Proverbs 6:11

"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—"

Key Reflection

In first-century Israel, Proverbs 6:11 warns against laziness and idleness, emphasizing that even a small amount of rest can lead to significant consequences. The original audience would have recognized the dangers of complacency in agricultural society, where productivity was crucial for survival. A momentary lapse into sleep could result in missed opportunities or financial hardship, as the verse suggests poverty might come "as a robber" and scarcity "as an armed man," reflecting the harsh realities of economic vulnerability faced by many in that time.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

The similitude is drawn from the two sources of Eastern terror: the “traveler,” i. e., “the thief in the night,” coming suddenly to plunder; the “armed man,” literally “the man of the shield,” the armed robber. The habit of indolence is more fatally destructive than these marauders.

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