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עָצֵל

𐤏𐤑𐤋

ʻâtsêl

H6102 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root עצל to be slack, to be lazy, to be sluggish

Definition

A person who is habitually lazy or lacking in motivation to work or act; characterized by reluctance or inertia in fulfilling tasks, particularly those of daily life or communal responsibility. The term denotes not merely someone who rests, but rather someone persistently avoiding effort or productive activity.

Semantic Range

lazy person, sluggard, habitually idle one, one who is negligent in duties, someone slow to act or respond

Root / Etymology

Root/etymology: From the root עצל (ʿ-ṣ-l), which conveys the idea of being slack, sluggish, or inert. The nominal form עָצֵל is a descriptive participle indicating one who exhibits these qualities. The root meaning 'to be slack, to be lazy' underlies the derived noun which labels a person characterized by such inactivity. The exact etymology beyond this root is not further traceable within Hebrew.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, עָצֵל primarily appears in wisdom literature, such as Proverbs, where it is featured as a negative archetype—contrasted with the diligent or wise person. In these contexts, the term condemns not mere rest, but a habitual lifestyle of indolence, warning of the personal and social consequences. The עָצֵל is depicted as failing in responsibilities to household, community, and self-sufficiency, with agricultural or economic neglect portrayed as a result. The term is distinct from occasional weariness (עָיֵף) or sleep (שֵׁנָה). Standard English translations such as 'sluggard' or 'slothful person' partially capture the meaning but do not always express the ongoing social and ethical critique in ancient Israelite society, especially in the wisdom tradition's perspective on work and responsibility. The noun does not appear in reference to particular social classes but as a cautionary figure within didactic contexts. The development of the term's use outside the biblical corpus follows similar contours: it remains a pejorative label for laziness or apathy in communal life.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָצַל; indolent; slothful, sluggard.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עצל (ʿ-ṣ-l) — to be slack, to be lazy, to be sluggish

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6101 עָצַל may you all be slack
H6103 עַצְלָה slothfulness
H6104 עַצְלוּת habitual laziness
H682 אָצֵל lazy man

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6102-01 עָצֵ֑ל atsel HAamsa sluggard slack one 12
H6102-03 וְ֝/עָצֵ֗ל veatsel HC/Aamsa so the sluggard slack one 1
H6102-02 הֶ֝/עָצֵ֗ל heatsel HTd/Aamsa is the sluggard lazy man 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6102-01 Proverbs 6:6 עָצֵ֑ל atsel HAamsa O sluggard slack one
H6102-01 Proverbs 6:9 עָצֵ֥ל atsel HAamsa O sluggard slack one
H6102-02 Proverbs 10:26 הֶ֝/עָצֵ֗ל heatsel HTd/Aamsa is the sluggard lazy man
H6102-01 Proverbs 13:4 עָצֵ֑ל atsel HAamsa of the sluggard slack one
H6102-01 Proverbs 15:19 עָ֭צֵל atsel HAamsa lazy slack one
H6102-01 Proverbs 19:24 עָצֵ֣ל atsel HAamsa sluggard slack one
H6102-01 Proverbs 20:4 עָצֵ֣ל atsel HAamsa the sluggard slack one
H6102-01 Proverbs 21:25 עָצֵ֣ל atsel HAamsa sluggard slack one
H6102-01 Proverbs 22:13 עָ֭צֵל atsel HAamsa the sluggard slack one
H6102-01 Proverbs 24:30 עָצֵ֣ל atsel HAamsa lazy slack one
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