עַצְלוּת (ats.lut)
ats.lut
sluggishness
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun atslut describes a state of sluggishness or laziness, capturing the physical and mental inertia that hinders productive action. It appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Proverbs 31:27 within the portrait of the capable wife who watches over her household without neglect.
This single occurrence frames laziness not merely as a lack of effort, but as a failure to attend to one’s responsibilities. The text contrasts this sluggishness with diligence, highlighting how apathy can disrupt the order and care required in daily life. By placing it in wisdom literature, the source treats atslut as a character flaw that undermines stability and provision.
Translators typically render this word as "laziness" or "sluggishness," emphasizing its negative impact on personal and communal well-being. The rarity of the term in Scripture suggests that while it is recognized as a vice, the biblical focus remains more frequently on the positive virtue of industriousness rather than an extensive theological analysis of idleness itself.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for sluggishness appears just once in the Old Testament, tucked inside a portrait of a capable wife who watches over her home with care. It describes a heavy inertia that stops us from doing what needs to be done. This isn't just about being tired after a long day; it is a deeper apathy that neglects our duties and disrupts the peace of our households.
When we feel this weight, it helps to remember that diligence is a form of love. Caring for our responsibilities—whether for family, work, or community—is an act of stewardship. The text invites us to look at our own habits with honesty, asking where we might be letting unnecessary delay creep into our lives.
Grace meets us in our weakness. If you are struggling with a season of low energy or overwhelming tasks, start small. Focus on one thing that needs attention today. This steady, quiet faithfulness builds a foundation of trust and stability that benefits everyone around you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- laziness1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עַ֝צְל֗וּת1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 31:27
She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
This verse uses the term to define what the capable wife avoids, contrasting her active care for her household with the passive consumption of 'the bread of idleness.'