As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
Just as a door swings back and forth on its hinges but never goes anywhere, so a lazy person tosses and turns in bed but never gets up.
This verse is comparing a lazy person who stays in bed to a door that moves on its hinges but never actually goes anywhere - lots of motion but no real progress.
📚 Historical Context
This proverb comes from ancient Israel's collection of practical wisdom sayings, likely compiled during Solomon's reign around 970-930 BC. In that agricultural society, laziness was particularly problematic because survival depended on hard work - farming, building, and maintaining households required constant effort. The imagery of a door on hinges would have been familiar to everyone, as doors were essential fixtures in homes and city gates.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.