אִוֶּ֫לֶת25 H0200
Folly, foolishness; moral and intellectual stupidity characteristic of the fool in Wisdom literature
Ivveleth (אִוֶּלֶת) is the abstract feminine noun for folly in Hebrew Wisdom literature, denoting not mere ignorance but a deep-seated moral and intellectual obtuseness. Proverbs sets it in direct opposition to wisdom and understanding: folly is 'bound up in the heart of a child' and must be driven out by discipline (Prov 22:15), and Lady Folly personified tears down the house that Wisdom builds (Prov 14:1). The psalmist confesses 'my folly is not hidden from you' (Ps 38:5; 69:5), linking it to guilt and spiritual exposure. Nearly every occurrence ties to the kesil or ewil — the obstinate fool who refuses correction.
Senses
1. folly / foolishness — Moral and intellectual foolishness, the defining quality of the kesil and ewil in Proverbs and Psalms. Contrasted explicitly with understanding (tevunah, Prov 14:29; 15:21), it describes not simple ignorance but willful refusal of wisdom. Spanish 'necedad,' French 'folie,' and German 'Torheit' all capture the moral weight. Proverbs 22:15 declares it 'bound up in the heart of a child,' removable only by the rod of discipline, while Proverbs 14:1 personifies it as a destructive force opposing Lady Wisdom. 25×
AR["الْحَماقَةِ", "حَماقَةً", "حَماقَةٌ", "حَماقَةٍ", "حَماقَةُ", "حَماقَتُهُ", "حَمَاقَتِهِ", "في-حَماقَتِهِ", "وَ-حَماقَةٌ", "وَ-حَماقَةُ"]·ben["এবং-মূর্খতা", "তার-মূর্খতা", "তার-মূর্খতায়", "মূর্খতা", "মূর্খতার"]·DE["Torheit", "und-Torheit"]·EN["but-folly", "but-the-folly-of", "folly", "folly-of", "foolishly", "his-folly", "in-his-folly", "is-folly", "the-folly-of"]·FR["dans-son-folie-lui", "et-folie", "folie", "son-folie-lui"]·heb["איוולת", "איוולתו", "ב-איוולתו", "ו-איוולת"]·HI["और-मूर्खता", "मूर्खता", "मूर्खता-अपनी-की", "मूर्खता-उसकी।", "मूर्खता-की", "मूर्खता-के", "मूर्खता-को", "मूर्खता-पर", "मूर्खता-में"]·ID["Kebodohan", "dalam-kebodohannya", "kebodohan", "kebodohannya", "tetapi-kebodohan"]·IT["e-stoltezza", "in-stoltezza-suo", "stoltezza", "stoltezza-suo"]·jav["ing-kabodhohanipun", "kabodhohan", "kabodhohanipun", "kabodohan", "kabodohan-saking", "lan-kabodohan", "lan-kabodohan-saking"]·KO["그-의-어리석음-의", "그러나-어리석음-은", "그의-어리석음이", "미련함-에-그-의", "미련함-의", "미련함은", "미련함을", "미련함이", "미련함이니라", "어리석음-은", "어리석음-을", "어리석음-이다"]·PT["Insensatez", "Loucura", "Loucura-de", "e-insensatez", "e-insensatez-de", "em-sua-loucura", "insensatez", "insensatez-de", "insensatez-sua", "loucura", "sua-loucura"]·RU["а-глупость", "в-глупости-его", "глупости", "глупости-своей", "глупость", "глупость-его"]·ES["La-necedad", "Necedad", "en-necedad-su", "necedad", "necedad-de", "su-necedad", "y-necedad", "y-necedad-de"]·SW["katika-upumbavu-wake", "lakini-mpumbavu", "lakini-upumbavu-wa", "ni-upumbavu", "upumbavu", "upumbavu-wa", "upumbavu-wake"]·TR["akılsızlık", "akılsızlıktır", "akılsızlığı", "akılsızlığın", "akılsızlığında", "aptallık", "aptallıkla", "aptallıktır", "aptallığı", "aptallığının-onun", "ve-aptallık", "ve-aptallığı"]·urd["اور-حماقت", "حماقت", "حماقت-اُس-کی", "حماقت-میں-اُس-کی", "حماقت-کا", "حماقت-ہے"]
Ps 38:5, Ps 69:5, Prov 5:23, Prov 12:23, Prov 13:16, Prov 14:1, Prov 14:8, Prov 14:17, Prov 14:18, Prov 14:24, Prov 14:24, Prov 14:29 (+13 more)
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
אִוֶּ֫לֶת25 n.f. folly.—abs. Pr 12:23 +; cstr. 14:8 +; sf. אִוַּלְתִּי ψ 38:6, etc.;—folly, special product of כְּסִילִים (v. כֶּסֶל) Pr 12:23 + (12 times); c. פְּתָאִים Pr 14:18; c.אֱוִלִים only 16:22; 27:22 (cf. 14:24) for alliteration. It is bound up in mind of boy, to be removed only by rod of discipline Pr 22:15; א׳ personif. tears down house built by חַכְמוֹת נָשִׁים Pr 14:1; it is contrasted with תְּבוּנָה Pr 14:29; 15:21.