Proverbs 20:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Excessive sleep leads to poverty, while wakefulness and effort bring enough to eat.
The Context of Proverbs 20:13
Proverbs contrasts the comfort of sleep with the necessity of work for survival.
What Does Proverbs 20:13 Mean?
The proverb warns against loving sleep—finding comfort and refuge in it, making it a priority over work. Such a preference leads directly to poverty. The consequence is not mysterious; it flows naturally from the fact that sleep produces nothing while work does. Loving sleep means neglecting the labor that brings provision.
Opening one's eyes—staying awake, alert, and engaged in productive work—brings satisfaction and bread. The word 'satisfied' suggests not luxury but sufficiency; genuine need is met through diligence. The contrast is stark: excessive sleep→poverty versus wakefulness and work→provision.
Proverbs 20:13 in the Original Language
'Satisfied' (שׂבע, sava) — having one's fill; to have enough to meet genuine need.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 20:13
What does Proverbs 20:13 mean?
Excessive sleep leads to poverty, while wakefulness and effort bring enough to eat.
What is the context of Proverbs 20:13?
Proverbs contrasts the comfort of sleep with the necessity of work for survival.