Bible Strands
Proverbs 20:4
The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The passage functions as a wisdom instruction addressed to a student or general reader, situated between verses on dispute resolution and the hidden nature of human intentions. It uses a farming cycle to illustrate a practical principle.
The words — עָצֵל ('a.Tzel) means a sluggard or slacker, and יַחֲרֹשׁ (ya.cha.Rosh) means he plows. The text pairs these with מֵחֹרֶף (mecho.ref) = from winter and בַּקָּצִיר (ba.katzir) = at the harvest to mark the missed agricultural window.
The thread — The contrast between idle neglect and diligent provision runs through Proverbs 10:4, Proverbs 13:4, and Proverbs 19:15, which all record the same pattern of lack following inaction.
Why it lands — The text states that refusing to plow in season leaves the slacker with nothing to find at harvest. It requires the reader to align effort with the correct timing rather than expecting results without preparation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 10:4 Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
- Proverbs 19:15 Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
- Proverbs 13:4 The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
- Matthew 25:3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil.
- Matthew 25:24 Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
- Proverbs 26:13 The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
- 2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
- Proverbs 6:10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
- Proverbs 19:24 The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.
- Proverbs 24:34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.