KJV dictionary & concordance
Sense 1: Inactive, not working, unemployed, slothful, or without useful occupation. Sense 2: Empty, fruitless, careless, unprofitable, or lacking credible effect, as of words or tales.
Definition sources
Some verses contain the word more than once.
First occurrence: Exodus 5:8
Complete exact-word concordance
And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
And the tale of the brickes which they did make heretofore, you shall lay vpon them: you shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us goe and sacrifice to our God.
But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord.
But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let vs goe and doe sacrifice to the LORD.
Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
Slouthfulnesse casteth into a deep sleepe: and an idle soule shall suffer hunger.
1611 marginal noteChap. 10.4. and 20.13.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
But I say vnto you, That euery idle word that men shall speake, they shall giue accompt thereof in the day of Iudgement.
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
And he went out about the third houre, and saw others standing idle in the market place,
And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
And about the eleuenth houre, he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith vnto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they beleeued them not.
And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
And withall they learne to bee idle, wandering about from house to house; and not onely idle, but tatlers also, and busibodies, speaking things which they ought not.
Source order
1 · KJV context and cross-references
Historical English dictionary sources
Slothful; given to rest and ease; averse to labor or employment; lazy; as an idle man; an idle fellow. […] Remaining unused; unemployed; applied to things; as, my sword or spear is idle
