Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The condition or quality of being idle (in the various senses of that word); uselessness; fruitlessness; triviality; inactivity; laziness. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia IDLE; IDLENESS i'-d'-l, i'-d'-l-nes: Both words, adjective and noun, render different Hebrew words (from `atsel, "to be lazy," raphah, "to relax," and shaqaT, "to be quiet"). According to the Yahwistic narrative Pharaoh's retort to the complaints of the Israelites was a charge of indolence (Exodus 5:8, 17). It was a favorite thought of Hebrew wisdom-practical philosophy of life-that indolence inevitably led to poverty and want (Proverbs 19:15 Ecclesiastes 10:18). The "virtuous woman" was one who would not eat the "bread of idleness" (Proverbs 31:27). In Ezekiel 16:49 for the King James Version "abundance of idleness," the Revised Version (British and American) has "prosperous ease." In the New Testament "idle" generally renders the Greek word argos, literally, "inactive," "useless" (Matthew 20:3, 6). In Luke 24:11 "idle talk" corresponds to one Greek word which means "empty gossip" or "nonsensical talk." T. Lewis

Multi-Version Concordance Idleness (4 Occurrences) 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion, and not after the tradition which they received from us. (See RSV) 2 Thessalonians 3:11 For we hear that there are some of you who live disorderly lives and are mere idle busybodies. (See RSV) Proverbs 31:27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn't eat the bread of idleness. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV) Ecclesiastes 10:18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)