Proverbs 21:25 Meaning and Explanation
“The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Laziness itself is deadly; the slothful person's refusal to work brings ruin.
The Context of Proverbs 21:25
Laziness and unfulfilled desire combine to destroy the slothful.
What Does Proverbs 21:25 Mean?
The slothful person has desires—wishes for comfort, security, or pleasure—but these desires kill them because they are unaccompanied by effort. Wanting without working is a fatal combination. The desire becomes a source of frustration, shame, and decline rather than motivation.
The cause is explicit: his hands 'refuse to labour.' It is not inability but refusal—a stubborn unwillingness to exert effort. This refusal ensures that desires remain unfulfilled and that the person slides into poverty and want. Slothfulness is self-destructive precisely because work is the pathway to provision.
Proverbs 21:25 in the Original Language
tamah (תָּמַהּ), 'killeth' — to complete, finish, destroy utterly; to bring to an end.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 21:25
What does Proverbs 21:25 mean?
Laziness itself is deadly; the slothful person's refusal to work brings ruin.
What is the context of Proverbs 21:25?
Laziness and unfulfilled desire combine to destroy the slothful.