Lexical Summary kesil: Fool, stupid fellow, dullard Original Word: כְּסִיל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance foolish From kacal; properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly -- fool(-ish). see HEBREW kacal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kasal Definition stupid fellow, dullard, fool NASB Translation fool (35), fool's (2), foolish (6), foolish man's (1), fools (23), stupid (1), stupid man (1), stupid ones (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. כְּסִיל70 noun masculine stupid fellow, dullard, fool; — ׳כ Psalm 49:11 44t.; plural כְּסִילִים Psalm 94:8 25t.; — "" בער 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 אִוֶּלָת Proverbs 12:23; his mouth poureth it forth Proverbs 15:2, and feedeth on it Proverbs 15:14. Topical Lexicon Overview of Meaning and Usage כְּסִיל 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 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 in Proverbs 10–15, where nearly every verse contrasts the destiny of the righteous wise with the wicked fool. Consequences for the כְּסִיל 1. Divine Judgment 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 (compare Matthew 25:1–13). Occurrences across Biblical Genres • Wisdom Books: Proverbs (≈50 times), Ecclesiastes (≈9), Job (≈3) define and illustrate folly. 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). The New Testament identifies Jesus Christ as “the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24). Embracing Him reverses the trajectory of כְּסִיל. Pastoral ministry calls hearers from folly to wisdom, employing both reproof (Proverbs 26:5) and patient instruction (2 Timothy 2:24-26). 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 to Psalm 14:1. 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 wəhakkəsîlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 49:10 HEB: יָמ֗וּתוּ יַ֤חַד כְּסִ֣יל וָבַ֣עַר יֹאבֵ֑דוּ NAS: die; The stupid and the senseless KJV: likewise the fool and the brutish person INT: die alike the stupid and the senseless perish Psalm 92:6 Psalm 94:8 Proverbs 1:22 Proverbs 1:32 Proverbs 3:35 Proverbs 8:5 Proverbs 10:1 Proverbs 10:18 Proverbs 10:23 Proverbs 12:23 Proverbs 13:16 Proverbs 13:19 Proverbs 13:20 Proverbs 14:7 Proverbs 14:8 Proverbs 14:16 Proverbs 14:24 Proverbs 14:33 Proverbs 15:2 Proverbs 15:7 Proverbs 15:14 Proverbs 15:20 Proverbs 17:10 Proverbs 17:12 70 Occurrences |