Proverbs 10:26

Pro 10:26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so [is] the sluggard to them that send him.

Ver. 26. So is the sluggard to them that send him.] Habent aulae suum cito, cito. What thou doest, do quickly, said our Saviour to the traitor. He cannot away with dulness and oscitancy in any of his, but condemns it in those slow things, νωθροι, the Hebrews, {Heb 5:11} and commands them double diligence. {Pro 6:11-12} "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." {Rom 12:11} A dull heart makes no riddance. Baruc accendit seipsum {Neh 3:20} repairing earnestly, and so finished his task in shorter time. Let ambassadors, ministers, messengers, &c., nimble up their business, or look for no thank. What a deal of content gave Cranmer to Henry VIII, by his expediting the business of the divorce, both at home and abroad, in foreign universities! And what a deal of distaste gave Wolsey by the contrary!

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pro 10:26. As vinegar to the teeth — Which, by its coldness and sharpness, it offends; and as smoke, &c., so is the sluggard — Unserviceable and vexatious. “A negligent, dilatory servant vexes those who send him, just as keen vinegar gives pain to the teeth, and bitter smoke torments the eyes.” — Schultens.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro_10:26

THE VEXATIOUSNESS OF A SLUGGISH SERVANT

I. He is as smoke to the eyes. Smoke in the eyes prevents the accomplishment of a man’s purposes, or at least it hinders and annoys him in their execution. The eye is the light of the body; if vision is in any way obstructed or impaired, delay and vexation must ensue. So the employer of a sluggish servant must be the victim of perplexity and annoyance. He sends him on an errand, or entrusts him with a work which it is important should be done within a certain time. But he lingers over it until the time is long past, and perhaps an opportunity is lost which can never be recalled. Much often depends upon the performance of duties up to time. The want of punctuality sometimes is as disastrous as not doing the thing at all. How many plans have been frustrated, how many sufferings have in various ways been entailed upon men, by delay in the performance of duty. A master who has to depend upon a sluggard is like a man in the midst of the smoke of a burning house; he is uncertain as to his present whereabouts, and ignorant of what mishap may befal him next.

II. He is as vinegar to the teeth. He is most irritating to the temper. As vinegar sours everything with which it comes in contact, so a sluggard sours the temper of those with whom he has to do, and makes them sometimes not only irritable with him who is the offender, but with the innocent also.

OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS

Does, then, the sluggard disappoint and provoke his earthly master? See that we be not such sluggards to our Heavenly Master. Laodicean professors are especially hateful in his sight (Rev_3:16). The slothful minister carries in a tremendous account to Him that sent him. No more pitiable object is found than the man who has time to spare, who has no object of commanding interest, and is going on to the end as if he had spent his whole life in children’s play, and had lived to no useful purpose.… Why “standeth he idle in the market-place?” It cannot be—“No man hath hired him.” His master’s call sounds in his ears—“Go ye into the vineyard.” And at his peril he disobeys it (Mat_20:7-30).—Bridges.

Sluggishness is a cutting, vexing thing. If we are Christ’s, we should crucify this self-pleasing affection of the flesh.… It is a sin to waste another man’s time, as much as to waste his property. “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” No doubt it is the natural disposition of some people to be slovenly and unexact. But what is your religion worth if it do not correct such a propensity?… If any man be in Christ he is a new creature. If the new life is strong in the heart, it will send its warm pulses down to the extremest member.… He who is a Christian in little things is not a little Christian; he is the greatest Christian, and the most useful. The baptism of these little outlying things shows that he is full of grace, for these are grace’s overflowings; and they are ever the overflowings of the full well that refresh the desert. The great centre must be fully occupied before the stream can reach that outer edge.—Arnot.

The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.

He is but a trouble and grief to him about any business.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Observe, 1. Those that are of a slothful disposition, that love their ease and cannot apply their minds to any business, are not fit to be employed, no, not so much as to be sent on an errand, for they will neither deliver a message with any care nor make any haste back. Such therefore are very unmeet to be ministers, Christ's messengers; he will not own the sending forth of sluggards into his harvest. 2. Those that are guilty of so great an oversight as to entrust such with any affair, and put confidence in them, will certainly have vexation with them. A slothful servant is to his master as uneasy and troublesome as vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes; he provokes his passion, as vinegar sets the teeth on edge, and occasions him grief to see his business neglected and undone, as smoke sets the eyes a weeping.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

that is, causes vexation.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 26. As vinegar to the teeth] The acid softening and dissolving the alkali of the bone, so as to impair their texture, and render them incapable of masticating; and as smoke affects the eyes, irritating their tender vessels, so as to give pain and prevent distinct vision; so the sluggard, the lounging, thriftless messenger, who never returns in time with the desired answer.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

