The Meaning of Proverbs 10:26 Explained

Proverbs 10:26

KJV: As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

YLT: As vinegar to the teeth, And as smoke to the eyes, So is the slothful to those sending him.

Darby: As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

ASV: As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, So is the sluggard to them that send him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

As vinegar  to the teeth,  and as smoke  to the eyes,  so [is] the sluggard  to them that send  him. 

What does Proverbs 10:26 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 10:17-32 - The Blessing Of The Lord Maketh Rich
Let us specially avoid talking too much. Silence is golden. See Proverbs 10:19. Yet the tongue of the just is as choice silver and the lips of the righteous feed many, Proverbs 10:20-21. When we speak, let us say something and let the people to whom we speak feel that their heart is lighter and that the heavenly horizons are nearer and clearer. Whatever you do, beware of uttering slander, Proverbs 10:18. You know, by your own experience, what is acceptable; see to it that your mouth brings forth wisdom and grace, Proverbs 10:31-32.
But this portion of Scripture deals, not only with the speech of the good man, but with his stability. The blessing of God is upon him, enriching him in all manner of ways; and there is no alloy in this gold, no bitterness in God's love, Proverbs 10:22. The desire of the righteous is granted, because it is begotten of the divine Spirit. He is built on the Everlasting Rock, Proverbs 10:25; Proverbs 10:30. His hope is gladness, Proverbs 10:28. As he walks in God's way, he gathers strength, Proverbs 10:29. Though he fall he is not utterly cast down; for God succors him with His saving strength, Psalms 37:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 10

1  Proverbs of Solomon: observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices

What do the individual words in Proverbs 10:26 mean?

As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes so [is] the lazy [man] to those who send him
כַּחֹ֤מֶץ ׀ לַשִּׁנַּ֗יִם וְכֶעָשָׁ֥ן לָעֵינָ֑יִם כֵּ֥ן הֶ֝עָצֵ֗ל לְשֹׁלְחָֽיו

כַּחֹ֤מֶץ ׀  As  vinegar 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹמֶץ  
Sense: vinegar.
לַשִּׁנַּ֗יִם  to  the  teeth 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, cd
Root: שֵׁן  
Sense: tooth, ivory.
וְכֶעָשָׁ֥ן  and  smoke 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׁן  
Sense: smoke.
לָעֵינָ֑יִם  to  the  eyes 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, cd
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
כֵּ֥ן  so  [is] 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
הֶ֝עָצֵ֗ל  the  lazy  [man] 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָצֵל  
Sense: sluggish, lazy.
לְשֹׁלְחָֽיו  to  those  who  send  him 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.