While rest is important, the Bible also emphasizes the dangers of too much sleep and the laziness that can accompany it. Too much sleep can lead to missed opportunities, wasted time, and even poverty.
The following verses offer wisdom and warnings about the effects of excessive sleep, and the importance of diligence and discipline in living a life that honors God.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Success and Hard Work
Bible Verses About Sleeping Too much
Proverbs 6:9-11
“How long will you lie down, O lazy one? When will you arise from your sleep [and learn self-discipline]? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to lie down and rest—So your poverty will come like an approaching prowler Who walks slowly but surely, And your need will come like an armed man [making you helpless].”
Commentary: This passage speaks against laziness and highlights the consequences of too much sleep. It warns that a life of excessive rest can lead to poverty and need. The verses challenge us to embrace self-discipline, rising from sleep to pursue our responsibilities and work, knowing that inaction can have dire results.
Proverbs 20:13
“Do not love [excessive] sleep, or you will become poor; Open your eyes [so that you can do your work] and you will be satisfied with bread.”
Commentary: This verse urges us to avoid loving sleep too much, as it can lead to poverty. There is a direct link between waking up to work and being satisfied with our needs. The Bible is clear that diligence is rewarded, and loving sleep to the point of avoiding responsibility is unwise.
Ecclesiastes 10:18
“Through laziness the rafters [of state affairs] decay, and through idleness the roof leaks.”
Commentary: This verse illustrates the long-term consequences of laziness and idleness. Just as neglecting a roof causes it to leak, neglecting our responsibilities can lead to breakdowns in other areas of life. The Bible encourages us to be diligent in maintaining both our work and spiritual lives.
Proverbs 19:15
“Laziness casts one into a deep sleep [unmindful of lost opportunity], And the idle person will suffer hunger.”
Commentary: Here, laziness is portrayed as casting one into a deep, unproductive sleep that causes lost opportunities. The idle person, who does not work or make the most of their time, will eventually suffer the consequences, including hunger. It serves as a reminder that God’s plan includes diligent work.
Romans 13:11
“Do this, knowing that this is a critical time. It is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep [of spiritual complacency]; for our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed [in Christ].”
Commentary: This verse calls for spiritual awakening. Sleeping too much can also be a metaphor for spiritual complacency. We are encouraged to wake up to the urgency of the times and live with a sense of purpose and readiness, especially as Christ’s return draws nearer.
Ephesians 5:14
“For this reason He says, ‘Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine [as dawn] upon you and give you light.'”
Commentary: This verse is a call to wake up from both physical and spiritual sleep. Christ calls us to rise from a state of laziness or complacency so that His light can shine on us, guiding us toward fruitful living. It reminds us that sleep can hinder us from experiencing God’s presence fully.
Proverbs 24:33-34
“A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest—Then your poverty will come as a robber, And your want like an armed man.”
Commentary: Similar to Proverbs 6:10-11, this verse stresses that laziness leads to ruin. The repetition of the phrase highlights the creeping nature of poverty that comes through inaction. We are encouraged to stay alert and active, rather than indulge in too much rest.
1 Thessalonians 5:6
“So then let us not sleep [in spiritual indifference], as the rest [of the world does], but let us keep wide awake [alert and cautious] and let us be sober [self-controlled].”
Commentary: Paul exhorts believers to stay spiritually awake and alert. Just as excessive physical sleep can hinder our responsibilities, spiritual sleep—complacency—can cause us to miss out on God’s plans. This is a call to be watchful and self-controlled in our faith journey.
Proverbs 10:5
“He who gathers during summer and takes advantage of his opportunities is a son who acts wisely, But he who sleeps during harvest and ignores the moment of opportunity is a son who acts shamefully.”
Commentary: This verse contrasts wisdom with foolishness by illustrating the value of hard work during the right season. The person who seizes opportunities when they arise is wise, while the one who sleeps through them brings shame. It’s a call to take advantage of the time and opportunities God gives us.
Mark 14:37-38
“And He came back and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you asleep? Were you unable to keep watch for one hour? Keep [actively] watching and praying so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.’
Commentary: In this passage, Jesus rebukes the disciples for sleeping during a critical moment. This verse emphasizes the importance of vigilance, especially in times of spiritual testing. It reminds us that while we may have good intentions, we must be alert and prayerful to avoid temptation.
