3684. kesil

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: [from H3688 (כָּסַל - foolish)]

1. (properly) fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

foolish

From kacal; properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly -- fool(-ish).

see HEBREW kacal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from 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
• 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 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
• 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 (compare Matthew 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 in Isaiah 32:6 and Jeremiah 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 to Psalm 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

Englishman'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
HEB: לֹ֣א יֵדָ֑ע וּ֝כְסִ֗יל לֹא־ יָבִ֥ין
NAS: Nor does a stupid man understand
KJV: knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand
INT: no has A stupid Nor understand

Psalm 94:8
HEB: בֹּעֲרִ֣ים בָּעָ֑ם וּ֝כְסִילִ֗ים מָתַ֥י תַּשְׂכִּֽילוּ׃
NAS: will you understand, stupid ones?
KJV: among the people: and [ye] fools, when will ye be wise?
INT: senseless the people stupid and when understand

Proverbs 1:22
HEB: חָמְד֣וּ לָהֶ֑ם וּ֝כְסִילִ֗ים יִשְׂנְאוּ־ דָֽעַת׃
NAS: themselves in scoffing And fools hate
KJV: in their scorning, and fools hate
INT: delight like and fools hate cunning

Proverbs 1:32
HEB: תַּֽהַרְגֵ֑ם וְשַׁלְוַ֖ת כְּסִילִ֣ים תְּאַבְּדֵֽם׃
NAS: them, And the complacency of fools will destroy
KJV: them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy
INT: will kill and the complacency of fools will destroy

Proverbs 3:35
HEB: חֲכָמִ֣ים יִנְחָ֑לוּ וּ֝כְסִילִ֗ים מֵרִ֥ים קָלֽוֹן׃
NAS: honor, But fools display
KJV: shall be the promotion of fools.
INT: the wise will inherit fools display dishonor

Proverbs 8:5
HEB: פְתָאיִ֣ם עָרְמָ֑ה וּ֝כְסִילִ֗ים הָבִ֥ינוּ לֵֽב׃
NAS: prudence; And, O fools, understand
KJV: wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding
INT: naive prudence fools understand wisdom

Proverbs 10:1
HEB: אָ֑ב וּבֵ֥ן כְּ֝סִ֗יל תּוּגַ֥ת אִמּֽוֹ׃
NAS: glad, But a foolish son
KJV: father: but a foolish son
INT: A father son A foolish grief to his mother

Proverbs 10:18
HEB: דִ֝בָּ֗ה ה֣וּא כְסִֽיל׃
NAS: And he who spreads slander is a fool.
KJV: a slander, [is] a fool.
INT: slander he fool

Proverbs 10:23
HEB: כִּשְׂח֣וֹק לִ֭כְסִיל עֲשׂ֣וֹת זִמָּ֑ה
NAS: is like sport to a fool, And [so is] wisdom
KJV: [It is] as sport to a fool to do
INT: sport to a fool Doing wickedness

Proverbs 12:23
HEB: דָּ֑עַת וְלֵ֥ב כְּ֝סִילִ֗ים יִקְרָ֥א אִוֶּֽלֶת׃
NAS: But the heart of fools proclaims
KJV: but the heart of fools proclaimeth
INT: knowledge the heart of fools proclaims folly

Proverbs 13:16
HEB: יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה בְדָ֑עַת וּ֝כְסִ֗יל יִפְרֹ֥שׂ אִוֶּֽלֶת׃
NAS: with knowledge, But a fool displays
KJV: with knowledge: but a fool layeth open
INT: acts knowledge A fool displays folly

Proverbs 13:19
HEB: לְנָ֑פֶשׁ וְתוֹעֲבַ֥ת כְּ֝סִילִ֗ים ס֣וּר מֵרָֽע׃
NAS: But it is an abomination to fools to turn away
KJV: but [it is] abomination to fools to depart
INT: to the soul is an abomination to fools to turn evil

