Template:Foolish

Foolish in the Old Testament

The first place we see the word foolishly in the Bible is Genesis here "Laban said to Jacob":

Genesis 31:28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in [so] doing.

The word is cakal It is said to mean "to be foolish, be a fool" The Hebrew letters are a base of SamechKafLamed ^לכס^ From the verb לסכ kacal meaning "to be foolish, be stupid". We find it appearing 8 times in the Bible.

cakal

Genesis 31:28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.

1 Samuel 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

1 Samuel 26:21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

2 Samuel 15:31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

2 Samuel 24:10 And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

1 Chronicles 21:8 And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

Isaiah 44:25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

halal

Another word translated foolish is halal which is composed of the letters HeyLamedLamed. It is translated praise 117 times, glory 14, boast 10, mad 8, shine 3 times and foolish 3, fools twice.

Deuteronomy 32:6 Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

Deuteronomy 32:21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish<halal> nation.

2 Samuel 3:33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool<halal> dieth?

2 Samuel 13:13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools<halal> in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.

Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women<halal> speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Job 30:8 They were children of fools<halal>, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.

Psalms 14:1 « To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. » The fool<halal> hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Psalms 39:8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish<halal>.

Psalms 74:18 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish<halal> people have blasphemed thy name.

Psalms 74:22 Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man<halal> reproacheth thee daily.

Psalms 53:1 « To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. » The fool<halal> hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

Proverbs 17:7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool<halal>: much less do lying lips a prince.

Proverbs 17:21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool<halal> hath no joy.

Proverbs 30:22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool<halal> when he is filled with meat; Isaiah 32:5 The vile person<halal> shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.

Isaiah 32:6 For the vile person<halal> will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

Jeremiah 17:11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool<halal>.

Ezekiel 13:3 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish<halal> prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

---

‘eviyl

Another interesting word is eviyl composed of the Hebrew letters AlefVavYodLamed ^ליוא^. It is consistently translated fool(s) 20 times and foolish (man) 6 times.

Job 5:2 For wrath killeth the foolish man<0191>, and envy slayeth the silly one.

Job 5:3 I have seen the foolish<0191> taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation.

Psalms 107:17 Fools <0191> because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools <0191> despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 7:22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool <0191> to the correction of the stocks;

Proverbs 9:6 Forsake the foolish{as in simple}, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

Proverbs 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

Proverbs 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

Proverbs 10:8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool <0191> shall fall.

Proverbs 10:10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool <0191> shall fall.

Proverbs 10:14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish <0191> is near destruction.

Proverbs 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools <0191> die for want of wisdom.

Proverbs 11:29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool <0191> shall be servant to the wise of heart.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool <0191> is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 12:16 A fool’s <0191> wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

Proverbs 14:3 In the mouth of the foolish <0191> is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

Proverbs 14:9 Fools <0191> make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

Proverbs 15:5 A fool <0191> despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

Proverbs 15:7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

Proverbs 15:20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

Proverbs 16:22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools <0191> is folly.

Proverbs 17:25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool <0191>, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Proverbs 19:13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

Proverbs 20:3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool <0191> will be meddling.

Proverbs 21:20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

Proverbs 24:7 Wisdom is too high for a fool <0191>: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

Proverbs 27:3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s <0191> wrath is heavier than them both.

Proverbs 27:22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool <0191> in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

Proverbs 29:9 If a wise man contendeth with a foolish <0191> man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

keciyl

The word kᵉciyl is composed of the letters KafSamechYodLamed ^ליסכ^ and is defined "fool, stupid fellow". The letter ס Samech means "The circular symbolizes the fundamental truth" while, the כ Kaf "Actualize Potential power from spiritual to the physical realm" and the י Yod is "the Infinite Point of essential good hidden in the ט Tet." Finally, the ל Lamed means Aspiration of the Heart or to learn or even direct like a shepherd. It has to do with what the Hand produces".

Proverbs 14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish man <keciyl>, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

Psalms 49:10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool<keciyl> and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

Psalms 92:6 A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool <keciyl> understand this.

Psalms 94:8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools<keciyl>, when will ye be wise?

Proverbs 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools<keciyl> hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools <keciyl> shall destroy them.

Proverbs 3:35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools<keciyl>.

Proverbs 8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools<keciyl>, be ye of an understanding heart.

Proverbs 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish<keciyl>4> son is the heaviness of his mother.

Proverbs 10:18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool<keciyl>.

Proverbs 10:23 It is as sport to a fool<keciyl> to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

Proverbs 12:23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools<keciyl> proclaimeth foolishness.

Proverbs 13:16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool<keciyl> layeth open his folly.

Proverbs 13:19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools <keciyl> to depart from evil.

Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fool<keciyl> shall be destroyed.

