English · KJV
H6103

עַצְלָה

ʻatslâh /ats-law'/ Ask about this word
Rootfeminine of עָצֵל
Meaning(as abstractly) indolence
KJV usageslothfulness.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻatslâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʻatslâh, represented by H6103, defines indolence or slothfulness. It is a feminine abstract noun that appears 2 times in 2 unique verses, offering a concise but potent warning against the consequences of idleness.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H6103 is directly linked to negative outcomes. Proverbs connects it to a state of spiritual and physical lethargy, stating that slothfulness casts one into a "deep sleep" H8639, which results in an "idle soul" that will "suffer hunger" H7456 Proverbs 19:15. Ecclesiastes uses a powerful physical metaphor, explaining that through slothfulness a "building" H4746 will decay, and through "idleness of the hands" H3027 a "house" H1004 will drop through Ecclesiastes 10:18.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illustrate the condition and consequences of slothfulness:

  • H8639 tardêmâh (deep sleep): This term for a lethargy or trance is presented as a direct result of slothfulness, a state that "casteth" H5307 a person into inactivity Proverbs 19:15.
  • H4355 mâkak (to decay): This word describes the physical ruin that results from indolence. Just as a building is brought low and decays from neglect, so too are the affairs of the slothful Ecclesiastes 10:18.
  • H7423 rᵉmîyâh (idle, remissness, deceitful): This word is used to describe the "soul" H5315 that suffers hunger as a result of slothfulness, highlighting a state of remissness Proverbs 19:15.
  • H7456 râʻêb (to hunger): This is the ultimate consequence for the idle soul, a state of famishing that serves as a direct outcome of slothfulness Proverbs 19:15.

Theological Significance

The concept of H6103 carries significant weight, illustrating a clear principle of cause and effect in scripture.

  • A State of Stupor: Slothfulness is not merely laziness but a condition that leads to a "deep sleep" H8639, suggesting a profound lack of awareness and responsiveness Proverbs 19:15.
  • Inevitable Decay: The imagery of a decaying building H4746 and a leaky house H1004 demonstrates that inaction inevitably leads to the ruin and collapse of one's responsibilities and resources Ecclesiastes 10:18.
  • Physical and Spiritual Want: Indolence culminates in hunger, affecting the very "soul" H5315. This warns that a life of ease and inaction will ultimately lead to a state of want and lack Proverbs 19:15.

Summary

In summary, H6103 serves as a stark scriptural warning. Though used infrequently, it powerfully communicates that slothfulness is not a passive state but an active force of destruction. It leads to a spiritual lethargy akin to a deep sleep and results in the tangible decay of one's household and the eventual suffering of hunger, making it a condition to be diligently avoided.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • עֲצַלְתַּיִם
  • עַצְלָה

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H8639 תַּרְדֵּמָה from רָדַם; a lethargy or (by implication) trance; deep sleep. H7456 רָעֵב a primitive root; to hunger; (suffer to) famish, (be, have, suffer, suffer to) hunger(-ry). H4746 מְקָרֶה from קָרָה; properly, something meeting, i.e. a frame (of timbers); building. H3027 יָד a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applicat H1004 בַּיִת probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, d H5307 נָפַל a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative); be acc

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Proverbs
1
Ecclesiastes

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.