Lexical Summary
kesil: Fool, stupid fellow, dullard
Original Word:כְּסִיל
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:kciyl
Pronunciation:kuh-SEEL
Phonetic Spelling:(kes-eel')
KJV: fool(-ish)
NASB:fool, fools, foolish, fool's, foolish man's, stupid, stupid man
Word Origin:[fromH3688 (כָּסַל - foolish)]
1. (properly) fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
foolish
Fromkacal; properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly -- fool(-ish).
see HEBREWkacal
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
kasalDefinitionstupid fellow, dullard, fool
NASB Translationfool (35), fool's (2), foolish (6), foolish man's (1), fools (23), stupid (1), stupid man (1), stupid ones (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I.
70 ; —
Psalm 49:11 44t.; plural
Psalm 94:8 25t.; — ""
Psalm 49:11;
Psalm 92:7;
Psalm 94:8, elsewhere only in Wisd Lt.; he hates knowledge
Proverbs 1:22; delights not in understanding
Proverbs 18:2; it is his sport to do mischief
Proverbs 10:23; his heart proclaimeth
Proverbs 12:23; his mouth poureth it forth
Proverbs 15:2, and feedeth on it
Proverbs 15:14.
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Meaning and Usageכְּסִיל occurs about seventy times in the Old Testament, chiefly in Proverbs, Psalms, Job, and Ecclesiastes, and once in the historical narrative (2 Samuel 3:33). While English versions often render it “fool,” the contexts show it is not intellectual deficiency but spiritual and moral obstinacy. The כְּסִיל rejects the fear of the LORD, resists correction, and persists in self-destructive behavior.
Characteristics of the כְּסִיל in Scripture
1. Moral Insolence toward God
•Psalm 14:1: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” The declaration is practical atheism—living as though God does not matter.
2. Contempt for Wisdom and Discipline
•Proverbs 1:7: “Fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
•Proverbs 12:15: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes.”
3. Uncontrolled Speech
•Proverbs 10:18: “Whoever spreads slander is a fool.”
•Ecclesiastes 5:3: “A fool’s voice is known by many words.”
4. Volatile Temperament
•Proverbs 14:17: “A quick-tempered man acts foolishly.”
•Proverbs 29:11: “A fool vents all his anger.”
5. Repetition of Sin
•Proverbs 26:11: “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.”
6. Public Shame and Social Ruin
•Proverbs 18:6: “A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.”
•Ecclesiastes 10:12: “The lips of a fool consume him.”
Contrast with Wisdom
Wisdom Literature repeatedly places כְּסִיל opposite חָכָם (“wise”). The wise fear the LORD, seek knowledge, and preserve life; the fool scorns counsel.Proverbs 3–4 portrays wisdom as a life-giving path, whereas the fool walks in darkness (Ecclesiastes 2:14). The antithesis culminates inProverbs 10–15, where nearly every verse contrasts the destiny of the righteous wise with the wicked fool.
Consequences for the כְּסִיל
1. Divine Judgment
•Proverbs 3:35: “Fools inherit shame.”
•Proverbs 26:10: “Like an archer who wounds everyone, so is he who hires a fool.”
2. Social Isolation
•Proverbs 14:7: “Stay away from a foolish man, for you will gain no knowledge from his lips.”
3. Personal Calamity
•Ecclesiastes 7:17: “Do not be overly wicked, and do not be a fool—why die before your time?”
4. Eternal Loss (implied)
The Old Testament does not leave folly merely at temporal misfortune; it ultimately separates one from covenant blessing, foreshadowing final exclusion from God’s kingdom (compareMatthew 25:1–13).
Occurrences across Biblical Genres
• Wisdom Books: Proverbs (≈50 times), Ecclesiastes (≈9), Job (≈3) define and illustrate folly.
• Psalms: Eight occurrences, often linked to atheism and injustice (Psalm 53:1; 92:6).
• Historical Narrative:2 Samuel 3:33, where David laments Abner’s death “as dies a fool,” denouncing reckless violence.
• Prophetic Echoes: While the noun rarely appears in the Prophets, the concept surfaces inIsaiah 32:6 andJeremiah 17:11, showing folly as covenant infidelity.
Theological and Ministerial Implications
1. Depravity and the Need of Grace
Folly is rooted in the heart (Proverbs 22:15). Only divine discipline and new-covenant transformation can uproot it (Ezekiel 36:26).
2. Christ as the Antidote to Folly
The New Testament identifies Jesus Christ as “the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24). Embracing Him reverses the trajectory of כְּסִיל.
3. Preaching and Discipleship
Pastoral ministry calls hearers from folly to wisdom, employing both reproof (Proverbs 26:5) and patient instruction (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
4. Community Life
Proverbs warns against bonding with fools (Proverbs 13:20). Church discipline protects the flock from contagious folly (1 Corinthians 5:11-13).
Applications for Today
• Evaluate worldviews that dismiss God as practical atheism akin toPsalm 14:1.
• Cultivate godly fear and teachable humility in homes and congregations to counteract ingrained folly.
• Guard speech, temper, and associations, recognizing that unrestrained words and anger mark the fool.
• Proclaim Christ crucified and risen as the wisdom that outshines human foolishness, inviting repentance and faith.
Key Passages for Further Study
Proverbs 1:7; 10:8; 12:15; 14:1–9, 16–33; 17:10–12; 26:1–12;Psalm 14:1; 53:1;Ecclesiastes 2:14; 7:4–9; 10:2–3.
Forms and Transliterations
בַּכְּסִילִ֑ים בַּכְּסִילִֽים׃ בכסילים בכסילים׃ הַכְּסִ֑יל הַכְּסִ֖יל הַכְּסִֽיל׃ הַכְּסִיל֙ הַכְּסִילִ֖ים הכסיל הכסיל׃ הכסילים וְהַכְּסִ֖יל וּ֝כְסִ֗יל וּ֝כְסִילִ֗ים וּכְסִ֔יל וּכְסִ֖יל וּכְסִ֥יל והכסיל וכסיל וכסילים כְ֝סִ֗יל כְ֝סִילִ֗ים כְ֭סִיל כְּ֝סִ֗יל כְּ֝סִילִ֗ים כְּ֭סִיל כְּסִ֑יל כְּסִ֖יל כְּסִ֣יל כְּסִֽיל׃ כְּסִילִ֖ים כְּסִילִ֣ים כְּסִילִֽים׃ כְסִ֑יל כְסִֽיל׃ כְסִילִ֣ים כְסִילִֽים׃ כסיל כסיל׃ כסילים כסילים׃ לִ֭כְסִיל לִכְסִ֣יל לכסיל bak·kə·sî·lîm bakkesiLim bakkəsîlîm cheSil chesiLim hak·kə·sî·lîm hak·kə·sîl hakkeSil hakkəsîl hakkesiLim hakkəsîlîm kə·sî·lîm ḵə·sî·lîm kə·sîl ḵə·sîl keSil kəsîl ḵəsîl kesiLim kəsîlîm ḵəsîlîm Lichsil liḵ·sîl liḵsîl ū·ḵə·sî·lîm ū·ḵə·sîl ucheSil uchesiLim ūḵəsîl ūḵəsîlîm vehakkeSil wə·hak·kə·sîl wəhakkəsîl
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