
Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Slothfulness?
39 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Slothfulness in the Bible
Explore what the Bible says about slothfulness. This collection of 20 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme.
Top 10 Verses About Slothfulness
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- 7Proverbs 10:4
“He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.”
KJV - 8Proverbs 10:5
“He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.”
KJV - 9Proverbs 10:26
“As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.”
KJV - 10Proverbs 12:24
“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. slothful: or, deceitful”
KJV
Subtopics of Slothfulness
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Slothfulness? (31 Verses)
“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:”
“Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,”
“Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.”
“How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?”
“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:”
“So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.”
“He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.”
“He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.”
“As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.”
“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. slothful: or, deceitful”
“The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.”
“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.”
“The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain. is made: Heb. is raised up as a causey”
“He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.”
“Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.”
“A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.”
“The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. cold: or, winter”
“The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.”
“The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.”
“For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.”
“I went by the field of the slothful , and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;”
“And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.”
“Then I saw, and considered it well : I looked upon it, and received instruction. considered: Heb. set my heart”
“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:”
“So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. an: Heb. a man of shield”
“The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.”
“As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.”
“The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. it grieveth: or, he is weary”
“The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.”
“By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.”
“His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. sleeping: or, dreaming, or, talking in their sleep”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Slothfulness? (8 Verses)
“His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:”
“Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.”
“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily , as to the Lord, and not unto men;”
“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
“For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.”
“Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.”
“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Slothfulness
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Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
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Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about slothfulness. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
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Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
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Memorise at least one key verse about slothfulness and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about slothfulness is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on slothfulness needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about slothfulness with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about slothfulness, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Slothfulness?
You have studied 39 verses about slothfulness. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.
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Topics Included
This page consolidates Bible verses from 2 related topics: