Foolishness and Folly

I. כְּסִיל70 n.m. stupid fellow, dullard, fool;—כ׳ ψ 49:11 + 44 times; pl. כְּסִילִים ψ 94:8 + 25 times;—‖ בער ψ 49:11; 92:7; 94:8, elsewhere only in WisdLt; he hates knowledge Pr 1:22; delights not in understanding 18:2; it is his sport to do mischief 10:23; his heart proclaimeth אִוֶּלֶת 12:23; his mouth poureth it forth 15:2, and feedeth on it 15:14.

אֱוִיל26 adj. foolish—א׳ Jb 5:2 +; pl. אֱוִילִים ψ 107:17 +, etc.;—foolish, Pr 29:9 (אִישׁ א׳) Ho 9:7 (pred. of prophet); cf. Is 35:8, elsewhere n.m. fool (always morally bad), who despises wisdom & discipline Pr 1:7; 15:5; mocks at guilt 14:9; is quarrelsome 20:3; licentious 7:22; it is folly & useless to instruct him 16:22; 27:22 (19 times Pr); cf. also Je 4:22; Jb 5:2, 3; Is 19:11 ψ 107:17.

† [פָּתָה] vb. denom. be simple (NH Pi. entice);— Qal Impf. 3 ms. יִפְתֶּה Dt 11:16; וַיִּפְתְּ Jb 31:27; Pt. פֹּתֶה Jb 5:2 Pr 20:19; f. פּוֹתֶה Ho 7:11;— 1. be open-minded(?), simple Jb 5:2; יוֹנָה פוֹתָה Ho 7:11 silly dove; פֹּתֶה שְׂפָתָיו Pr 20:19 one foolish as to his lips (most, openeth wide his lips). 2. be enticed deceived Dt 11:16 Jb 31:27. Niph. Pf. 3 ms. נִפְתָּה Jb 31:9; Impf. 1 s. וָאֶפָּת Je 20:7;—be deceived Je 20:7; c. עַל enticed unto Jb 31:9. Piel Pf. 2 ms. פִּתִּיתָ Pr 24:28; sf. פִּתִּיתַנִי Je 20:7; 1 s. פִּתֵּיתִי Ez 14:9; Impf. 3 ms. יְפַתֶּה Ex 22:15 +, etc.; Imv. פַּתִּי Ju 14:15; 16:5; Inf. cstr. sf. פַּתֹּתְךָ 2 S 3:25; Pt. sf. מְפַתֶּיהָ (Ges§ 93 ss) Ho 2:15;— 1. persuade, woman Ho 2:16 (fig., י׳ subj.), seduce, virgin Ex 22:15; entice, husband Ju 14:15; 16:5; a man to sin Pr 1:10; 16:29. 2. deceive, 2 S 3:25 Pr 24:28 (yet cf. √ Hiph. supr.); subj. י׳, obj. proph., Je 20:7; Ez 14:9, cf. 1 K 22:20, 21, 22 = 2 Ch 18:19, 20, 21; obj. י׳, ψ 78:36. Pual Impf. 3 ms. יְפֻתֶּה: 1. be persuaded, Pr 25:15. 2. be deceived, 20:7, 10 be beguiled by י׳, Ez 14:9.

II. נָבָל n.pr.m. (on popular etymol. see 1 S 25:25 infr.);—a churlish man of Carmel, whose widow David married 1 S 25:3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 14, 19, 25(×2) (כִּשְׁמוֹ כֶּן־ה֔וּא נָבָל שְׁמוֹ וּנְבָלָה עִמּוֹ), v 26 + 10 times 1 S + 2 S 2:2; 3:3. 𝔊 Ναβαλ.

