חִבֻּק (chib.buq)
chib.buq
folding
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun chibbuq literally describes the act of folding or clasping one’s hands together. While the physical gesture might seem neutral, in the biblical context it carries a specific negative connotation related to idleness. Rather than indicating prayerful contemplation or preparation for work, this posture symbolizes a state of inactivity and refusal to labor.
This meaning appears most prominently in Proverbs 6:10 and 24:30–34, where the image is used to illustrate the dangers of sloth. The text contrasts the diligent ant with the sluggard who lies down, folds his hands, and claims he is too tired to work. Here, chibbuq serves as a vivid metaphor for the paralysis of will that leads to poverty and ruin.
The word highlights how physical stillness can reflect a moral failure. By folding his hands, the sluggard chooses comfort over responsibility, allowing laziness to take root in his life. This brief lexical entry reminds readers that action is often required to counteract the temptation of ease.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we see someone folding their hands, it often looks like a moment of rest or perhaps even prayerful waiting. In Proverbs, however, this gesture is described quite differently. The text uses the image of clasping hands to sleep as a warning against the slow slide into idleness. It captures that specific feeling when comfort becomes a trap, and we convince ourselves that doing nothing is the wisest choice.
This word reminds us that stillness can sometimes be a mask for avoidance. The sluggard in Proverbs does not just rest; he refuses to engage with his responsibilities, using fatigue as an excuse to remain inactive. For our own lives, this offers a gentle check on how we spend our energy. Are we resting to renew ourselves, or are we hiding from the work that needs doing?
The contrast with the ant in these passages highlights the value of purposeful action. We are invited to look at our own habits and ask if we are allowing small moments of ease to grow into larger patterns of neglect. Choosing to move forward, even when motivation is low, honors the gift of time we have been given.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- folding of2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חִבֻּ֖ק2×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 6:10
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—
This verse introduces the folding of hands as the final step in a progression of laziness that leads from sleep to total inactivity.
-
Proverbs 24:33
a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,
Here the same phrase appears again, reinforcing the pattern that repeated small acts of avoidance lead to eventual poverty and lack.