The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold,.... Or, "in the cold"; in the time of cold, as Aben Ezra; in the time of autumn, which is the time of ploughing, when it begins to be cold weather, and winter is drawing on: and this is discouraging to the sluggard, who does not care to take his hands out of his bosom to feed himself, and much less to plough; see Pr 19:24;[therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing; he shall ask of those who have ploughed and sowed, and are now reaping and gathering in their increase at harvest time; but they shall give him nothing; for such as will not work should not eat; and if a man will not plough and sow, he cannot expect to reap, nor should he be encouraged in begging.
Bible Commentary
Proverbs 20:4
Proverbs 20:4
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain
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from the most necessary business, from ploughing and sowing when the
season is: The sluggard has ground to occupy, and has ability for it;…Proverbs 20:4Proverbs 20:4 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; propter frigus, Vulgate. But חֹרֶף (choreph) denotes the time of gathering—the autumn; so we would translate, "At the time of harvest the sluggard ploughs not"—just…
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