† I. נָבָל adj. foolish, senseless, especially of the man who has no perception of ethical and religious claims, and with collat. idea of ignoble, disgraceful;—abs. נ׳ 2 S 3:33 + 14 times; mpl. נְבָלִים 13:13 Ez 13:3 (𝔊 Co מִלִּבָּם); fpl. נְבָלוֹת Jb 2:10;—senseless, especially of religious and moral insensibility: עַם נ׳ Dt 32:6 (of Isr., unappreciative of J.’s benefits; opp. חָכָם), so of heathen nation ψ 74:18 (blaspheming name of י׳), גּוֹי נ׳ Dt 32:21 (‖ לֹא עָם); הַנְּבִאִים הַנּ׳ Ez 13:3 (si vera l., v. supr.); elsewhere as subst. (impious and presumptuous) fool, Is 32:5 (opp. נָדִיב noble-minded), characterized as at once irreligious and churlish, v 6; denying God ψ 14:1 = 53:2; insulting God 74:22, and God’s servant 39:9; Pr 17:7 arrogant speech becometh not the (impious and presumptuous) fool (whose faults it only makes the more conspicuous), much less do lying lips him that is noble (נדיב), v 21 (‖ כְּסִיל), 30:22 ונבל כי ישׂבע לחם (one of the things under which the earth trembles), בְּנֵי נָבָל Jb 30:8 i.e. ignoble men (‖ בְּנֵי בְלִי־שֵׁם); as one who might be expected to have a contumelious end, הַכְּמוֹת נ׳ ימות אבנר 2 S 3:33 was Abner (destined) to die, as a נ׳ dieth? of the man who amasses riches unjustly ובאחריתו יהיה נבל Je 17:11 i.e. will prove himself to be a נ׳; as acting immorally (with collat. idea of disgracefully) 2 S 13:13 ואתה תהיה כְּאַחַד הַנְּבָלִים בישׂראל (cf. נְבָלָה); f. only in כְּדַבֵּר אַחַת הַנְּבָלוֹת Jb 2:10 (of Job’s wife). Cf. Dr Dt 22:21, 32:6, 15, 21; Psalt. 457.

† פֶּ֫תִי [for פָּתַי LagBN 52 BaZMG xiii (1888), 353; NB 320] adj. simple, poss. as open-minded;—פֶּ֫תִי Pr 9:4 +, פֶּ֑תִי ψ 19:8 +; pl. פְּתָאיִם (Ges§ 93 x) 116:6 + 6 times Pr; פְּתָיִים 119:130 Pr 22:3; פְּתָיִם 1:22, 32;—simple, as subst. concr.: open to the instruction of wisdom or folly, Pr 9:4, 16; believing every word 14:15; lacking עָרְמָה 1:4; 8:5; 19:25; needing בין ψ 119:130, חכמה 19:8 Pr 21:11; in good sense, שׁנר פתאים י׳ ψ 116:6 י׳ preserveth the simple-minded; but usually tendency to bad sense; פתאים love פתי Pr 1:22; inherit אִוֶּלֶת 14:18, are easily enticed, misled and go back 1:32; 7:7; 9:6; 22:3 = 27:12; causing temple to need atonement Ez 45:20 (‖ שׁגה).

μωρός, ά, όν, Attic dialect μῶρος Hdn.Gr. 1.192: μῶρος as feminine, Refs 5th c.BC+, but accusative μῶραν Refs 3rd c.BC+:—dull, sluggish, of the nerves, Refs 5th c.BC+; χειμῶνος ἀρχομένου μ. γίνονται οἱ ἐργάται [τῶν σφηκῶν] Refs 4th c.BC+ __2 of persons, dull, stupid, μωροῦ φωτὸς ἅδε βουλά NT+5th c.BC+: comparative in proverbial, μωρότερος Μορύχου Refs 5th c.BC+: superlative, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2.b in a religious sense, λαὸς μ. καὶ ἀκάρδιος LXX __3 of things, δέδοικα μῶρον πυραύστου μόρον Refs 5th c.BC+; τὸ μ. folly, NT+5th c.BC+; μῶρα φρονεῖν, φωνεῖν, δρᾶν, LXX+5th c.BC+ __3.b μ. ἀνάγκη blind necessity, Refs 4th c.BC+ __4 of taste, insipid, flat, Comedy texts Adesp.Refs 1st c.AD+ __II adverb -ρως Refs 5th c.BC+. (Cf. Sanskrit mūrás 'idiot'.)

