The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
This saying stands among the writings of Solomon found in the last fifteen chapters of Proverbs, belonging to the proverbs beginning in chapter 25 that the scribes of Hezekiah copied out from the many writings of Solomon, who wrote three thousand proverbs, with the greater part of Proverbs written about the year one thousand and later. The number seven in it is a representative number expressing a complete or full number, so the comparison is to even a full group of wise advisers. It means that the sluggard in his own conceit thinks himself wiser than seven men who can give sound reasons, being so self-satisfied in his own judgment that his self-conceit exceeds that of even a full group able to render a reason. His laziness blinds him to the truth.
The same conceit holds more broadly of anyone fixed on his own ideas and convinced of his own wisdom, who thinks himself wiser than many able to give sound reasons and becomes less receptive to sound judgment. It describes someone who dismisses his critics as insufficiently informed instead of answering their claim.
It also describes professed teachers who boast that they do not understand Scripture and disdain those who seek understanding, since complacency in ignorance exemplifies this conceit. It further shows that even the reasoned counsel of seven people may be outweighed by a harmful example, especially when leaders and ministers' families model worldly pride.
This saying stands among the writings of Solomon found in the last fifteen chapters of Proverbs, belonging to the proverbs beginning in chapter 25 that the scribes of Hezekiah copied out from the many writings of Solomon, who wrote three thousand proverbs, with the greater part of Proverbs written about the year one thousand and later. The number seven in it is a representative number expressing a complete or full number, so the comparison is to even a full group of wise advisers. It means that the sluggard in his own conceit thinks himself wiser than seven men who can give sound reasons, being so self-satisfied in his own judgment that his self-conceit exceeds that of even a full group able to render a reason. His laziness blinds him to the truth.
The same conceit holds more broadly of anyone fixed on his own ideas and convinced of his own wisdom, who thinks himself wiser than many able to give sound reasons and becomes less receptive to sound judgment. It describes someone who dismisses his critics as insufficiently informed instead of answering their claim.
It also describes professed teachers who boast that they do not understand Scripture and disdain those who seek understanding, since complacency in ignorance exemplifies this conceit. It further shows that even the reasoned counsel of seven people may be outweighed by a harmful example, especially when leaders and ministers' families model worldly pride.