Proverbs 22:13 kjv

The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

Proverbs 22:13 nkjv

The lazy man says, "There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!"

Proverbs 22:13 niv

The sluggard says, "There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the public square!"

Proverbs 22:13 esv

The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!"

Proverbs 22:13 nlt

The lazy person claims, "There's a lion out there!
If I go outside, I might be killed!"

Proverbs 22 verses

Proverbs 22 13 Meaning

Proverbs 22:13 unmasks the inherent tendency of the lazy individual, termed "the sluggard," to invent preposterous and life-threatening excuses to avoid responsibility and work. By fabricating a scenario where a lion lurks in the streets, ready to kill him, the sluggard justifies his refusal to leave the house and engage in daily duties. This proverb highlights how slothfulness leads to self-deception and the creation of imaginary, exaggerated obstacles to rationalize inaction.

Proverbs 22 13 Context

Proverbs 22:13 is found within a broader collection of wisdom sayings concerning ethical living, diligence, and the contrast between the wise and the foolish. Chapters 22 through 24 are sometimes called "The Sayings of the Wise." The proverbs generally offer practical instructions for navigating life successfully and righteously. This specific verse speaks to a common human failing: the avoidance of responsibility through invented pretexts. In the ancient Near Eastern agrarian society, diligence and hard work were essential for survival, prosperity, and the well-being of the family unit. Laziness threatened one's livelihood and social standing. The idea of a lion openly roaming "the streets" would have been an exaggerated, almost absurd claim, underscoring the lack of validity in the sluggard's excuse. This context reveals that the proverb is not only a practical observation but also a moral indictment of the character flaw of idleness and its deceptive nature.

Proverbs 22 13 Word analysis

• The sluggard: From the Hebrew עָצֵל (atsel), meaning "lazy," "slothful," or "indolent." This character is a recurrent theme in Proverbs, embodying foolishness through persistent inaction and avoidance of responsibility. This term points to a consistent personality trait rather than an occasional bout of tiredness.
• says: From the Hebrew אָמַר (amar), signifying "to declare" or "to assert." This is not a private thought but an articulated justification, publicly presented to explain or defend their inactivity.
• 'There is a lion: From the Hebrew אֲרִי (ari), meaning "lion." While lions were known predators in ancient Israel's wilder regions, their presence in urban "streets" would be extremely rare and cause utter chaos. The sluggard's claim employs a powerful, dangerous symbol to evoke extreme fear, thus inflating a non-existent threat into a supposedly legitimate reason for inaction.
• outside!: From the Hebrew בַּחוּץ (bachuts), meaning "outdoors," "abroad," or "in the public square." The specification of the "outside" intensifies the imaginative nature of the threat, indicating that the sluggard avoids any engagement with the world beyond his immediate confines.
• 'I shall be killed: From the Hebrew אֵרָצַח (eratzach), literally "I shall be murdered" or "I shall be slain." This strong verb indicates an inevitable and violent death, showcasing the sluggard's hyperbolic anticipation of doom. It signifies the extreme degree to which the sluggard rationalizes their idleness, perceiving the gravest possible consequence for any effort.
• in the streets!': From the Hebrew בָּרְחֹבוֹת (barechovot), meaning "in the wide places" or "in the public streets." These were areas of daily activity, commerce, and social interaction. The sluggard’s aversion to the "streets" signifies his complete withdrawal from productive and social engagement, asserting a deadly peril in the very place where normal life unfolds.

Words-group analysis:

• "The sluggard says, 'There is a lion outside!'": This phrase powerfully illustrates the self-deceptive mechanism of the sluggard. Rather than admitting indolence, they invent an insurmountable external obstacle—the "lion"—to justify their lack of effort. This 'lion' is a metaphor for any inflated difficulty or manufactured crisis that serves as a convenient excuse for avoiding necessary work or responsibility. It highlights the tendency to blame external circumstances for internal shortcomings.
• "'I shall be killed in the streets!'": This extreme statement encapsulates the sluggard's hyper-dramatization of perceived challenges. The imaginary fear is so great it necessitates fatal avoidance, preventing the sluggard from participating in "the streets," which represent the sphere of public life, work, and contributing to society. It portrays a deep-seated resistance to responsibility, justified by exaggerated and irrational anxieties that paralyze the will.

Proverbs 22 13 Bonus section

The "lion" in this proverb highlights how idleness is often perpetuated by a creative, yet misdirected, imagination. Instead of envisioning solutions or positive outcomes, the sluggard’s mind busily fabricates debilitating obstacles. This inner "lion" can become far more immobilizing than any genuine external threat because it stems from within, paralyzing the will before any external challenge is even confronted. Furthermore, the sluggard's fear is fundamentally different from a reverential "fear of the Lord" (e.g., Prov 1:7), which inspires wisdom, diligence, and obedience. Instead, the sluggard's fear is self-serving and paralyzing, designed to excuse indolence. The remarkable parallelism found in Proverbs 26:13-16 further develops this theme, showing that the sluggard is even more convinced of his absurd reasoning than seven men who can logically present answers, emphasizing his self-absorbed delusion.

Proverbs 22 13 Commentary

Proverbs 22:13 offers a sharp insight into the psychology of laziness, revealing it to be more than mere inactivity; it is an active evasion rooted in irrational fear and deceptive self-justification. The "lion" is not a literal beast but a potent metaphor for any obstacle, perceived or real, that the sluggard inflates to monumental proportions. This tactic allows the sluggard to avoid both external exertion and internal conviction of their idleness. The proverb teaches that those unwilling to face ordinary responsibilities will resort to extraordinary and absurd excuses. This habit of rationalization ultimately hinders productivity, prevents personal growth, and leads to destitution. The wise individual, conversely, distinguishes between real danger and imagined fear, embracing diligence and facing challenges rather than succumbing to deceptive self-preservation.

• Examples:
  • A believer rationalizing their avoidance of serving in ministry by claiming "I'm not gifted enough" or "What if I fail badly and bring shame?"
  • An employee delaying a difficult task, claiming "it's too complicated" or "I won't have the resources," rather than simply beginning.
  • A person failing to read the Bible regularly by saying "I don't have enough time" or "It's too hard to understand," using perceived difficulty as an excuse for spiritual laziness.