26. them that send him] Contrast Pro_25:13.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

As vinegar to the teeth,.... Which, with its coldness and sourness, blunts the teeth, and makes it troublesome to eat: the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render it,

"as the sour grape is hurtful to the teeth;''

sets them on edge;

and as smoke to the eye; dims the sight, causes the eye to water, and is very pernicious and vexatious:

so is the sluggard to them that send him: that is, the slothful messenger, as the Targum explains it; who, being sent on an errand, is dilatory, does not make haste to bring back the answer; which is very vexatious to those that send him, raises their passions, makes them fretful and very angry, be it on what account it will: so slothful and unprofitable servants, to whom talents are given for usefulness, which they hide or use not, are very provoking to Christ, and whom he will order into outer darkness; those who have gifts for sacred service ought not to be slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, Mat 25:26.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The teeth set on edge by the sour wine used by peasants Rth 2:14; Psa 69:21, the eye irritated by wood-smoke, these shadow the annoyance of having a messenger who will loiter on the way.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Him. He spoils all their projects, (Calmet) and becomes a nuisance.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

As vinegar to the teeth; Which by its cold and sharpness it offends.

So is the sluggard; unserviceable and vexatious.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

26. As… smoke… so is the sluggard — Not an antithetic verse, but a similitude easily apprehended. A sluggard is an annoyance, as is acid to the teeth or smoke to the eyes.

Vinegar — Sour wine. Compare Num_6:3; Psa_69:21; Rth_2:14.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Vinegar. (Rth_2:14 Psa_69:21) As sour wine sets the teeth on edge. Septuagint, "as the unripe grape is harmful to the teeth". (Eze_18:2) Smoke. In a country where chimneys were unknown, and the fuel was wood or some substance more unsavoury, the eyes must have often been painfully affected by the household fire. Thus lacrimosus, "tear-producing," is a classical epithet of smoke (see Ovid, "Metam.," 10:6; Her., "Sat.," 1:5, 80). To these two annoyances is compared the messenger who loiters on his errand. The last clause is rendered by the LXX, "So is iniquity to those who practise it it brings only pain and vexation.

The lazy man a nuisance.

I HE IRRITATES HIS EMPLOYERS. The images of the teeth set on edge, the blinded, smarting eyes, give the thought with great force and great naivete.

II HE IS WORSE THAN USELESS. The Bible shows a great aversion from idleness, sluggishness. (Pro_6:6, seqq.; Pro_12:27 Pro_19:24 Pro_22:13)

1. Laziness is a vice and the parent of worse.

2. The swift discharge of duty is acceptable to God and man. J.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

So - Unserviceable and vexatious.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

21 The lips of the righteous edify many;

But fools die through want of understanding.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

A lively figure of the vexation of the sluggard to his employers! (Contrast Pro 26:6, with Pro 13:17 ; Pro 25:13 .) Suppose a fire to be extinguished, medical assistance needed, a message of urgent haste to be conveyed — he is worse than unserviceable. Common prudence dictates the selection of active and industrious servants. And such when influenced by godly principles, are "worthy of double honour." (Pro 22:29 . Gen 24:1-14 . 1Ti 5:17 .)

Does then the sluggard disappoint and provoke his earthly master? See that we be not such sluggards to our heavenly Master. Laodicean professors are specially hateful in his sight. (Rev 3:16 .) The slothful Minister carries in a tremendous account to him that sent him. No more pitiable object is found, than the man who has time to spare; who has no object of commanding interest; and is going on to the end, as if he had spent his whole life in children’s play, and had lived for no useful purpose. He may probably have parceled out a portion of his time for some miscalled religious duty. But he might as well be asleep as on his knees; in idleness as in meditation — so little pains — so little heart, is connected with his duties! Why "standeth he idle in the market-place?" It cannot be — "No man hath hired him." His Master’s call sounds in his ears — "Go ye into the vineyard." (Mat 20:7 .) And at his peril he disobeys it. (Mat 25:30 .)

Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

v. 26. As vinegar to the teeth, affecting the enamel and tending to make the teeth feel dull, and as smoke to the eyes, affecting the sensitive membranes and interfering with sight, so is the sluggard to them that send him, a source of constant vexation and worry.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Like vinegar on the teeth and smoke in the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him

"Vinegar" and "smoke" represent things that hurt a person's teeth and eyes. AT: "Sending a lazy person to accomplish a task is irritating and unpleasant" (See: Simile)

vinegar

a sour liquid used to flavor or preserve foods

the years of the wicked

"Years" represent the time a person lives. AT: "the lifetime of the evil person" (See: Metaphor)

translationWords

send

fear

Yahweh

life

evil

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.