ἄφρων G0878
Foolish, senseless — lacking moral and spiritual understanding; acting without regard for God or wisdom
The adjective ἄφρων (aphrōn) describes someone devoid of understanding — not intellectually deficient so much as morally and spiritually senseless. God addresses the rich man who stockpiles grain with the devastating verdict, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you' (Luke 12:20). Jesus asks the Pharisees, 'Did not he who made the outside make the inside also?' (Luke 11:40), exposing their foolishness. Paul uses it with biting irony in 2 Corinthians 11:16-19 and 12:6, 11, where he adopts the persona of a 'fool' to shame his opponents. In 1 Corinthians 15:36 he chides doubters of the resurrection. Romans 2:20 ironically notes that the Jew sees himself as 'a corrector of the foolish.' Spanish 'insensato/necio' and French 'insensé' capture the moral-spiritual dimension.
Senses
1. foolish, senseless — Foolish or senseless in a moral-spiritual sense — lacking the discernment that comes from fearing God. God's verdict on the rich fool who hoards possessions while neglecting his soul (Luke 12:20) is the paradigmatic use. Jesus applies it to Pharisees blind to inner purity (Luke 11:40). Paul employs it with rhetorical irony in his 'fool's speech' (2 Cor 11:16, 19; 12:6, 11), challenges resurrection skeptics (1 Cor 15:36), and notes the Jew's self-image as instructor of the foolish (Rom 2:20). Ephesians 5:17 warns against being foolish rather than understanding the Lord's will. Spanish 'insensato' and German 'töricht' both emphasize moral obtuseness over mere ignorance. 11×
AR["الجُهَّالَ", "الجُهّالِ", "جاهِلاً", "جاهِلٍ", "جاهِلُ", "جهلاءَ", "جُهّالُ", "لِلْجُهَلاءِ", "يَا-جَاهِلُ"]·ben["নির্বোধদের", "বোকা", "মূর্খ", "মূর্খদের", "মূর্খদের,", "মূর্খরা"]·DE["toericht", "ἄφρονες", "Ἄφρων"]·EN["Fool", "fool", "foolish", "foolish-one", "fools", "of-foolish"]·FR["insensé"]·heb["כְּסִילִים", "כְסִילִים", "סְכָלִים", "סָכָל"]·HI["निरबोध", "निर्बुद्धि", "निर्बुद्धियो", "मूर्ख", "मूर्ख-को", "मूर्खों-का", "मूर्खों-को"]·ID["Bodoh", "Hai-orang-bodoh", "bodoh", "bodoh,", "orang-bodoh", "orang-bodoh,"]·IT["aphrones", "aphronōn", "stolto"]·jav["Tiyang-tanpa-akal", "bodho", "tiyang-bodho", "tiyang-bodho,", "tiyang-tanpa-akal"]·KO["어리석은", "어리석은-자가", "어리석은-자들-의", "어리석은-자들-이", "어리석은-자들아", "어리석은-자들을", "어리석은-자로", "어리석은-자야", "어리석은-자여"]·PT["Insensato", "de-insensatos", "insensatos", "insensatos,", "louco", "loucos"]·RU["Безумные", "Безумный", "безумного", "безумный", "безумным", "безумных", "неразумными,", "неразумных"]·ES["Insensato", "Insensatos", "de-insensatos", "insensato", "insensatos"]·SW["Mpumbavu", "mpumbavu", "mpumbavu;", "wa-wajinga", "wapumbavu", "wapumbavu,"]·TR["Akılsız", "ahmak-olanlarin,", "akılsız", "akılsızlar", "akılsızlara", "akılsızların", "aptal", "fakat"]·urd["اے-بیوقوف", "بے-وقوف", "بے-وقوفو", "بے-وقوفوں", "بے-وقوفوں-کا", "بے-وقُوف", "بےوقوفوں"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
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,…