ἄφρων, ον, genitive ονος, (φρήν) senseless, of statues, Refs 5th c.BC+:— and so, crazed, frantic, ἄφρονα κούρηνRefs 8th c.BC+; silly, foolish, Refs 8th c.BC+; τὸ ἄ., ={ἀφροσύνη}, Refs 5th c.BC+; τῶ φρονίμῳ τῆς γνώμης παύοντες τὸ ἄ. [τῆς ῥώμης] Refs 5th c.BC+: comparative -έστεροςRefs 5th c.BC+: superlative -έστατοςRefs 5th c.BC+. adverb -νως senselessly, Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to νοῦν ἐχόντως, Refs 5th c.BC+: comparative -εστέρωςRefs 5th c.BC+ -έστερον Refs 4th c.AD+ __2 ἄφρων, ={κώνειον}, Ps.-Refs 1st c.AD+

† II. [בָּעַר] vb.denom. be brutish— Qal Impf. יִבְעֲרוּ Je 10:8 (‖ יכסלו) be stupid, dull-hearted, unreceptive; cf. Pt. pl. בֹּעֲרִים ψ 94:8 (‖ כסילים); of inhuman, cruel, barbarous men Ez 21:36. Niph. Pf. נִבְעַר Je 10:14 = 51:17, נִבְעֲרוּ Je 10:21; Pt. נִבְעָרָ֑ה Is 19:11;—brutish, stupid Is 19:11 (עצה, ‖ אויל); dull-hearted, ignorant of God Je 10:14, 21; 51:17. Niph. Je 10:14 = 51:17 rather stupefied (by spectacle 10:13 = 51:16). Pi. Pf. וּבִעֵר consec. Ex 22:4 feed, graze (בשׂדה אחר). Hiph. Impf. יַבְעֶר־ Ex 22:4 cause to be grazed over, sq. שׂדה.

† [סָכַל] vb. be foolish, or a fool, usually in moral or spiritual sense (Syriac ܣܟܰܠ,, Aph. act foolishly; ܣܰܟܠܴܐ foolish, etc., 𝔗 סְכַל der. species, act foolishly; סַכְלָא fool; Chr Pal Aramaic ܣܟܠ, Aph. = ἁμαρτάνω, also deriv. SchwallyIdiot. 62; Assyrian saklu, perhaps foolish, DlHWB 498; Aramaic ܣܟܰܠ, סְכַל know, be intelligent, cause to understand, etc. (der. species), cf. שׂכל; MeChrest. Targ. derives both these opp. meanings from Arabic شَكْلٌ form, likeness Gerber178 thinks Heb. vb. denom.);— Piel Impf. יְסַכֵּל Is 44:25, Imv. סַכֶּל־נָא 2 S 15:31, make foolish, turn into foolishness. Niph. Pf. 2 ms. נִסְכַּלְתָּ 2 Ch 16:9; נִסְכָּ֑לְתָּ 1 S 13:13; 1 s. נִסְכַּלְתִּי 2 S 24:10 = 1 Ch 21:8, act or do foolishly. Hiph. Pf. 2 ms. הִסְכַּלְתָּ Gn 31:28 (E), 1 s. הִסְכַּלְתִּי 1 S 26:21, do foolishly, play the fool.

† סָכָל n.m. fool (on format. cf. LagBN 48);—Je 5:21; Ec 2:19; 7:17; 10:3(×2), 14; pl. adj. סְכָלִים Je 4:22.

