to the silence of the other Gospel accounts regarding this event. A consideration of the various Gospel accounts will show, however, that even the writers of the synoptic Gospels did not each recount every deed of Jesus. For example, only Luke reported the raising of the son of the widow of Nain. (Luke 7:11-15) John did not customarily repeat what others had recorded. The resurrection of Lazarus is a notable instance of this.

This miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection served well as part of Jesus’ ministry, both to illustrate the power of the Son of God and to increase faith in him and the resurrection. (John 11:4, 41, 42) These events occurred evidently near the beginning of the year 33 C.E. The Scriptures do not furnish information as to the circumstances, place or time of Lazarus’ death for a second time.

There is no Biblical statement nor any reason for linking the historical Lazarus with the beggar of Jesus’ illustration of the rich man and Lazarus.

2. The name given to the beggar in Jesus’ illustration commonly known as the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. (Luke 16:19-31) In the Vulgate the word “rich” has been rendered by the Latin adjective dives, which is often mistakenly used as the proper name of the rich man. However, the Jewish name Lazarus itself was common in ancient times, a fact borne out by ossuary inscriptions.

In the parable, the ulcerous beggar, Lazarus, was put at the gate of the rich man, desiring to be fed with the things that fell from the rich man’s sumptuous table. Lazarus subsequently died and was carried off by angels to the bosom position of Abraham (a place comparable to that occupied by a person in ancient times when he reclined in front of another on the same couch during a meal). Abraham had a conversation with the rich man, who had also died, was buried and was in Hades, existing in torments. A “great chasm” that could not be crossed separated the rich man from Abraham and Lazarus. The rich man’s request that Abraham send Lazarus to his five brothers to “give them a thorough witness,” in the hope of sparing them the same experience, met with rejection on the grounds that these had “Moses and the Prophets,” and, if unwilling to listen to them, “neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.”—See ILLUSTRATIONS.

Teachers and students of comparative religion have in some cases suggested that in giving this illustration Jesus Christ drew upon the ancient rabbinical concept and teaching regarding the underworld. Josephus furnishes the following information regarding the then-current view of the Pharisees in this regard: “They also believe that souls have an immortal vigour in them, and that under the earth there will be rewards or punishments, according as they have lived virtuously or viciously in this life; and the latter are to be detained in an everlasting prison, but that the former shall have power to revive and live again.” (Antiquities of the Jews, Book XVIII, chap. I, par. 3) However, Jesus flatly rejected false teachings, including those of the Pharisees. (Matt. chap. 23) Hence, it would have been inconsistent for him to frame his illustration of the rich man and Lazarus according to the outlines of the false rabbinical concept of the underworld. Consequently, it must be concluded that Jesus had in mind the fulfillment of the illustration and framed its details and movement in harmony with the facts of the fulfillment rather than according to any unscriptural teaching.

The context and the wording of the story show clearly that it is a parable and not an actual historical account. Poverty is not being extolled, nor are riches being condemned, but, rather, faith, conduct, final rewards and a reversal in the spiritual status or condition of those represented by Lazarus and the rich man are evidently indicated. The fact that the rich man’s brothers rejected Moses and the prophets also shows that the illustration had a deeper meaning and purpose than that of contrasting poverty and the possession of riches.

LAZINESS

Disinclination or aversion to effort or work; idleness; indolence; slothfulness; sluggishness. The Hebrew root word ʽa·tsalʹ may mean “to lean, recline or repose.” The primary idea seems to be that of laxness, languor. Forms of this word are translated “lazy,” “laziness,” “sluggish.” The Greek word o·kne·rosʹ means “slow, tardy, hesitant, slothful or sluggish,” when referring to persons. Another term, no·throsʹ, means “slow, sluggish, dull.”

Jehovah and his Son, as the two greatest Workers, hate laziness. Jesus said: “My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working.” (John 5:17) Throughout God’s Word the lazy person is warned and laziness is condemned. The lazy person is not one such as the apostle Paul speaks of as having “self-sufficiency” or contentment with “sustenance and covering.” (1 Tim. 6:6-8) Rather, he has desires for things, usually for much more than food or clothing. “The lazy one is showing himself desirous, but his soul has nothing.” (Prov. 13:4) Also, he has no consideration or respect for his fellowman, but is willing to let someone else do his work, even to let another person provide him with the things he desires.—Prov. 20:4.

THE LAZY MAN’S THINKING

A description of the lazy man is given in the book of Proverbs. First of all, he throws up barriers in his own mind to justify himself in not starting on a project. “The way of the lazy one is like a brier hedge.” (Prov. 15:19) He views his task as a road ahead filled with briers, very difficult to traverse. Then he makes ridiculous excuses for his slothfulness, saying: “There is a lion outside! In the midst of the public squares I shall be murdered!” as if a danger that actually does not exist attended the job. (Prov. 22:13) Frequently laziness is accompanied by cowardice, a fearful holding back. (Matt. 25:26, NW, 1950 ed., ftn.; 2 Tim. 1:7) Even though counseled and prompted by others, he turns over on his bed ‘like a door on its pivot,’ as one who cannot get up. He is too lazy even to feed himself. He “has hidden his hand in the banquet bowl; he has become too weary to bring it back to his mouth.” (Prov. 26:14, 15; 19:24) But he has deceived himself so that he thinks in his own heart that he is right.

Such an individual indulges in specious and imaginary reasoning. He may think that work will injure his health, or that he is too tired. He may feel that ‘the world owes him a living.’ Or, he puts off a job until “tomorrow.” (Prov. 20:4) Any little thing he has done may make him feel he has done his part, as much as anyone else. Whereas all diligent men could give a sensible reply to any of such arguments, he is “wiser in his own eyes,” feeling that they are the foolish ones for exerting themselves and trying to encourage him to do the same.—Prov. 26:13-16.

THE REWARD OF LAZINESS

While the lazy individual may think he will get busy later, the reward of his laziness suddenly catches up with him and it is too late, for, he is told: “A little more sleep, a little more slumbering, a little more folding of the hands in lying down, and your poverty will certainly come just like some rover, and your want like an armed man.”—Prov. 6:9-11.

Whether taken literally or figuratively, the description of the lazy man’s situation is true: “I passed along by the field of the lazy individual and by the vineyard of the man in need of heart. And, look! all of it produced weeds. Nettles covered its very surface, and its stone wall itself had been torn down.” “Through great laziness the beamwork sinks in, and through the letting down of the hands the house leaks.”—Prov. 24:30, 31; Eccl. 10:18.

Whoever hires the lazy person, or whomever he represents, is bound to be disappointed and vexed and will suffer loss, for, “as vinegar to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes, so the lazy man is to those sending him forth.”—Prov. 10:26.

Lack of heart

The foolish reasoning of a lazy individual shows him to be “in want of heart.” (Prov. 15:21) No matter what he may think, his motive is not good. He does not have love. And the servant of God who is lazy is also weak in faith. (Heb. 6:12) The slothful one’s laziness will eventually bring dire results to him, for “the very craving of the lazy will put him to death.” His craving is for things he does not deserve, or that are wrong. He may come to ruin in trying to get them. At any rate, his craving with laziness turns him away from God the Source of life.—Prov. 21:25.

The Christian who is lazy is not cultivating the fruitage of the spirit, which will enliven and activate (Acts 18:25), but is actually bringing himself into trouble. He is catering to the desires of the flesh. He may soon be “walking disorderly,” “not working at all but meddling with what does not concern” him.—2 Thess. 3:11.

HOW VIEWED IN THE CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION

In the early Christian congregation an arrangement was established to give material help to needy ones, especially to widows. It seems that some of the younger widows expressed themselves as desirous of using their freedom as widows to engage zealously in the Christian ministry. (Compare 1 Corinthians 7:34.) Evidently some of such were given material assistance. But instead of using in a proper manner the greater freedom and additional time thus afforded them, they became idle, unoccupied, beginning to gad about. They became gossipers and meddlers in other people’s affairs, talking of things they ought not. For this reason, the apostle Paul instructed the overseer Timothy not to put such persons on the list for aid, but to let them marry and use their energies and directive tendencies in having children and a household to manage.—1 Tim. 5:9-16.

In the matter of material assistance in the Christian congregation, the Bible rule is: “If anyone does not want to work, neither let him eat.” (2 Thess. 3:10) The family head must provide for his household, and the wife must not eat “the bread of laziness.”—Prov. 31:27; 1 Tim. 5:8.

AVOID SLUGGISHNESS IN STUDY AND IN THE MINISTRY

Counsel is given against laziness as to studying and getting a deeper understanding of God’s purposes and as to engaging in the Christian ministry. The apostle Paul reproved some unprogressive Hebrew Christians, pointing out: “You have become dull [sluggish] in your hearing. For, indeed, although you ought to be teachers in view of the time, you again need someone to teach you from the beginning the elementary things of the sacred pronouncements of God; and you have become such as need milk, not solid food.” (Heb. 5:11, 12) He also admonishes: “Do not loiter [be slothful] at your business. Be aglow with the spirit.”—Rom. 12:11.

