Proverbs 26:13 kjv

The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

Proverbs 26:13 nkjv

The lazy man says, "There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!"

Proverbs 26:13 niv

A sluggard says, "There's a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!"

Proverbs 26:13 esv

The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!"

Proverbs 26:13 nlt

The lazy person claims, "There's a lion on the road!
Yes, I'm sure there's a lion out there!"

Proverbs 26 verses

Proverbs 26 13 Meaning

Proverbs 26:13 portrays the sluggard as one who invents exaggerated and absurd excuses to avoid work or responsibility. Despite an obligation to move forward, the sluggard fabricates impossible dangers, like a lion in the very public square, to justify inaction and remaining in his comfortable idleness. This verse highlights the profound self-deception and creative rationalization that characterize the lazy person, who perceives overwhelming obstacles even in the safest and most commonplace paths of life.

Proverbs 26 13 Context

Proverbs 26 focuses on characteristics and follies of two types of individuals: the fool and the sluggard. Verses 13-16 specifically deal with the sluggard, detailing his excuses, perpetual idleness, and self-delusion. This verse serves as a primary example of the sluggard's profound self-deception, illustrating how an individual can concoct the most absurd and far-fetched excuses to avoid responsibilities and duties. The historical context reflects a time when wild animals like lions were indeed threats, particularly in wild or desolate areas (roads leading between towns), but the idea of a lion in a bustling city "public square" (rehovot) would be understood by the original audience as an exaggerated, preposterous claim, highlighting the depth of the sluggard's aversion to action. The book of Proverbs contrasts diligence with laziness repeatedly, emphasizing diligence as a pathway to wisdom and prosperity, while sloth leads to want and destruction.

Proverbs 26 13 Word analysis

• The sluggard (עָצֵל, atsel): This Hebrew term specifically denotes a lazy, indolent, or slothful person. It’s a recurring character in Proverbs, always presented negatively. This isn't someone who occasionally feels tired, but whose very nature or defining habit is marked by an aversion to effort and labor. The repeated use in Proverbs defines a moral and practical flaw rather than just a physical state.
• says (אָמַר, amar): Indicates an articulation of internal thought. The sluggard doesn't just think this; he declares it, externalizing his excuse. This implies a conscious, verbal rationalization for inaction, possibly seeking external validation or avoiding confrontation for his idleness.
• There is a lion (אֲרִי, ari): A formidable and real predator in the ancient world, symbolizing immense danger and an insurmountable obstacle. The very mention of a "lion" evokes fear and justifies retreat for a typical person. However, in the sluggard's mouth, it is used not as a statement of fact but as an invention to legitimize their laziness, an attempt to transform a personal character flaw into a response to overwhelming external threat.
• in the road! (בַדֶּרֶךְ, ba-derekh): Derekh means a way, path, or road. It often symbolizes one's life's path, duty, or journey. A lion on the road, while unlikely, holds a slim possibility of danger outside city walls. This is the more "believable" of the sluggard's excuses, referring to the common course of action or daily travel.
• There is a lion in the public square! (בָּרְחֹבוֹת, ba-rehovot): Rehovot refers to broad places or public squares, usually within a city where people gather, commerce takes place, and life proceeds. The mention of a lion in such a public, civilized place escalates the absurdity to the highest degree. It is a clear hyperbole, a completely unfounded fear. This indicates the sluggard’s willingness to concoct the most preposterous justifications to avoid engaging with the most commonplace and essential activities of life. It’s not about real danger, but the avoidance of any action at all.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The sluggard says, 'There is a lion...'": This phrase establishes the speaker's character (sluggard) and their method of operation (excuse-making). It emphasizes the verbal articulation of their fear-based procrastination, showing a defensive stance to justify their inaction. It is a characteristic complaint, not a factual report.
• "'...in the road! There is a lion in the public square!'": This parallelism highlights the escalating exaggeration. The sluggard moves from a slightly conceivable, though still unlikely, danger ("road") to an utterly outlandish and impossible scenario ("public square"). This escalation demonstrates the depth of their fear of action and their determination to avoid work by any means necessary, however implausible the excuse. It vividly paints a picture of extreme rationalization.

Proverbs 26 13 Bonus section

This proverb serves as a direct challenge to the common human tendency towards procrastination and rationalization. Psychologically, it reflects self-deception and the mechanism of projection—attributing one's internal unwillingness to external, overwhelming factors. Spiritually, it speaks to spiritual sloth, where individuals invent formidable "lions" of difficulty or discomfort to avoid obedience, service, or deeper commitment to their faith, rather than relying on God's strength to overcome actual challenges. It underlines the truth that invented fears can be more paralyzing than real ones. The verse indirectly challenges us to discern between genuine obstacles that require courage and faith, and self-serving excuses born out of an unwillingness to exert effort.

Proverbs 26 13 Commentary

Proverbs 26:13 acutely captures the essence of the sluggard's avoidance tactics: manufacturing hyperbolic obstacles to rationalize their idleness. The sluggard is not just inactive, but actively deceptive, crafting scenarios of impossible danger—like a lion roaming bustling city streets—to evade even basic duties. This isn't about legitimate fear or prudent caution; it's about the deep-seated aversion to effort that invents monstrous threats to justify perpetual inaction. The verse teaches that sloth is often accompanied by self-deception, as the sluggard prefers to believe fantastic dangers exist rather than acknowledge their own laziness. Ultimately, such fabricated excuses prevent personal growth, practical success, and the fulfilling of responsibilities, leading to stagnation and poverty, far greater actual dangers than any imagined lion.