ἀνό-ητος, ον, not thought on, unheard of, ἄφραστ᾽ ἠδ᾽ ἀνόηταRefs __2 not within the province of thought, νοήματα ὄντα ἀνόητα εἶναιRefs 5th c.BC+; not the object of thought, unthinkable, Refs 3rd c.AD+adverb -τως without discursive thought, of vision, βλέψαι ἀ.Refs __II active, not understanding, unintelligent, senseless, silly, Refs 5th c.BC+; ὦ ἀνόητοι oh fools! Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to προνοητικός, Refs 5th c.BC+: comparative -ότεροςRefs 2nd c.AD+; τὸ ἀ., opposed to τὸ νοῦν ἔχον, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II.b with genitive, not understanding, θεοῦRefs 2nd c.AD+ __II.2 of acts, thoughts, etc., ἀ. γνῶμαιRefs 5th c.BC+; οἴνου.. καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἀνοήτων and all other follies, Refs __II.2.b without mind, ἀνόητα καὶ ἄνευ ζωῆςRefs 3rd c.AD+ __III adverb -τωςRefs 5th c.BC+: superlative -όταταRefs 2nd c.AD+:—also ἀνο-ητεί, Refs

ἀσύνετος, Attic dialect ἀξ-, ον, void of understanding, witless, Refs 5th c.BC+: comparative, Refs 5th c.BC+; τί τάδ᾽ ἀσύνετ; what folly is this? Refs 5th c.BC+. adverb -τωςRefs 1st c.AD+ __2 with genitive, not able to understand, λόγουRefs 1st c.AD+ __II not to be understood, unintelligible, Refs 5th c.BC+. adverb -τωςRefs 2nd c.BC+

† בַּ֫עַר n.m. brutishness (only poet.)—abs. ב׳ ψ 49:11 + 3 times, בָּ֑עַר Pr 12:1;—in combination, אִישׁ־ב׳ brutish man ψ 92:7 (‖ כסיל); elsewhere ב׳ alone in same sense (concrete) ψ 49:11 (‖ id.), & as pred. = adj., ψ 73:22 Pr 12:1; 30:2.

μωρ-αίνω, future - ᾰνῶ Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist ἐμώρᾱνα Refs 4th c.BC+ —passive, see below Refs: (μῶρος):—to be silly, foolish, drivel, Refs 5th c.BC+; play the fool, Refs 4th c.BC+ make a mad attempt, Refs 4th c.BC+; οὐδεὶς.. ταῦτα μωραίνει indulges in these follies, Refs 5th c.BC+: euphemistic of illicit love, γυναῖκα μωραίνουσαν Refs __II causal, make foolish, convict of folly, ἡ βουλὴ αὐτῶν μωρανθήσεται LXX; ἐμωράνθην σφόδραLXX+NT:—passive, to become foolish, be stupefied, [αἶγες] ἑστᾶσιν ὥσπερ μεμωραμμέναι Refs 4th c.BC+; to become insipid, ἐὰν τὸ ἅλας μωρανθῇ NT

† I. [יָאַל] vb. be foolish (cf. 1. אול)— Niph. Pf. 3 mpl. נוֹאֲלוּ Is 19:13 Je 5:4; וְנֹאָ֑לוּ Je 50:36; 1 pl. נוֹאַלְנוּ Nu 12:11;—do or act foolishly:— 1. shew wicked folly = sin חַטָּאת אֲשֶׁר נוֹאַלְנוּ וַאֲשֶׁר חָטָאנוּ Nu 12:11 (J); in Je 5:4 an exhibition of this folly is ascribed to ignorance. 2. become fools, lacking insight and judgment: נוֹאֲלוּ שָׂרֵי צֹעַן Is 19:13 the princes of Zoan have become fools (‖ נִשְּׁאוּ שָׂרֵי נֹף, and, in v 11 אֱוִילִים שָׂרֵי צֹעַן, etc.); חֶרֶב אֶל־הַבַּדִּים וְנֹאָ֑לוּ Je 50:36 a sword is against the praters, and they shall become fools—be shewn up as such (‖ חָֽתּוּ׃).

