more specifically.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 26 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A lion in the streets!”
Tyndale line
The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.
The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
The slouthfull man sayth, A lyon is in the way: a lyon is in the streetes.
Strictly literal
The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
The slothful has said, || “A lion [is] in the way, || A lion [is] in the broad places.”
The slothful saith, There is a leopard in the way: a lion is between the streets.
The lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”
From the Latin
The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.
Simplified
Lazy people are the ones who say, “There's a lion on the road—a lion running around the streets!”
The hater of work says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all seven words matched. The Septuagint's translation reflects the same concepts, although the word order differs.
אָמַ֣ר עָ֭צֵל שַׁ֣חַל בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ אֲ֝רִ֗י בֵּ֣ין הָרְחֹבֽוֹת׃
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 26:13
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
עָצֵל (atsel) refers to a state of being indolent or lazy, often describing a sluggard. It is derived from the root word for slothfulness and is used in various contexts to denote sluggishness.
עָצֵל 14 adj. sluggish, lazy
base
H6102 עָצֵל
6102 `atsel aw-tsale'
from 6101; indolent:--slothful, sluggard.
see HEBREW for 06101
עָצֵל (a.tsel) — sluggish.
1) sluggish, lazy
1a) sluggard (subst)
Adj — AdjHAamsa
slug'-ard: Found only in the Old Testament, and there only in Proverbs. It is the rendering given the word 'atsel everywhere in the Revised Version (British and American), but in the King James Version only in Pr 6:6,9; 10:26; 13:4; 20:4; 26:16 (elsewhere the King James Version translates by "slothful"). The root meaning of ['atsel] is "to be sluggish," "stupid." The English word "slug" is said to be "allied to slack" (Webster).
→ (A very lazy person)
→ See IDLENESS
שַׁ֫חַל (shachal) refers to a lion, often used in a poetic context. The term is likely derived from a root meaning to roar, emphasizing the lion's fierce nature. It can also figuratively refer to Jehovah or wicked men. The entries consistently define it as a lion without notable disagreement.
שַׁ֫חַל n.m. lion (poet.)
base
H7826 שַׁ֫חַל lion (poet.)
7826 shachal shakh'-al
from an unused root probably meaning to roar; a lion (from
his characteristic roar):--(fierce) lion.
שַׁ֫חַל (sha.chal) — lion.
1) lion
1a) of Jehovah, wicked men (fig)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
li'-un:
(1) Occurring most often in the Old Testament is 'aryeh, plural 'ardyoth. Another form, 'ari, plural 'arayim, is found less often.
1. Names:
Compare 'ari'el, "Ariel" (Ezr 8:16; Isa 29:1,2,7); char'el, "upper altar," and 'ari'el, "altar hearth" (Eze 43:15); 'aryeh, "Arieh" (2Ki 15:25); 'ar'eli, "Areli" and "Arelites" (Ge 46:16; Nu 26:17).
"The most powerful, daring and impressive of all carnivorous animals, the most magnificent in aspect and awful in voice." At present lions do not exist in Palestine; but they must in ancient times have been numerous. The lion of Palestine was in all probability the Asiatic variety, described by Aristotle and Pliny as distinguished by its short and curly mane, and by being shorter and rounder in shape, like the sculptured lion found at Arban. It was less daring than the longer named species, but when driven by hunger it not only ventured to attack the flocks in the desert in presence of the shepherd, (1 Samuel 17:34; Isaiah 31:4) but laid waste towns and villages, (2 Kings 17:25,26; Proverbs 22:13; 26:13) and devoured men.…
The well-known and noble king of beasts, frequently spoken of in Scripture. He often exceeds eight feet in length and four feet in height; and his majestic and dauntless aspect, his prodigious strength and agility, and his peculiar roar, make him the terror of the forests. Lions were common in Palestine, (See JORDAN,) and the Hebrews had seven different names for them, to distinguish the different ages, etc. Five of these occur together in Job 4:10,11. See also Na 2:11,12. The psalmist alludes to the stealthy creeping of the lion till he can spring upon his prey, when he says of the crafty wicked man, "He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den; .... he croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones." The Bible reader will remember the exploits of…
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (derek) means way, road, or journey, and can refer to both literal paths and figurative courses of life or actions. It encompasses various aspects such as direction, manner, and moral character, often highlighting the nature of one's conduct. The term is used in both positive and negative contexts, reflecting the moral implications of one's path.
דֶּ֫רֶךְ 715 n.m. way, road, distance, journey, manner
way, road, path
journey
of direction, almost or quite = toward
way, manner
fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings
of moral action and character
of duty
specif.: in good sense
oftener in bad sense
way of י׳
base
H1870 דֶּ֫רֶךְ way, road, distance, journey, manner . way, road, path
. journey
. of direction, almost or quite = toward
. way, manner
. fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings
. . of moral action and character
. of duty
. specif.: in good sense
. oftener in bad sense
. way of י׳
1870 derek deh'-rek
from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of
life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because
of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner,
passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side),
whither(-soever).
see HEBREW for 01869
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.
