Proverbs 24:30

Proverbs 24:30

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

a. ASV: I went by the field of the sluggard, And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

b. YLT: Near the field of a slothful man I passed by, And near the vineyard of a man lacking heart.

c. Classic Amplified: I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

d. Septuagint:  A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/ Writings: I passed by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of a man lacking [an understanding] heart.

1. “I went by the field of the slothful…”

a. I went [Strong: 5674 ʻâbar, aw-bar'; a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation):—alienate, alter, × at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, shave, cause to (make) sound, × speedily, × sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath.]

b. by [Strong: 5921 `al al properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications (as follow):--above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, X with.]

c. [the] field [Strong: 7704 sâdeh, saw-deh'; or שָׂדַי sâday; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat):—country, field, ground, land, soil, × wild.]

d. slothful [Strong: 6102 ʻâtsêl, aw-tsale'; from H6101; indolent:—slothful, sluggard.]

e. [Strong: 376 ʼîysh, eesh; contracted for H582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation):—also, another, any (man), a certain, champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), none, one, people, person, steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.]

1). In this verse the slothful or lazy man is also described as a man lacking wisdom and understanding. The Scripture is referring to a man or woman who is spiritually lazy. This individual will show forth characteristics that the diligent Christian will not. The life will look as though it is being neglected.   

a). Hebrews 5:11-14 [Classic Amplified]   Concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your [spiritual] hearing and sluggish [even slothful in achieving spiritual insight].

12 For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God’s Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food.

13 For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]!

14 But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.

b). Joshua 18:1-3 And the whole congregation of the Israelites assembled at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there; and the land was subdued before them.

2 And there remained among the Israelites seven tribes who had not yet divided their inheritance.

3 Joshua asked the Israelites, How long will you be slack to go in and possess the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?

2). The inspired writer of Hebrews exhorted us not to be lazy or slothful but diligent followers of those who believe and receive the promises of God’s word. 

a). Hebrews 6:11, 12 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

2. “...and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;”

a. [and] by [Strong: 5921 `al al properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications (as follow):--above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, X with.]

b. [the] vinyard [Strong: 3754 kerem, keh'-rem; from an unused root of uncertain meaning; a garden or vineyard:—vines, (increase of the) vineyard(-s), vintage.

c. [of the] man [Strong: 120 ʼâdam, aw-dam'; from H119; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.):—× another, hypocrite, common sort, × low, man (mean, of low degree), person.]

d. void [Strong: 2638 châçêr, khaw-sare'; from H2637; lacking; hence, without:—destitute, fail, lack, have need, void, want.]

e. [of] understanding [Strong: 3820 leb labe a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably, consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly, wisdom.]