† II. כְּסִיל n.m. Orion (relation to above √ obscure);—Am 5:8 Jb 9:9; also משְׁכוֹת כ׳ תְּפַתֵּחַ 38:31 the cords of Orion wilt (canst) thou let out? (appar. some mythological allusion, v. Di Che, to giant bound in skies; cf. Hom Ὠρίωνα δοκεύει, and σθένος Ὠρίωνος); both times associated with the Pleiades; sf. כְּסִילֵיהֶם their Orions Is 13:10, Orion and other constellations of the same brilliancy.

ἄλογος, ον, without λόγος, hence, __I speechless, Refs 5th c.BC+. adverb -ως without speech, Refs 5th c.BC+ —ἄ. ἡμέρα, = Latin dies nefastus, on which no business may be done, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __I.b lacking in eloquence, LXX __I.2 inexpressive, Refs 5th c.BC+; unutterable, ={ἄρρητος}, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II unreasoning, ἡδονή, ὄχλος, etc., Refs 5th c.BC+brutes, animals, Refs 5th c.BC+; especiallyin late Greek, ἄλογον, τό, = horse, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __II.2 not according to reason, irrational, ἄ. δόξα, opposed to ἡ μετὰ λόγου δ., Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀλόγῳ πάθει τὴν ἄ. συνασκεῖν αἴσθησιν, instinctive feeling, in appreciating works of art, Refs 1st c.BC+ __II.3 contrary to reason, absurd, Refs 5th c.BC+; unaccountable, unintelligible, Refs 5th c.BC+; unfit, unsuited to its end, Refs 5th c.BC+; groundless, Refs 2nd c.BC+. adverb most frequently in this sense, Refs 5th c.BC+: superlative -ώταταRefs 1st c.BC+ __III without reckoning: __III.1 not reckoned upon, unexpected, Refs 5th c.BC+ __III.2 not counted, null and void, ἡμέραιLXX __III.3 active, not having paid one's reckoning, of an ἐρανιστής, Refs __IV of magnitudes, incommensurable, περὶ ἀλόγων γραμμῶν, title of work by Refs 4th c.BC+ __IV.2 in Rhythm, irrational, of feet or syllables whose time-relations cannot be expressed by a simple ratio, χορεῖοςRefs 4th c.BC+; ἄλογοι, i.e. συλλαβαί, Refs 1st c.BC+:—of the pulse, unrhythmical, Refs 3rd c.BC+

προπετ-ής, ές, (προπίπτω) falling or slipping down in bed, εἰ π. γένοιτο Refs 5th c.BC+out of control, Refs 4th c.BC+ __2 inclined forward, κεφαλὴ τοῦ βραχίονος π. ἐς τοὔμπροσθεν Refs 5th c.BC+; -έστεραι γένυες more prominent,Refs 5th c.BC+; sloping, of shoulders, Refs 2nd c.AD+; stooping, μὴ ὀρθὸς ἀλλὰ μικρῷ -έστερος Refs 4th c.BC+ __3 thrown away, κεῖται προπετές [τὸ κάταγμα] Refs 5th c.BC+ __4 drooping, at the point of death, ζῇ γὰρ π. Refs; ἡ π. Μοῖρα untimely, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __5 prominent, of the eyes, Refs 2nd c.AD+; γνάθοι, ὀφρῦς, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __II metaphorically, __II.1 being upon the point of, πολιὰς ἐπὶ χαίτας π. Refs 5th c.BC+ __II.2 ready for, prone to a thing, ἐπί or εἴς τι, Refs 5th c.BC+: with infinitive, -έστατος μεταστῆσαι Refs 5th c.BC+ __II.3 headlong, π. ἄγειν τὸν ἀκροατήν Refs 4th c.BC+ __II.4 precipitate, rash, reckless, π. σώματος ἡδοναί Refs 4th c.BC+; π. γέλως uncontrolled laughter, Refs 5th c.BC+; of a lot, drawn at random, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II.4.b of persons, οἱ θρασεῖς προπετεῖς Refs 4th c.BC+; μανικὸς καὶ π. ἐπὶ τῶν κινδύνων Theopomp.Refs 2nd c.AD+; τὸ π., ={προπέτεια}, opposed to τὸ σεμνόν, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II.5 ἁρμονίαι π. flowing rhythms, Refs 1st c.BC+ __II.6 in Medicine texts, subject to diarrhoea, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __III adverb -τῶς headlong, out of control, π. εἰς τὸ κάταντες φέρεσθαι Refs 5th c.BC+ __III.2 metaphorically, headlong, hastily, π. φέρεσθαι εἰς τὴν τυραννίδα Id Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀποκρίνεσθαι, ἀποφαίνεσθαι, etc., Refs 5th c.BC+; π. ἔχειν to be rash, Refs 5th c.BC+; prematurely, Refs 3rd c.BC+

