עָצֵלatzel meaning in Biblical Hebrew
sluggard, lazy man · adjective used as a noun (masculine)
Also spelled in English: atsel
The atzel already has his hand in the bowl. Lifting it back up to his mouth is too much to ask.
טָמַן עָצֵל יָדוֹ בַּצַּלָּחַת נִלְאָה לַהֲשִׁיבָהּ אֶל־פִּיו
“The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. (Proverbs 26:15)”
Picture the hand buried in the dish: the atzel reaches the food, but the trip back up defeats him.
Biblical Hebrew words for the heart and inner lifePeople and roles in the Hebrew Bible