עַצְלָה
𐤏𐤑𐤋𐤄
ʻatslâh
H6103 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Indolence, slothfulness, or the state of being sluggish and lacking diligence; denotes an abstract quality signifying habitual laziness or reluctance to act, especially in contexts of work or duty.
Semantic Range
slothfulness, indolence, sluggishness, laziness, habitual inactivity, a disposition toward inaction or lack of diligence
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root עצל, which in its verb form means 'to be sluggish, to be lazy, to be idle.' The noun עַצְלָה is a feminine abstract formation indicating the state or condition of being lazy or slothful. The root conveys the disposition toward inactivity or avoidance of exertion.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עַצְלָה appears in the Hebrew Bible primarily in Proverbs, within wisdom literature contexts where laziness is contrasted to diligence and industry. The term is used in admonitory sayings, warning against the consequences of inaction or slackness, especially regarding daily responsibilities or wise living. The concept is always moral and practical, not psychological, marking a character flaw with social and economic ramifications. The related adjective עָצֵל describes a person who is lazy or slothful, while the abstract noun עַצְלָה names the condition or vice. Later translation traditions (including the LXX and Vulgate) often render the term with words for 'sloth' or 'laziness,' but nuances of shame and social consequence are more pronounced in biblical contexts, where the vice is often linked to poverty or disgrace. The usage remains largely unchanged across periods, as it primarily features in didactic or proverbial material rather than narratives or legal texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of עָצֵל; (as abstractly) indolence; slothfulness.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עצל (ʿ-ṣ-l) — to be sluggish, to be lazy, to be idle
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6101 | עָצַל | may you all be slack |
| H6102 | עָצֵל | slack one |
| H6104 | עַצְלוּת | habitual laziness |
| H682 | אָצֵל | lazy man |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6103-01 |
עַ֭צְלָה | atselah | HNcfsa |
Slothfulness | slothfulness | 1 |
H6103-02 |
בַּ/עֲצַלְתַּ֖יִם | baatsaletayim | HR/Ncfda |
by laziness | in double-slothfulness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6103-01 |
Proverbs 19:15 | עַ֭צְלָה | atselah | HNcfsa |
Slothfulness | slothfulness |
H6103-02 |
Ecclesiastes 10:18 | בַּ/עֲצַלְתַּ֖יִם | baatsaletayim | HR/Ncfda |
by laziness | in double-slothfulness |