† [פָּחַ��] vb. be wanton, reckless (NH id. (rare); Arabic فَخَزَ be haughty, boastful, reckless; 𝔗 פְּחַז, Syriac ܦܚܶܙ be lascivious, in der. spec. and deriv.);— Qal Pt. אֲנָשִׁים רֵיקִים וּפֹהֲזִים Ju 9:4; of prophets Zp 3:4 extravagant (‖ אַנְשֵׁי בֹּגְדוֹת).

ἄσοφος, ον, unwise, foolish, NT+6th c.BC+: comparative, Refs 4th c.AD+. adverb -φωςRefs 1st c.BC+

ἐλαφρ-ία, ἡ, lightness: levity, NT __II alleviation, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __III ={ὀλιγότης}, Refs

† אֱוִלִי adj. id. Zc 11:15.

† טָפַשׁ vb. be gross (NH Hithp. grow stupid, and deriv., Aramaic טְפֵשׁ, for Heb. שׁמן Is 6:11, Ithp. be stupid; cf. Assyrian ṭapâšu, be abundant, large, GuyJAS 1883, Août-Sept. 189)—metaph. טָפַשׁ כַּחֵלָב לִבָּ֑ם ψ 119:70 their heart is gross, like fat.

† [כָּסַל] vb. be or become stupid (NH Aramaic in deriv.; Arabic كَسِلَ be sluggish, so N Syriac in deriv.; orig. meaning possibly thick, plump, fat; hence in good sense: כְּסָלִים, loins, כֶּסֶל, כִּסְלָה confidence; in bad sense: כֶּסֶל, כִּסְלָה, כְּסִילוּת stupidity, folly, כְּסִיל stupid fellow)— Qal Impf. יִכְסָ֑לוּ they become stupid Je 10:8 (‖ יִבְעֲרוּ they become brutish).

† סֶ֫כֶל n.m. folly;—Ec 10:6.

† II. [עָפַל] vb. perhaps be heedless (Arabic غَفَلَ be heedless, neglectful, inadvertent);— Hiph. shew heedlessness, Impf. 3 mpl. לַעֲלוֹת וַיַּעְפִּלוּ Nu 14:44 (JE) they shewed heedlessness in going up (went up heedlessly), so de Dieu, cited (and allowed) by Di BuhlLex; > Thes al. shewed presumption (I. עפל, this sense dub.).

† [פַּחֲזוּת] n.f. recklessness, extravagance;—sf. תָם- Je 23:32 of prophets.

† [פְּתִי] n.f. simplicity (i.e. lack of wisdom), עַד־מָתַי פְּתָיִם תְּאֵהֲבוּ־פֶ֑תִי Pr 1:22.

† פְּתַיּוּת n.f. id. Pr 9:13 (Toy conj. מְפַּתָּה).