Proverbs 14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish<keciyl> man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

Proverbs 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools <keciyl> is deceit.

Proverbs 14:16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool<keciyl> rageth, and is confident.

Proverbs 14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools<keciyl> is folly.

Proverbs 14:33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools<keciyl> is made known.

Proverbs 15:2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools<keciyl> poureth out foolishness.

Proverbs 15:7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish<keciyl> doeth not so.

Proverbs 15:14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools<keciyl> feedeth on foolishness.

Proverbs 15:20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish<keciyl> man despiseth his mother.

Ecclesiastes 4:13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Ecclesiastes 7:17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

Ecclesiastes 10:15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

Isaiah 19:11 Surely the princes of Zoan are fools <0191>, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?

Hosea 9:7 The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool <0191>, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.

Isaiah 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools <0191>, shall not err therein.

Isaiah 44:25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish<01984>;

Jeremiah 4:22 For my people is foolish <0191>, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

Jeremiah 5:4 Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.

Jeremiah 5:21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:

Jeremiah 10:8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.

Lamentations 2:14 Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.

Zechariah 11:15 And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd.

Psalms 5:5 The foolish<01984> shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

Psalms 73:3 For I was envious at the foolish<01984>, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Psalms 73:22 So foolish {as in a brute or brutish} was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

---

New Testament

In the New Testament we see.

Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool {moros}, shall be in danger of hell fire.

The whole context of the statement is about anger with brethren and calling them fool which is the word moros which can mean a fool in the sense of impious, godless. But there are many fools that are not brethren and Christ and the Bible say so. He speaks of the foolish virgins and Paul uses the word to express that a christian is willing to be considered fools by the world as if called a name because they believe in Christ.

Matthew 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish{moros} man, which built his house upon the sand:

Matthew 23:17 Ye fools{moros} and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

Matthew 23:19 Ye fools{moros} and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

Matthew 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish {moros}.

Matthew 25:3 They that were foolish{moros} took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

Matthew 25:8 And the foolish {moros} said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

1 Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness{moros} of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish {from moros} the wisdom of this world?

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things {moros} of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool {moros}, that he may be wise.

1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools {moros} for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

2 Timothy 2:23 But foolish {moros} and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish {moros} questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

---

Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools {anoetos}, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Romans 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise{anoetos}.

1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish{anoetos} and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Galatians 3:1 O foolish{anoetos} Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Galatians 3:3 Are ye so foolish{anoetos}? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish{anoetos}, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

---

Matthew 15:16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding {asunetos}?

Mark 7:18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding{asunetos} also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish{asunetos} heart was darkened.

Romans 1:31 Without understanding {asunetos}, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Romans 10:19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish {asunetos} nation I will anger you.

---

Romans 2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

Luke 11:40 Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?

Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool , this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

Romans 2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

1 Corinthians 15:36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

2 Corinthians 11:16 I say again, Let no man think me a fool ; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

2 Corinthians 11:19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

2 Corinthians 12:6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool ; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

2 Corinthians 12:11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

Ephesians 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

1 Peter 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

Moros

3474 ~μωρός~ moros \@mo-ros’\@ probably from the base of 3466; TDNT-4:832,620; {See TDNT 511} adj AV-foolish 7, fool 5, foolishness 1; 13 1) foolish 2) impious, godless

• Matthew 23:17 Ye fools <moros> and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

• Matthew 23:19 Ye fools <moros> and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

• Matthew 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish <moros>.

• Matthew 25:3 They that were foolish <moros> took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

• Matthew 25:8 And the foolish <moros> said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

• 1 Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness <moros> of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

• 1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things <moros> of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

• 1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool <moros>, that he may be wise.

• 1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools <moros> for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

• 2 Timothy 2:23 But foolish <moros> and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

• Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish <moros> questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Aphron

But there is another word for fool

878 ~ἄφρων~ aphron \@af’-rone\@ from 1 (as a negative particle) and 5424; TDNT-9:220,1277; {See TDNT 834} adj AV-fool 8, foolish 2, unwise 1; 11 1) without reason 2) senseless, foolish, stupid 3) without reflection or intelligence, acting rashly

Which appears in:

• Luke 11:40 Ye fools <aphron >, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?

• Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool <aphron >, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

• Romans 2:20 An instructor of the foolish <aphron >, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

• 1 Corinthians 15:36 Thou fool <aphron >, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

• 2 Corinthians 11:16 I say again, Let no man think me a fool <aphron >; if otherwise, yet as a fool <aphron > receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

• 2 Corinthians 11:19 For ye suffer fools <aphron > gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

• 2 Corinthians 12:6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool <aphron >; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

• 2 Corinthians 12:11 I am become a fool <aphron > in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

• Ephesians 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise <aphron >, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

• 1 Peter 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish <aphron > men: