נוּמָה

נוּמָה

sleepiness

Definition

נוּמָה (nûwmâh) refers to a state of sleepiness, drowsiness, or lethargy. It describes not just physical tiredness but a sluggishness that leads to inaction or neglect. In its sole biblical occurrence in Proverbs 23:21, it is paired with gluttony as a cause of poverty, portraying it as a moral failing of laziness rather than mere physical rest. The word carries a connotation of excessive, indulgent sleep that hinders responsibility.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in the wisdom literature of Proverbs. It is used in a specific moral and practical warning context. In Proverbs 23:21, it is listed alongside the drunkard and the glutton as a trait that leads to destitution: 'For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.' Here, 'drowsiness' (nûwmâh) is presented as a vice that causes ruin.

Etymology

The noun נוּמָה (nûwmâh) is directly derived from the verbal root נוּם (nûm, H5123), which means 'to slumber,' 'to sleep,' or 'to be drowsy.' This root appears in several places, such as in Psalm 132:4 ('I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids'). The noun form intensifies the concept, focusing on the state or condition of being in that drowsy slumber.

Semantic Range

Though used only once, this word contributes to the Bible's extensive wisdom theme contrasting diligence with sloth. It personifies 'drowsiness' as an active force that 'clothes' a person in poverty, making idleness a spiritual and practical danger. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Proverbs by highlighting that sleep itself is not condemned, but rather the indulgent, negligent sleep that replaces wise work and stewardship, which is a violation of God's call to purposeful living. In the agrarian society of ancient Israel, consistent daily labor was essential for survival. Excessive sleep or drowsiness during crucial work hours (like harvest) could lead to genuine material loss and poverty for a family or community. Therefore, the warning in Proverbs would have been heard as a direct, practical consequence, not just a spiritual metaphor. The cultural understanding tied physical laziness directly to tangible ruin. תַּרְדֵּמָה (tardêmâh, H8639) — a deep sleep, often divinely induced (e.g., Genesis 2:21). שֵׁנָה (shênâh, H8142) — the common, neutral word for sleep. עַצְלָה (‘atslâh, H6104) — sloth, laziness, a broader character trait of which nûwmâh is a specific symptom.

Word Details