† עַצְלוּת n.f. id.;—לֶחֶם ע׳ Pr 31:27. H6104
idleness, slothfulness; lazy inactivity
This feminine noun denotes idleness or slothfulness, the quality of being lazy or inactive. In Proverbs 31:27 it describes what the excellent wife does not eat—'the bread of idleness.' The expression means she does not live in idle luxury, but is actively engaged in productive work. The term condemns unproductive inactivity, especially when one consumes resources without contributing labor.
Senses
1. sense 1 — In Proverbs 31:27, this describes the 'bread of idleness' which the virtuous woman does not eat. The phrase uses 'bread' to represent sustenance or living, creating the image of one who consumes without producing, living in lazy inactivity. She refuses this idleness, instead working productively. Spanish 'ociosidad' (idleness) captures the inactive quality. The verse praises constant productive engagement as opposed to slothful consumption. 1×
AR["كَسَلٍ"]·ben["অলসতার"]·DE["[עצלות]"]·EN["idleness"]·FR["עצלות"]·heb["עצלות"]·HI["आलस्य-की"]·ID["kemalasan"]·IT["idleness"]·jav["kasèdan"]·KO["게으름의"]·PT["preguiça"]·RU["праздности"]·ES["ociosidad"]·SW["uvivu"]·TR["tembellik"]·urd["سستی-کی"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† עַצְלוּת n.f. id.;—לֶחֶם ע׳ Pr 31:27.