Proverbs 26:13 Meaning and Explanation
“The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The lazy person invents excuses—lions in the road—to avoid work, while danger is imagined, not real.
The Context of Proverbs 26:13
The focus shifts from fools to the slothful, another class of the foolish, showing how laziness shares folly's self-deception.
What Does Proverbs 26:13 Mean?
Sloth generates creative excuses. The lazy man sees obstacles where none exist; he speaks of lions as though they prowl the streets, blocking his path. The excuse is false, yet in his mind it justifies inaction. He has made excuses his refuge.
The lie reveals the disorder of sloth. Rather than face difficulty or exert effort, the slothful person constructs a fantasy of danger. He prefers the imagined safety of inaction to the real risk of trying. His passivity springs from a broken will, not actual threat.
Proverbs 26:13 in the Original Language
aryah (אַרְיָה), 'lion'—the predator used metaphorically to represent whatever obstacle the slothful fear enough to use as excuse.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 26:13
What does Proverbs 26:13 mean?
The lazy person invents excuses—lions in the road—to avoid work, while danger is imagined, not real.
What is the context of Proverbs 26:13?
The focus shifts from fools to the slothful, another class of the foolish, showing how laziness shares folly's self-deception.