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Biblical Definition Of Folly

The concept of "folly" in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, often extending beyond mere intellectual deficiency to include moral and spiritual failings. Several Hebrew terms contribute to this understanding, each with distinct nuances.

One prominent Hebrew word for folly is סִכְלוּת (sikh.Lut), which appears in Ecclesiastes [2, 3]. Rashi, a medieval French rabbi, notes that this term means "foolishness" and is synonymous with other instances of the word in Ecclesiastes, such as in 2:3 and 2:12 [16]. Another term, כְּסִילוּת (Ke.si.lut), also translates to "folly" [6] and is interpreted by Rashi as "madness" [18]. The word הוֺלֵלָה (holelah), meaning "madness," is found in Ecclesiastes, often in conjunction with סִכְלוּת, suggesting a close relationship between madness and folly [10]. For instance, Ecclesiastes 1:17 speaks of seeking "wisdom, and to know madness and folly" [10]. The term מְהוֹלָל (me.ho.Lal) is also rendered as "folly" in Ecclesiastes 2:2 [7]. Hitchcock's Bible Names further connects "folly" with "ruin" and "without understanding" [4], and also with "senselessness" [9].

Biblical texts frequently portray folly as a characteristic of those who lack wisdom or understanding, particularly in a spiritual sense. Proverbs 15:21 states, "Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth his going" [1]. John Gill interprets "lacking heart" as being "destitute of wisdom" and explains that "folly" here refers to sin, which brings joy to the wicked [15]. Rashi similarly comments on Proverbs 15:21, noting that "Folly is joy" to "the one devoid of sense" [19]. This highlights a key aspect of biblical folly: it is not merely a lack of knowledge but an active embrace of sin and a rejection of wisdom.

The book of Proverbs, in particular, personifies folly as a woman who invites the simple and those lacking judgment to partake in her offerings, contrasting her with the figure of Wisdom [17]. The "woman named Folly is brash," speaking boldly but without intelligence [17]. This personification underscores the deceptive and destructive nature of folly.

Folly is often associated with a disregard for God and His ways. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists several characteristics of fools, including denying God (Psalm 14:1; 53:1), blaspheming God (Psalm 74:18), reproaching God (Psalm 74:22), and making a mockery of sin (Proverbs 14:9) [8]. Fools are also described as despising instruction (Proverbs 1:7; 15:5), hating knowledge (Proverbs 1:22), and delighting not in understanding (Proverbs 18:2) [8]. The Hebrew term נָ֝בָ֗ל (na.Val), translated as "foolish," is used in Psalm 74:18 in the context of blaspheming God [5].

The interpretive tradition further clarifies the moral dimension of folly. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, in their commentary on Job 1:22, interpret "charged God foolishly" as "allowed himself to commit no folly against God," equating folly with wickedness. They explain that "hasty words against God, though natural in the bitterness of grief, are folly; literally, an 'insipid, unsavory' thing" [11]. This idea of "insipidity" or "unsavouriness" is also applied to the "folly" of false prophets in Jeremiah 23:13, suggesting a lack of "the salt of godliness" [12]. In Job 4:18, "folly" is linked to the "want of moral consideration," even in angels, implying that even creatures of high standing can exhibit folly through moral imperfection [13].

Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, distinguishes between two types of folly. The first is a "natural indisposition," such as in the case of idiots, which he states is not a sin [14]. The second type, however, arises "by plunging his sense into earthly things, whereby his sense is rendered incapable of perceiving divine things." This latter form of folly, which involves a deliberate turning away from higher truths, is considered a sin because it represents a "dullness of sense in judging, and chiefly as regards the highest cause, which is the last end and the sovereign good" [14]. This scholastic perspective aligns with the biblical emphasis on folly as a moral failing rather than a mere intellectual deficit.

Thus, biblical folly is not simply a lack of intelligence but a profound spiritual and moral deficiency. It manifests as a rejection of divine wisdom, an embrace of sin, and a life lived without regard for God's instruction.