Proverbs 12:24
“The hand of the diligent will rule, But the negligent and lazy will be put to forced labor.”
Commentary: This verse reinforces the idea that diligence leads to success and leadership, while laziness results in subjugation. The person who works hard will be rewarded, while the one who is lazy and sleeps too much will be forced into hard labor, likely under less favorable conditions.
Proverbs 13:4
“The soul (appetite) of the lazy person craves and gets nothing [for lethargy overcomes ambition], But the soul (appetite) of the diligent who works willingly is rich and abundantly supplied.”
Commentary: The verse speaks of how laziness leaves a person unfulfilled. While the lazy may desire much, they gain nothing because they are unwilling to work for it. Meanwhile, the diligent person finds satisfaction and abundance through their hard work, illustrating the biblical principle of reaping what we sow.
1 Corinthians 15:34
“Sober up morally and awaken from your spiritual stupor, as you ought, and stop sinning. For some of you have no knowledge of God [you are disgracefully ignorant of Him, and ignore His truths]. I say this to your shame.”
Commentary: This verse calls for moral and spiritual awakening. Much like excessive sleep can lead to physical poverty, spiritual stupor leads to ignorance and sin. Paul calls believers to awaken from this state and live in awareness of God’s truth, taking active steps to turn away from sin.
Proverbs 26:14
“As the door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy person on his bed [never getting out of it].”
Commentary: This humorous yet pointed verse illustrates the futility of laziness. The comparison of a lazy person to a door turning on its hinges—never truly moving—paints a vivid picture of someone who refuses to get out of bed. It serves as a warning against falling into such an unproductive lifestyle.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Hard Work Paying Off
Luke 9:32
“Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who were standing with Him.”
Commentary: In this passage, the disciples almost missed witnessing the glory of Jesus’ transfiguration because of sleep. It’s a reminder that sleep can cause us to miss out on important spiritual experiences. Once they woke up, they saw His glory. The verse suggests the need to stay spiritually alert to see the fullness of God’s work.
Matthew 25:5-6
“Now while the bridegroom was delayed, they all began to nod off, and they fell asleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! The bridegroom [is coming]! Go out to meet him.’”
Commentary: This verse comes from the Parable of the Ten Virgins, where sleep symbolizes unpreparedness. While sleep itself wasn’t condemned, the timing was crucial. Those who slept without preparation missed the bridegroom. The passage warns us to stay spiritually prepared at all times.
Isaiah 56:10
“His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.”
Commentary: In this verse, the prophet Isaiah criticizes the leaders of Israel, likening them to lazy watchmen who fail in their duties. It emphasizes that those who should be spiritually awake and vigilant have instead fallen into deep slumber, to the detriment of the people they lead. This serves as a warning to all leaders.
John 11:11-12
“He said this, and after that He said to them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him.’ The disciples replied, ‘Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.’
Commentary: In this passage, Jesus uses sleep as a metaphor for death, referring to Lazarus’ condition before His miraculous resurrection. While the disciples misunderstood Jesus, this verse illustrates that from God’s perspective, even death is merely a sleep that He can wake us from. It’s a powerful reminder of Christ’s authority over life and death.
Matthew 26:40-41
“And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘So, you men could not stay awake and keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep actively watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.'”
Commentary: Once again, we see Jesus finding His disciples asleep during a critical time. This verse points out the tension between the spirit and the flesh. The willingness of the spirit often clashes with the weakness of the body, and thus we are called to remain vigilant through prayer.
Proverbs 23:21
“For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, And the drowsiness [of overindulgence] will clothe one with rags.”
Commentary: This verse warns against overindulgence in both food and sleep. It connects drowsiness brought on by gluttony to poverty, suggesting that when we overindulge, we risk losing control of our lives, eventually suffering the consequences. It’s a reminder to practice moderation and discipline.
Job 33:15-16
“In a dream, a vision of the night [one may hear God’s voice], When deep sleep falls on men while slumbering upon the bed, Then He opens the ears of men And seals their instruction.”
Commentary: Though excessive sleep is often warned against, this verse shows that God can still speak to us in our sleep. Sometimes, it’s in moments of rest that God reveals deep truths to us. However, this verse doesn’t endorse laziness but highlights God’s sovereignty in using all moments for His purposes, even sleep.
