The Hebrew noun nuwmah means drowsiness or slumber. Derived from the verb nuwm (H5123, to slumber), it describes the state of being half-asleep, inattentive, or lethargic. In wisdom literature, drowsiness is consistently associated with laziness and its inevitable consequence: poverty.
In Proverbs, nuwmah serves as a vivid warning against the spiritual and practical dangers of laziness. The wise teacher warns that excessive drowsiness will clothe a person in rags — a powerful image connecting physical lethargy to material destitution. The broader theological principle is that faithful stewardship requires wakefulness, vigilance, and diligent action.