Proverbially speaking…
There are four words for the word, “fool” in the book of Proverbs. I was curious when I saw the word show up so many times so I decided to look into it. There is also the word for “scoffer” or “mocker” but since it was not translated “fool,” I decided to leave it out of this list.
Basically the first two words for fool represent the innocent (however repetitive) words for fool
1. The simple-minded. The stubborn fool. This word comes from the Hebrew word for fat loins and flanks. 2. The stupid. The one that is easily “conned” or caught up. Maybe they are naive or maybe unteachable.
The second two words for fool are based out of a evil, purposeful trickery. These fools are almost beyond help. 1. Mean and perverse. 2. Wicked and vile to the core.
1) Stupid, Silly – Keciyl kes-eel’; from H3688; prop. fat, i.e. (fig.) stupid or silly:—fool (-ish). Occurs 45 times in 45 verses.
- Prov 1:22 “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools (Keciyl) hate knowledge?
- Prov 1:32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools (Keciyl) will destroy them;
- Prov 3:35 The wise inherit honor, but fools (Keciyl) he holds up to shame.
- Prov 8:5 You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish (Keciyl), gain understanding.
- Prov 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish (Keciyl) son grief to his mother.
- Prov 10:18 He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool (Keciyl).
- Prov 10:23 A fool (Keciyl) finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.
- Prov 12:23 A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools (Keciyl) blurts out folly.
- Prov 13:16 Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool (Keciyl) exposes his folly.
- Prov 13:19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools (Keciyl) detest turning from evil.
- Prov 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools (Keciyl) suffers harm.
- Prov 14:7 Stay away from a foolish (Keciyl) man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
- Prov 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools (Keciyl) is deception.
- Prov 14:16 A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool (Keciyl) is hotheaded and reckless.
- Prov 14:24 The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools (Keciyl) yields folly.
- Prov 14:33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools (Keciyl) she lets herself be known.
- Prov 15:2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool (Keciyl) gushes folly.
- Prov 15:7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools (Keciyl).
- Prov 15:14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool (Keciyl) feeds on folly.
- Prov 15:20 A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool (Keciyl).
- Prov 17:12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool (Keciyl) in his folly.
- Prov 17:16 Of what use is money in the hand of a fool (Keciyl), since he has no desire to get wisdom?
- Prov 17:21 To have a fool (Keciyl) for a son brings grief; there is no joy for the father of a fool (Nabal).
- Prov 17:24 A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s (Keciyl) eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
- Prov 17:25 A foolish (Keciyl) son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.
- Prov 18:2 A fool (Keciyl) finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.
- Prov 18:6 A fool’s (Keciyl) lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
- Prov 18:7 A fool’s (Keciyl) mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
- Prov 19:1 Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool (Keciyl) whose lips are perverse.
- Prov 19:10 It is not fitting for a fool (Keciyl) to live in luxury– how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
- Prov 19:13 A foolish (Keciyl) son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.
- Prov 19:29 Penalties are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools (Keciyl).
- Prov 21:20 In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish (Keciyl) man devours all he has.
- Prov 23:9 Do not speak to a fool (Keciyl), for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.
- Prov 26:1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool (Keciyl).
- Prov 26:3 A whip for the horse, a halter for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools (Keciyl)!
- Prov 26:4 Do not answer a fool (Keciyl) according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.
- Prov 26:5 Answer a fool (Keciyl) according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
- Prov 26:6 Like cutting off one’s feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool (Keciyl).
- Prov 26:7 Like a lame man’s legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool (Keciyl).
- Prov 26:8 Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool (Keciyl).
- Prov 26:9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool (Keciyl).
- Prov 26:10 Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool (Keciyl) or any passer-by.
- Prov 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool (Keciyl) repeats his folly.
- Prov 26:12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool (Keciyl) than for him.
2) pethiy: peth-ee’; or pethiy, peh’-thee; or petha’iy, peth-aw-ee’; silly (i.e. seducible): foolish, simple (-icity, one). Occurs 15 times in 14 verses
- Prov 1:4 for giving prudence to the simple (pethiy), knowledge and discretion to the young–
- Prov 1:22 “How long will you simple ones (pethiy) love your simple (pethiy) ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
- Prov 1:32 For the waywardness of the simple (pethiy) will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
- Prov 7:7 I saw among the simple (pethiy), I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment.
- Prov 8:5 You who are simple (pethiy), gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.
- Prov 9:4 “Let all who are simple (pethiy) come in here!” she says to those who lack judgment.
- Prov 9:6 Leave your simple (pethiy) ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.
- Prov 9:16 “Let all who are simple (pethiy) come in here!” she says to those who lack judgment.
- Prov 14:15 A simple (pethiy) man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.
- Prov 14:18 The simple (pethiy) inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
- Prov 19:25 Flog a mocker, and the simple (pethiy) will learn prudence; rebuke a discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.
- Prov 21:11 When a mocker is punished, the simple (pethiy) gain wisdom; when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.
- Prov 22:3 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple (pethiy) keep going and suffer for it.
- Prov 27:12 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple (pethiy) keep going and suffer for it.
3) ‘eviyl, ev-eel’; from an unused root (mean. to be perverse); (fig.) silly:—fool (-ish) (man). Occurs 19 times in 19 verses
- Prov 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools (‘eviyl) despise wisdom and discipline.
- Prov 7:22 All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer/fool (‘eviyl) stepping into a noose
- Prov 10:8 The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool (‘eviyl) comes to ruin.
- Prov 10:10 He who winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool (‘eviyl) comes to ruin.
- Prov 10:14 Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool (‘eviyl) invites ruin.
- Prov 10:21 The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools (‘eviyl) die for lack of judgment.
- Prov 11:29 He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind, and the fool (‘eviyl) will be servant to the wise.
- Prov 12:15 The way of a fool (‘eviyl) seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. 16
- Prov 12:16 A fool (‘eviyl) shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
- Prov 14:3 A fool’s (‘eviyl) talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
- Prov 14:9 Fools (‘eviyl) mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.
- Prov 15:5 A fool (‘eviyl) spurns his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
- Prov 16:22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools (‘eviyl).
- Prov 17:28 Even a fool (‘eviyl) is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.
- Prov 20:3 It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool (‘eviyl) is quick to quarrel.
- Prov 24:7 Wisdom is too high for a fool (‘eviyl); in the assembly at the gate he has nothing to say.
- Prov 27:3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but provocation by a fool (‘eviyl) is heavier than both.
- Prov 27:22 Though you grind a fool (‘eviyl) in a mortar, grinding him like grain with a pestle, you will not remove his folly from him.
- Prov 29:9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool (‘eviyl), the [he] fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
4) nabal, na-bawl’;stupid; wicked (espec. impious):—fool (-ish, -ish man, -ish woman), vile person. Occurs 3 times in 3 verses.
- Prov 17:7 Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool (nabal) — how much worse lying lips to a ruler!
- *Prov 17:21 To have a fool for a son brings grief; there is no joy for the father of a fool (nabal).
- Prov 30:21-22 “Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: 22 a servant who becomes king, a fool (nabal) who is full of food,
NOTE:
• It is important to note that there are two words for “fool” in Proverbs 17:21. The first intstance is from the root word, keciyl, from fat or stupid. The second is from the root word, Nabal, wicked or vile.