Proverbs 21:25
“The desire of the lazy kills him, For his hands refuse to labor.”
Commentary: This verse starkly portrays the outcome of laziness. The desires of a lazy person may be strong, but because they refuse to work, these desires lead to their downfall. It’s a warning that unchecked laziness can lead to destruction, both physically and spiritually.
Matthew 8:24-25
“And suddenly a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping. And the disciples went and woke Him, saying, ‘Lord, save us, we are going to die!’
Commentary: This passage shows Jesus sleeping during a storm, symbolizing His peace in the midst of chaos. While the disciples were in panic, Jesus’ calm demonstrates His trust in God’s plan. This is not a warning against sleep, but rather an illustration of how we can rest confidently when our trust is in the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
“Now we do not want you to be uninformed, believers, about those who are asleep [in death], so that you will not grieve [for them] as the others do who have no hope [beyond this present life]. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God in this same way, by raising them from the dead, will bring with Him those [believers] who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”
Commentary: Here, sleep is used as a metaphor for death. Paul encourages believers not to grieve like those without hope, for those who have died in Christ will be raised again. This verse offers comfort and hope, emphasizing the resurrection power of Jesus and our future with Him.
Psalm 127:2
“It is vain for you to rise early, to retire late, To eat the bread of anxious labors—For He gives [blessings] to His beloved even in his sleep.”
Commentary: This verse encourages rest and trust in God, as He provides for His children even while they sleep. It’s a reminder not to be consumed by anxious toil, but to trust that God is in control, even when we rest. This is a balance to the warnings against laziness, showing that proper rest is a gift from God.
Proverbs 14:23
“In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.”
Commentary: This verse contrasts productive work with laziness. While hard work leads to profit and progress, merely talking or dreaming about what we could do without action leads to poverty. It’s a reminder that success requires effort and diligence, not just good intentions.
Genesis 2:21
“So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and while he slept, He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.”
Commentary: In this verse, God uses Adam’s sleep as an opportunity to create Eve. It shows that even in sleep, God can work to accomplish His purposes. While the Bible often warns against too much sleep, this passage illustrates that rest, when ordained by God, can lead to the fulfillment of His plans.
2 Peter 2:3
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.”
Commentary: Though this verse isn’t directly about sleep, it highlights the importance of spiritual vigilance. Just as too much physical sleep can lead to loss, spiritual sleep—ignoring truth—allows false teachings to enter unnoticed. We are called to stay alert and guard against such deception.
Jeremiah 51:39
“When they become heated [with lustful desire], I will serve them their banquet of [God’s] wrath and make them drunk, so that they may rejoice and may sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake up,” declares the Lord.
Commentary: This verse speaks of a sleep from which there is no waking—a symbol of God’s judgment on the wicked. It shows that for those who persist in sin, there comes a point when they fall into eternal “sleep” as a consequence. It’s a sobering reminder of the seriousness of rejecting God’s ways.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Failure
What Does the Bible Say About Sleeping Too much
There’s nothing wrong with getting a good night’s sleep. In fact, it’s one of the best gifts God has given us so we can rest our bodies and refresh our minds. But, when sleep becomes the thing that takes over our lives, when we’re choosing to stay in bed and hide away instead of getting up and doing what we know we should be doing, that’s when it becomes a problem. You see, life is full of things God wants us to do, people to love, and ways we can serve, and when we sleep too much, we miss out on all of that.
Sometimes, we can start using sleep as an escape, especially when life feels hard or overwhelming. But God calls us to be active, to face each day with strength and courage, and to make the most of the time we have. The truth is, sleeping too much can make us lazy, and laziness keeps us from fulfilling our purpose. We’ve got work to do, whether that’s taking care of our families, serving others, or growing closer to God. So, while sleep is important, let’s not let it take the place of what really matters in our lives.
We are meant to find balance. Too little sleep, and we wear ourselves out. Too much sleep, and we let opportunities pass us by. God wants us to live with intention, to rise each day ready to face the tasks and the blessings He has set before us. So, if you find yourself hitting the snooze button too many times or spending the day under the covers, it might be time to ask yourself if you’re missing out on what God has in store for you.