Sources

  1. Proverbs “Proverbs 15:21 (YLT) — Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth <FI>his<Fi> going.”
  2. STEPBible TAHOT “Ecc.10.1#10=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): סִכְל֥וּת [sikh.Lut] "folly"”
  3. STEPBible TAHOT “Ecc.10.13#04=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): סִכְל֑וּת [sikh.Lut] "[is] folly"”
  4. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Tophel — ruin; folly; without understanding”
  5. STEPBible TAHOT “Psa.74.18#07=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): נָ֝בָ֗ל [na.Val] "foolish"”
  6. STEPBible TAHOT “Pro.9.13#02=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): כְּ֭סִילוּת [Ke.si.lut] "folly"”
  7. STEPBible TAHOT “Ecc.2.2#03=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): מְהוֹלָ֑ל [me.ho.Lal] "[it is] folly"”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fools — All men are, without the knowledge of God -- Tit 3:3. Deny God -- Ps 14:1; 53:1. Blaspheme God -- Ps 74:18. Reproach God -- Ps 74:22. Make a mock at sin -- Pr 14:9. Despise instruction -- Pr 1:7; 15:5. Hate knowledge -- Pr 1:22. Delight not in understanding -- Pr 18:2. Sport themselves in mischief -- Pr 10:23. Walk in darkness -- Ec 2:14. Hate to depart from evil -- Pr 13:19. Worship of, hateful to God -- Ec 5:1. Are Corrupt and abominable. -- Ps 14:1. Self-sufficient. -- Pr 12:15; Ro 1:22. Self-confident. -- Pr 14:16. Self-deceivers. -- Pr 14:8. Mere profess”
  9. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Ulai — strength; fool; senseless”
  10. Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H1947] holelah — H1947. holelah [הוֺלֵלָה] noun feminine madness (on text see below), only plural הוֺלֵלוֺת הֹלֵלוֺת,, and only Ecclesiastes: Eccl 1:17 and I set my heart (לִבִּי וָאֶתְּנָה) to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly (וְשִׂכְלוּת הֹלֵלוֺת), compare הוֺלֵלוֺת 2:12 (|| id.); ה וְהַסִּכְלוּת כֶּסֶל רֶשַׁע ׳וְלָדַעַת 7:25; i.e. to know folly to be madness; possibly read חוֺלֵלוּת, compare סִכְלוּת & following; the moral evil of it is specifically recognized in 9:3 (|| רָע).”
  11. Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 1:22: nor charged God foolishly--rather, "allowed himself to commit no folly against God" [UMBREIT]. Job 2:10 proves that this is the meaning. Not as Margin "attributed no folly to God." Hasty words against God, though natural in the bitterness of grief, are folly; literally, an "insipid, unsavory" thing (Job 6:6; Jer 23:13, Margin). Folly in Scripture is continually equivalent to wickedness. For when man sins, it is himself, not God, whom he injures (Pro 8:36). We are to submit to trials, not because we see the reasons for them, nor yet as though they were mat”
  12. Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 23:13: folly--literally, "insipidity," "unsavouriness" (Job 6:6), not having the salt of godliness (Col 4:6). in Baal--in the name of Baal; in connection with his worship (see Jer 2:8). caused . . . to err-- (Isa 9:16).”
  13. Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 4:18: folly--Imperfection is to be attributed to the angels, in comparison with Him. The holiness of some of them had given way (Pe2 2:4), and at best is but the holiness of a creature. Folly is the want of moral consideration [UMBREIT].”
  14. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Folly Which Is Opposed to Wisdom, Art. 2: Article: Whether folly is a sin? I answer that, Folly, as stated above (Article [1]), denotes dullness of sense in judging, and chiefly as regards the highest cause, which is the last end and the sovereign good. Now a man may in this respect contract dullness in judgment in two ways. First, from a natural indisposition, as in the case of idiots, and such like folly is no sin. Secondly, by plunging his sense into earthly things, whereby his sense is rendered incapable of pe”
  15. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 15:21: Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom,.... Or "that wants a heart" (q), a wise and understanding one; by "folly" is meant sin, for all sin is folly; and that is very pleasing and joyous to a wicked he chooses it and delights in it; instead of being ashamed of it, and sorry for it, he glories in it, and makes his boast of it; and not only takes pleasure in committing it himself, but also in those that do it; see Pro 10:23; but a man of understanding walketh uprightly; he who has his understanding enlightened by the Spirit of God; who has an understanding”
  16. Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Ecclesiastes 1:17: And folly. Foolishness. 50 שׂכלות has the same meaning as if it were spelled סכלות [=foolishness], as in, “and to grasp foolishness [סכלות]” in 2:3 and as in, “and madness and foolishness [סכלות]” in 2:12 below.”
  17. Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 9:13: 9:13-18 The woman named Folly also invites the simple and those who lack good judgment to join her for the banquet she has prepared. Her invitation and advice are antithetical to Wisdom’s (9:1-6). 9:13 The woman named Folly is brash: Fools talk boldly and without shame but have nothing intelligent to say.”
  18. Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Psalms 49:14: folly Heb. כסל, madness.”
  19. Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Proverbs 15:21: Folly is joy It is joy for the one devoid of sense.”
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