Proverbs 22:13The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!"
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~1000-700 BC. A wise teacher observes lazy people making absurd excuses to avoid leaving their homes for work in Jerusalem or any Israelite city.
The emotion here: amused frustration at human foolishness
The original word
ʿāṣēl (עָצֵל) — sluggard, habitually lazy person who finds creative excuses
Why it matters
Lions were actually present in ancient Palestine until about 1400 AD, making this excuse technically possible but highly improbable in city streets
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 22:13
This is dark humor - everyone knew lions didn't roam city streets during the day
Common misconceptionPeople think this is just about lazy workers, but it's about fear disguised as reasonable caution. The sluggard isn't just lazy - he's paralyzed by imaginary dangers.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 22:13
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 22:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 22:13 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Solomon. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is conversational. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include laziness, excuses. Notable phrases: there is a lion outside; killed in the streets.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 22:13 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "anxious"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.