: conduct/lifestyle
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.
This name means way, road
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — (King's) Highway.
This name means way, road
Combined with me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "King's" H4428I)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.
: direction
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.
: road/route
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.
: journey
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common both singular absoluteHRd/Ncbsa
Road
(1 Sam. 27:10; R.V., “raid”), an inroad, an incursion. This word is never used in Scripture in the sense of a way or path.
This word occurs but once in the Authorized Version of the Bible, viz. in (1 Samuel 37:10) where it is used in the sense of "raid" or "inroad." Where a travelled road is meant "path" or "way" is used, since the eastern roads are more like our paths.
אֲרִי (ariy) and אַרְיֵה (aryeh) both mean 'lion' in Hebrew, referring to the animal itself or images of it. The word is derived from a root associated with violence. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
אֲרִי n.m. lion
base
אַרְיֵה n.m. lion
base
H738a אֲרִי lion H738b אַרְיֵה lion
738 'ariy ar-ee'
or (prolonged) earyeh {ar-yay'}; from 717 (in the sense of
violence); a lion:--(young) lion, + pierce (from the margin).
see HEBREW for 0717
אֲרִי (a.ri) — lion.
1) lion
1a) pictures or images of lions
אַרְיֵה (ar.yeh) — lion.
1) lion
1a) pictures or images of lions
Aramaic equivalent: ar.yeh (אַרְיֵה "lion" H0744)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
li'-un:
(1) Occurring most often in the Old Testament is 'aryeh, plural 'ardyoth. Another form, 'ari, plural 'arayim, is found less often.
1. Names:
Compare 'ari'el, "Ariel" (Ezr 8:16; Isa 29:1,2,7); char'el, "upper altar," and 'ari'el, "altar hearth" (Eze 43:15); 'aryeh, "Arieh" (2Ki 15:25); 'ar'eli, "Areli" and "Arelites" (Ge 46:16; Nu 26:17).
"The most powerful, daring and impressive of all carnivorous animals, the most magnificent in aspect and awful in voice." At present lions do not exist in Palestine; but they must in ancient times have been numerous. The lion of Palestine was in all probability the Asiatic variety, described by Aristotle and Pliny as distinguished by its short and curly mane, and by being shorter and rounder in shape, like the sculptured lion found at Arban. It was less daring than the longer named species, but when driven by hunger it not only ventured to attack the flocks in the desert in presence of the shepherd, (1 Samuel 17:34; Isaiah 31:4) but laid waste towns and villages, (2 Kings 17:25,26; Proverbs 22:13; 26:13) and devoured men.…
The well-known and noble king of beasts, frequently spoken of in Scripture. He often exceeds eight feet in length and four feet in height; and his majestic and dauntless aspect, his prodigious strength and agility, and his peculiar roar, make him the terror of the forests. Lions were common in Palestine, (See JORDAN,) and the Hebrews had seven different names for them, to distinguish the different ages, etc. Five of these occur together in Job 4:10,11. See also Na 2:11,12. The psalmist alludes to the stealthy creeping of the lion till he can spring upon his prey, when he says of the crafty wicked man, "He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den; .... he croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones." The Bible reader will remember the exploits of…
בַּ֫יִן (beyn) is a noun meaning 'interval' or 'space between.' It primarily functions as a preposition meaning 'between' or 'among,' and can also indicate distinctions or choices. The dual form בֵּנַ֫יִם refers specifically to the space between two entities, such as armies. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement.
בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between
always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between
Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies
base
H996 בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between . always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between
. Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies
996 beyn bane
(sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly,
the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from 995; a
distinction; but used only as a prep, between (repeated before
each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction,
either...or:--among, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), +
from (the widest), X in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.
see HEBREW for 0995
בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between.
: between
between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between
בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between: among.
: among
between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between
A sub-meaning of ben (בַּ֫יִן ": between" H0996)
Prep — PrepHAcmsc
רְחוֹב (re.chov) refers to a broad open place or plaza, often translated as street. It is derived from the root meaning width and encompasses areas like avenues or public spaces. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to open areas, with no significant disagreement noted among the lexicons.
רְחוֹב n.f. broad open place, plaza
base
H7339 רְחוֹב broad open place, plaza
7339 rchob rekh-obe'
or rchowb {rekh-obe'}; from 7337; a width, i.e. (concretely)
avenue or area:--broad place (way), street. See also 1050.
see HEBREW for 07337
see HEBREW for 01050
רְחוֹב (re.chov) — street/plaza.
broad or open place or plaza
Art | N-fp — Particle · noun common feminine plural absoluteHTd/Ncfpa