Jesus foretold that there would be a class of persons claiming to be his servants who would become sluggish and wicked, not working to increase the Master’s interests in the earth. The Master, on his return, would take away from them the interests committed to their care and would have them thrown as a “good-for-nothing slave” “into the darkness outside.”—Matt. 25:18, 24-30.

LEAD

One of the heavier metallic elements, having the specific gravity 11.34. With understanding, therefore, Moses poetically sang in triumph that the Egyptians “sank like lead” in the Red Sea. (Ex. 15:10) The dull-gray metal was useful as weight on fishlines and nets and as heavy lids or covers. The Hebrew word translated “plummet” in Amos 7:7, 8 may mean “lead” or “tin.” The Greek word for “sounding” at Acts 27:28 is from a root meaning “to heave the lead.” For permanency and legibility liquid lead was sometimes poured into engravings on stone—a practice dating at least to Job’s day. (Job 19:23, 24) “Soldering” (Heb., deʹveq) is mentioned at Isaiah 41:7 in connection with the making of idols, but whether the solder was made of lead and tin, as today, is not known.

The most common source of lead was galena, a lead sulfide ore. It was mined in the Arabah between the S end of the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqabah. Tarshish (Spain) was another source of supply. (Ezek. 27:12) Lead ore had to be smelted in a furnace like the ores of other metals. (Jer. 6:29; Ezek. 22:18-20; compare Numbers 31:22, 23.) The first step in the refining process converted lead sulfide to lead oxide, which was itself sometimes used as a pottery glaze, as evidenced in the ruins of Egypt and Nineveh.—See REFINE, REFINER.

LEADER, NOBLE, PRINCE

Several Hebrew words may be translated variously as “leader,” “noble” and “prince.” Those appearing most frequently are as follows:

Na·ghidhʹ, meaning “chief,” “leader,” “head of family,” is applied to Saul and David in connection with their being designated as kings over Israel, and to Hezekiah as the king of Judah, with the responsibility of shepherding Jehovah’s people. (1 Sam. 9:16; 25:30; 2 Sam. 5:2; 2 Ki. 20:5) The tribe of Judah was selected by Jehovah to be leader of the twelve tribes of Israel. From Judah came the kingly dynasty of David.—1 Chron. 28:4; Gen. 49:10; Judg. 1:2.

Jesus is referred to as “Messiah the Leader” and “a leader and commander to the national groups,” at Daniel 9:25 and Isaiah 55:4. He counseled his disciples: “Neither be called ‘leaders,’ for your Leader [from Gr., ka·the·ge·tesʹ, a guide] is one, the Christ.” (Matt. 23:10) As regards the Christian congregation, Jesus Christ is the only one rightly bearing the title “Leader,” because no imperfect human is the leader of true Christians; they follow Christ. While there are those who ‘take the lead’ in God’s service, they are not titled “leader” or addressed as such and their example is to be followed only as they imitate Christ.—1 Cor. 11:1; Heb. 13:7.

Na·dhivʹ, meaning “noble,” “willing,” “volunteer,” is used at Numbers 21:18, paralleling the term “princes,” for the willing ones of Israel who excavated a well in the wilderness. It also describes the volunteer contributors to the tabernacle construction. (Ex. 35:5) As used at Job 12:21, positions of prominence and power are indicated.—See also Psalm 83:9-11.

The Hebrew word hhoh·rimʹ, meaning “nobles,” “free ones,” is used for certain men of influence in a city of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel (1 Ki. 21:8, 11); also for Jews who held authority under the Persian Empire. (Neh. 5:7; 13:17) Many of the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem, including Daniel and his companions, were carried captive to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar in the first captivity in 617 B.C.E. and others were slaughtered by him in 607 B.C.E.—Jer. 27:20; 39:6; Dan. 1:3, 6.

Sar, meaning “prince,” “chief,” “leader,” “official,” is drawn from a verb meaning “to rule,” “to have dominion.” While it is often translated “prince,” it does not necessarily apply to the son of a king or a person of royal rank in every instance. The tribal heads of Israel were called “princes.” (1 Chron. 27:22) Those holding high office under Pharaoh of Egypt and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon were so titled. (Gen. 12:15; Jer. 38:17, 18, 22; Esther 3:12) An army chief might be termed a sar. (Neh. 2:9) Jehovah is called the “Prince of the army” and the “Prince of princes,” at Daniel 8:11, 25. Michael the archangel is “the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of [Daniel’s] people.” (Dan. 12:1) Invisible demon princes governing the world powers of Persia and Greece are mentioned at Daniel 10:13, 20.—Compare Ephesians 6:12.