Topical Encyclopedia
The term "senseless" in the Bible often refers to a lack of understanding, wisdom, or discernment, and is frequently associated with folly and moral deficiency. It is used to describe individuals or actions that are devoid of spiritual insight or rational thought, often leading to sinful behavior or poor decision-making.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "senseless" is "נָבָל" (nabal), which can also mean foolish or wicked. This term is used to describe those who act without regard for God or His commandments. For example, in
Psalm 14:1 , it is written, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good." Here, the "fool" is synonymous with the senseless person who denies God's existence and lives in moral corruption.
The book of Proverbs frequently contrasts the wise with the senseless, emphasizing the importance of wisdom and understanding.
Proverbs 12:1 states, "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid." The senseless person is depicted as one who rejects discipline and correction, leading to ignorance and folly.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the Greek word "ἄφρων" (aphron) is often used to describe the senseless or foolish. Jesus uses this term in His parables to illustrate the spiritual blindness and moral folly of those who do not heed His teachings. In
Luke 12:20 , Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool: "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?'" The rich man's senselessness is evident in his focus on earthly wealth rather than spiritual riches.
The Apostle Paul also addresses senselessness in his epistles. In
Romans 1:21-22 , he writes, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools." Here, senselessness is linked to a rejection of God and a descent into moral and intellectual darkness.
Moral and Spiritual ImplicationsThe Bible consistently portrays senselessness as a spiritual and moral failing. It is often associated with a rejection of God's wisdom and a reliance on human understanding. This condition leads to a life that is out of alignment with God's will and purpose. The senseless person is depicted as one who is spiritually blind, unable to perceive the truth of God's word and the reality of His presence.
The call to avoid senselessness is a call to seek wisdom, understanding, and discernment through a relationship with God.
Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." This passage underscores the importance of relying on divine wisdom rather than human folly.
ConclusionThe biblical concept of senselessness serves as a warning against the dangers of ignoring God's wisdom and living according to one's own flawed understanding. It highlights the need for spiritual insight and the pursuit of a life that honors God through obedience and discernment.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
a.) Destitute of, deficient in, or contrary to, sense; without sensibility or feeling; unconscious; stupid; foolish; unwise; unreasonable.
Greek
878. aphron -- without reason, foolish... without reason, foolish. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: aphron Phonetic
Spelling: (af'-rone) Short Definition:
senseless, foolish, inconsiderate
...249. alogos -- without reason
... without reason. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: alogos Phonetic Spelling:
(al'-og-os) Short Definition: unreasonable,senseless Definition: without...
3151. mataiologos -- talking idly
... vain talker. From mataios and lego; an idle (ieSenseless or mischievous) talker,
ie A wrangler -- vain talker. see GREEK mataios. see GREEK lego....
Strong's Hebrew
5036. nabal -- foolish,senseless... 5035b, 5036. nabal. 5037 . foolish,
senseless. Transliteration: nabal
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-bawl') Short Definition: fool. Word
...5034a. nabal -- to besenseless or foolish
... 5034, 5034a. nabal. 5034b . to besenseless or foolish. Transliteration:
nabal Short Definition: foolish. Word Origin a prim. root...
5034. nabel -- to besenseless or foolish
... 5033, 5034. nabel. 5034a . to besenseless or foolish. Transliteration: nabel
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-bale') Short Definition: disgrace....
1198. baar -- brutishness
... 1197b, 1198. baar. 1199 . brutishness. Transliteration: baar Phonetic
Spelling: (bah'-ar) Short Definition:senseless. Word Origin...
3820. leb -- inner man, mind, will, heart
... obstinate* (2), planned* (1), presume* (1), pride* (1), recalls* (1), reflected*
(1), regard* (1), self-exaltation* (1), sense (10),senseless* (1), seriously...
369. ayin -- nothing, nought
... one (1), nor was there (2), nor have (1), nor* (1), nothing (19), nothing* (10),
one (3), one should never (1), or (1), powerless* (1),senseless* (1), surely...
