Proverbs 10:26 kjv
As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.
Proverbs 10:26 nkjv
As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy man to those who send him.
Proverbs 10:26 niv
As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so are sluggards to those who send them.
Proverbs 10:26 esv
Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.
Proverbs 10:26 nlt
Lazy people irritate their employers,
like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.
Proverbs 10 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 6:6 | Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. | Call to observe diligence in nature. |
| Prov 13:4 | The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. | Laziness leads to unmet desires, diligence to plenty. |
| Prov 15:19 | The way of the sluggard is like a thorny hedge, but the path of the upright is a level highway. | Laziness creates obstacles and difficulty. |
| Prov 18:9 | Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys. | Laziness akin to destructive behavior. |
| Prov 19:15 | Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger. | Consequences of idleness: poverty, hunger. |
| Prov 20:4 | The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. | Lack of timely effort leads to lack of fruit. |
| Prov 21:25 | The craving of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. | Desire without work leads to ruin. |
| Prov 22:13 | The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!" | Excuses of the lazy to avoid work. |
| Prov 24:30-34 | I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense... a little slumber... | Observing the ruin brought by laziness. |
| Prov 26:13 | The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion in the streets!" | Exaggerated excuses for inaction. |
| Prov 26:14 | As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. | Sluggard's constant reluctance to move. |
| Prov 26:15 | The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. | Extreme and almost comical laziness. |
| Matt 25:26-27 | His master answered him, "You wicked and slothful servant! You knew... why then did you not put my money..." | Parable of talents; condemnation of unproductive servant. |
| Rom 12:11 | Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. | Exhortation against spiritual laziness. |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | But all things should be done decently and in order. | Principle of order and good management, implied opposite of sluggard. |
| Eph 4:28 | Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands... | Call to productive work instead of idleness or dishonesty. |
| Col 3:23-24 | Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men... | Working diligently as if for Christ. |
| 1 Thess 4:11 | ...aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands... | Instruction to be diligent and self-sufficient. |
| 2 Thess 3:10 | For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. | Strong instruction against idleness. |
| Titus 3:1 | Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities... ready for every good work. | Readiness for good work is a Christian duty. |
| Heb 6:11-12 | And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance... not be slothful... | Warning against spiritual sluggishness, urging diligence. |
| 1 Pet 4:10-11 | As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace... | Responsibility to steward gifts actively, implies against idleness. |
Proverbs 10 verses
Proverbs 10 26 Meaning
Proverbs 10:26 powerfully illustrates that a lazy person is as intensely irritating, detrimental, and debilitating to those who rely on them as vinegar is to sensitive teeth and smoke is to the eyes. The verse highlights the active burden and constant frustration imposed by a sluggard's unreliability and inaction on those who have entrusted them with a task or responsibility.
Proverbs 10 26 Context
Proverbs 10:26 is part of the first main collection of Solomon's proverbs (Proverbs 10:1 – 22:16), characterized primarily by two-line, antithetical parallelism. Each verse generally presents a clear contrast between two opposing ideas, behaviors, or types of people – often the righteous and the wicked, or the wise and the foolish – and highlights their respective outcomes. This particular verse focuses on a negative character trait (laziness) and its detrimental effect on others within the dynamics of responsibility and trust.
Historically and culturally, wisdom literature like Proverbs was crucial for practical daily living in ancient Israel. In a society where delegation of tasks was common in households, agricultural work, and various forms of labor, the reliability of individuals was paramount. Sending someone on a task implied trust and expectation of timely, effective execution. The verse speaks directly to the frustrations experienced by those in positions of authority or reliance on others in a pragmatic, agrarian, and communal setting where work and productivity were directly linked to survival and societal well-being.
Proverbs 10 26 Word analysis
- As vinegar (חֹמֶץ, chometz): Refers to a sour liquid, typically fermented wine or beer, known for its sharp taste and acidity. In the ancient world, vinegar was a common substance, but its acidic nature was well-known. When it comes to teeth, chometz refers to a sensation of dullness, erosion, or extreme sensitivity, often caused by acid. It's an unpleasant, grating, and persistent discomfort, weakening the enamel and causing pain.
- to the teeth: Emphasizes a direct physical and sensory irritation that is highly uncomfortable and almost unbearable, indicating a profound and pervasive annoyance.
- and smoke (עָשָׁן, ashan): The visible vapor and particles produced by burning substances. Smoke causes immediate and severe irritation to the eyes, leading to watering, stinging, impaired vision, and discomfort. It is pervasive, hard to avoid, and inhibits clarity.
- to the eyes: Highlights another profound sensory irritation that blinds, hinders, and causes pain, preventing clear sight or focus. It's an active obstruction.
- so is: This connective phrase functions as a direct analogy, comparing the previously described sensory nuisances to the nature and impact of the sluggard.
- the sluggard (עָצֵל, atzel): A person characterized by laziness, idleness, sluggishness, and aversion to effort or work. This word is consistently used in Proverbs to describe those who procrastinate, avoid responsibility, or perform tasks poorly due to indolence. Their core issue is inaction or insufficient action when work is required.
- to those who send him: Refers to individuals who delegate tasks, give commands, or entrust responsibilities to the sluggard. This implies a relationship of expectation and reliance. The sluggard's inaction or poor performance directly burdens these individuals, causing them frustration, delays, financial loss, or the necessity of doing the work themselves. The burden falls not only on the sluggard but profoundly on others.
Words-group analysis:
- As vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes: This double analogy creates a vivid, almost visceral image of unpleasant, painful, and persistent irritation. Both comparisons highlight sensations that are not just annoying but also incapacitating or debilitating. Vinegar makes eating difficult, smoke makes seeing difficult. This powerfully sets up the impact of the sluggard.
- so is the sluggard to those who send him: This applies the vivid analogy directly to human behavior and its relational consequences. It emphasizes that the sluggard isn't merely unproductive in isolation; their laziness directly causes pain, frustration, and hindrance to others, especially those in authority or those relying on their delegated efforts. Their inaction has external, negative ramifications.
Proverbs 10 26 Bonus section
The Hebrew word for "sluggard," atzel, indicates more than just inactivity; it speaks of a disposition, a rooted characteristic of aversion to effort. This is in direct contrast to the biblical emphasis on diligence, hard work, and responsible stewardship. The imagery suggests a sensory attack – the discomfort is immediate, personal, and difficult to escape, much like the omnipresent frustration a sender feels with a consistently unreliable delegate. The "sending" also implies a degree of trust and investment from the delegator, which is then violated by the sluggard's inaction. This highlights not just an economic loss but a relational and emotional toll exacted by the lazy person.
Proverbs 10 26 Commentary
Proverbs 10:26 uses striking, universal analogies to convey the deeply frustrating and debilitating impact of a lazy person on those who depend on them. The comparisons to vinegar in the teeth and smoke in the eyes are apt because both are intensely uncomfortable, intrusive, and inhibit normal function (eating and seeing, respectively). A sluggard isn't just someone who fails to pull their weight; they actively become a burden, an obstruction, and a source of constant irritation to their employers or delegators. Their unreliability causes delays, demands rework, exhausts patience, and ultimately forces others to shoulder their responsibilities or endure negative consequences. This verse teaches that diligence is not merely a personal virtue, but a relational one, demonstrating trustworthiness and respect for others' time and resources. Conversely, laziness in work becomes a public annoyance and a relational drain, creating distress and hindering progress.