Proverbs 26:15

The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. THE SLOTHFUL HIDETH HIS HAND IN HIS BOSOM; IT GRIEVETH HIM TO BRING IT AGAIN TO HIS MOUTH (note ). He won't take the slightest trouble for the most necessary things....

GRIEVETH HIM - Better, wearieth him....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 26:1 Certain proverbs concerning the fool (_kesil_),_ _with the exception, perhaps, of Proverbs 26:2 (see on Proverbs 1:22). PROVERBS 26:1 AS SNOW IN SUMMER, AND AS RAIN IN HARVEST. Snow in summer would be quite unnatural and unheard of (see on Proverbs 25:13). Rain falls in the usual course of things only at stated times; whence arose the phrase of "the early and of latter rains" (see on...

THE SLOTHFUL HIDETH HIS HAND IN [HIS] BOSOM,.... To keep it warm; Jarchi's note is, "he puts his hand in a hot basin, because of the cold.'' The word c for "bosom" does sometimes signify a "pot" or basin. Or he hides it under his "arm holes", as some render it, not caring to make use of it for labour; or covers it out of sight in his bosom, pretending some weakness or ailment in it, which hinders him from working; see Proverbs 19:24; IT GRIEVETH HIM TO BRING IT AGAIN TO HIS MOUTH; from under his arm holes, or out of his bosom, or even out of the platter, where his food is; an hyperbolical expression, setting forth his excessive sloth; and such an one ought not to eat, but starve indeed. It may be rendered, "he is weary"; it is a "weariness" d to him; it is even a labour too much for him to feed himself, so great is his sloth: and such is the

CHAPTER 26 CONCERNING THE FOOL AND THE SLUGGARD Eleven times we meet the word fool in this chapter. Three different words are used in the Hebrew for fool. The first is “avil” which signifies weakness. The second word “kesil” occurs nearly fifty times, means fat or dense. The third word is the Hebrew “nabal,” which is derived from the verb to fade, or to wither; it means a vulgar, bad man who has given himself over to wickedness. The natural man in his condition, his darkened mind, his sinfulness answers to much that is said about the fool in this book. As snow in summer and rain at harvest time are quiteimpossible in Palestine, so is honor for a fool. A fool may utter a curse, as they often do, and wish something evil, but being causeless, it will not be fulfilled. The fool needs correction, the stripes for his back, he deserves no answer, and if he is answered it must be according to hi...

THE BOOK OF FOOLS. A section containing a series of synthetic couplets dealing with folly (except Proverbs 26:2). The text is unusually corrupt and defective. PROVERBS 26:1. For the opposite use of snow in harvest _cf._ Proverbs 25:13 *. Proverbs 26:2. Directed against the superstitious belief in the magical value of a curse. The simile refers to the aimless wandering of a bird, and is not to be compared with the flying roll of curses in Zechariah 5:1....

HIDETH. burieth. BOSOM. dish, as in 2 Kings 21:13; 2 Kings 19:24. IT GRIEVETH HIM. It is hard for him, or he is too lazy....

his _bosom_ Rather, THE DISH, as in Proverbs 19:24, where see note. _grieveth_ Rather, WEARIETH. It is too much trouble to him....

TEXT Proverbs 26:9-19 9. As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools. 10. As an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by. 11. As a dog that returneth to his vomit, So is a fool that repeateth his folly. 12. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. 13. The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets. 14. As the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed. 15. The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth. 16. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason. 17. He that pa

FOOLS. SLUGGARDS. TALKERS 1-12. The vv. refer chiefly to fools....