John Gill Commentary


John Gill Commentary
"The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth." — Proverbs 26:15 (ASV)
The slothful hides his hand in [his] bosom
To keep it warm; Jarchi's note is, "he puts his hand in a hot basin, because of the cold." The word F3 for "bosom" does sometimes signify a "pot" or basin. Or he hides it under his "arm holes", as some render it, not caring to make use of it for labour; or covers it out of sight in his bosom, pretending some weakness or ailment in it, which hinders him from working; see (Proverbs 19:24) ; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth ;
from under his arm holes, or out of his bosom, or even out of the platter, where his food is; an hyperbolical expression, setting forth his excessive sloth; and such an one ought not to eat, but starve indeed.
It may be rendered, "he is weary"; it is a "weariness" F4 to him; it is even a labour too much for him to feed himself, so great is his sloth: and such is the sloth of carnal men; it is a weariness to them to hear the word, and attend on ordinances, and to lift up their hands in prayer to God; or to make use of any means, that they may have food for their souls; praying, hearing, and reading, are a burden to them; and therefore it is but just with God to send them a famine of the word, and take away the whole stay and staff of bread and water.