Proverbs 24:34 Meaning and Explanation
“So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Poverty and deprivation arrive swiftly and inevitably as the harvest of laziness.
The Context of Proverbs 24:34
The chapter ends with the stark outcome of the parable: ruin.
What Does Proverbs 24:34 Mean?
The slothful person's many small delays have a single result: poverty arrives suddenly, like a traveler who appears on the horizon and grows closer. Want—desperate need—arrives like an armed warrior who cannot be resisted. What seemed avoidable has become inescapable.
This is not moralism but consequence. Time wasted does not return. Opportunities deferred do not wait. The accumulated cost of laziness collects with interest.
Proverbs 24:34 in the Original Language
travelleth (מו muv) — to walk, go, or come as a traveler; to arrive or move toward.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 24:34
What does Proverbs 24:34 mean?
Poverty and deprivation arrive swiftly and inevitably as the harvest of laziness.
What is the context of Proverbs 24:34?
The chapter ends with the stark outcome of the parable: ruin.