1197b. baar -- to be brutish
... Word Origin denominative verb from beir Definition to be brutish NASB Word Usage
become stupid (2), brutal (1), grazed (1), grazes (1),senseless (1), stupid (3...
Library
Those Persons Prove ThemselvesSenseless who Exaggerate the Mercy...
... Against Heresies: Book IV Chapter XXVIII."Those persons prove themselvessenseless
who exaggerate the mercy of Christ, but are silent as to the judgment, and...
How Christ is Made Use of as the Life, by one that is So Dead and...
... HOW CHRIST IS MADE USE OF AS THE LIFE, BY ONE THAT IS SO DEAD ANDSENSELESS, AS
HE CANNOT KNOW WHAT TO JUDGE OF HIMSELF, OR HIS OWN CASE, EXCEPT WHAT IS NAUGHT...
There Are, Then, among the Righteous Some who are Carbuncles...
... to worship the Divine Being by raising lifeless temples, we set before them our
temples, and show to such at least as are not blind andsenseless, like their...
Psalm XLVII.
... is it sung. Let us hear it as sons of the Bridegroom, whomsenseless children
crucified in the place of Calvary. For they earned...
Just as the Mother Knows not Whence Comes Her Child Within Her, So...
... Nor would this man say to her, what he has not been ashamed to say to us: "Man being
in honour doth not understand; he is compared to thesenseless cattle, and...
Socrates had More Knowledge in Philosophy than Other Men, Although...
... And in this I judge that they were not onlysenseless, but also impious; because
they wished to send their inquisitive eyes into the secrets of that heavenly...
The Absurdity and Shamefulness of the Images by which the Gods are...
... these very images, you will, as you go over them, find how truly silly is the custom
in which you have been reared, of worshipping thesenseless works of men's...
Commandment Fifth. Of Sadness of Heart, and of Patience.
... on account of their food, or some superfluous word that has been uttered, or on
account of some friend, or some gift or debt, or some suchsenseless affair....
Commandment Tenth. Of Grief, and not Grieving the Spirit of God...
... for anger, doubt, and grief seem to be quite different from each other."
"You aresenseless, O man. Do you not perceive that grief...
A Night to be Remembered
... And I said thus to myself, Oh thou poor unhappy man, howsenseless hast thou been,
that thou hast loved and chosen the things of time, rather than the things...
Thesaurus
Senseless (22 Occurrences)...Senseless (22 Occurrences). Luke 24:25 And he said to them, O
senseless and slow
of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! (DBY).
...Stupid (20 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Very dull; insensible;senseless; wanting in
understanding; heavy; sluggish; in a state of stupor; -- said of persons....
Brute (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Not having sensation;senseless; inanimate; unconscious; without intelligence
or volition; as, the brute earth; the brute powers of nature....
Senses (12 Occurrences)
Fool (95 Occurrences)
... NIV). Psalms 49:10 For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the
senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others. (WEB...
Vain (141 Occurrences)
... Romans 1:21 Because, knowing God, they didn't glorify him as God, neither gave thanks,
but became vain in their reasoning, and theirsenseless heart was...
Noise (126 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Sound of any kind. 2. (n.) Especially, loud,
confused, orsenseless sound; clamor; din. 3. (n.) Loud...
Useless (47 Occurrences)
... had come to know God, they did not give Him glory as God nor render Him thanks,
but they became absorbed in useless discussions, and theirsenseless minds were...
Unmeaning (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (a.) Not indicating intelligence or sense;senseless; expressionless; as, an
unmeaning face. Multi-Version Concordance Unmeaning (1 Occurrence)....
Futile (12 Occurrences)
... Romans 1:21 Because, knowing God, they didn't glorify him as God, neither gave thanks,
but became vain in their reasoning, and theirsenseless heart was...
Resources
How should a Christian view gun control? | GotQuestions.orgHow does the Bible describe a fool? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a “dark night of the soul”? | GotQuestions.orgSenseless: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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