Proverbs 13:20
HEB: ק) וְרֹעֶ֖ה כְסִילִ֣ים יֵרֽוֹעַ׃
NAS: But the companion of fools will suffer harm.
KJV: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
INT: exceeding the companion of fools shall be destroyed

Proverbs 14:7
HEB: מִ֭נֶּגֶד לְאִ֣ישׁ כְּסִ֑יל וּבַל־ יָ֝דַ֗עְתָּ
NAS: the presence of a fool, Or you will not discern
KJV: from the presence of a foolish man,
INT: the presence man of a fool you will not discern

Proverbs 14:8
HEB: דַּרְכּ֑וֹ וְאִוֶּ֖לֶת כְּסִילִ֣ים מִרְמָֽה׃
NAS: But the foolishness of fools is deceit.
KJV: but the folly of fools [is] deceit.
INT: his way the foolishness of fools is deceit

Proverbs 14:16
HEB: וְסָ֣ר מֵרָ֑ע וּ֝כְסִ֗יל מִתְעַבֵּ֥ר וּבוֹטֵֽחַ׃
NAS: from evil, But a fool is arrogant
KJV: from evil: but the fool rageth,
INT: and turns evil A fool is arrogant and careless

Proverbs 14:24
HEB: עָשְׁרָ֑ם אִוֶּ֖לֶת כְּסִילִ֣ים אִוֶּֽלֶת׃
NAS: [But] the folly of fools is foolishness.
KJV: [but] the foolishness of fools [is] folly.
INT: is their riches the folly of fools is foolishness

Proverbs 14:33
HEB: חָכְמָ֑ה וּבְקֶ֥רֶב כְּ֝סִילִ֗ים תִּוָּדֵֽעַ׃
NAS: But in the hearts of fools it is made known.
KJV: but [that which is] in the midst of fools is made known.
INT: Wisdom the midst of fools is made

Proverbs 15:2
HEB: דָּ֑עַת וּפִ֥י כְ֝סִילִ֗ים יַבִּ֥יעַ אִוֶּֽלֶת׃
NAS: But the mouth of fools spouts
KJV: but the mouth of fools poureth out
INT: knowledge the mouth of fools spouts folly

Proverbs 15:7
HEB: דָ֑עַת וְלֵ֖ב כְּסִילִ֣ים לֹא־ כֵֽן׃
NAS: But the hearts of fools are not so.
KJV: but the heart of the foolish [doeth] not so.
INT: knowledge the hearts of fools are not so

Proverbs 15:14
HEB: (וּפִ֥י ק) כְ֝סִילִ֗ים יִרְעֶ֥ה אִוֶּֽלֶת׃
NAS: But the mouth of fools feeds
KJV: but the mouth of fools feedeth
INT: knowledge accept of fools feeds folly

Proverbs 15:20
HEB: יְשַׂמַּח־ אָ֑ב וּכְסִ֥יל אָ֝דָ֗ם בּוֹזֶ֥ה
NAS: glad, But a foolish man
KJV: father: but a foolish man
INT: makes A father A foolish man despises

Proverbs 17:10
HEB: בְמֵבִ֑ין מֵהַכּ֖וֹת כְּסִ֣יל מֵאָֽה׃
NAS: a hundred blows into a fool.
KJV: than an hundred stripes into a fool.
INT: has blows A fool A hundred

Proverbs 17:12
HEB: בְּאִ֑ישׁ וְאַל־ כְּ֝סִ֗יל בְּאִוַּלְתּֽוֹ׃
NAS: Rather than a fool in his folly.
KJV: rather than a fool in his folly.
INT: A man Rather A fool his folly

70 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3684
70 Occurrences

bak·kə·sî·lîm — 2 Occ.
ḵə·sîl — 9 Occ.
ḵə·sî·lîm — 5 Occ.
hak·kə·sîl — 6 Occ.
hak·kə·sî·lîm — 2 Occ.
kə·sîl — 17 Occ.
kə·sî·lîm — 12 Occ.
liḵ·sîl — 6 Occ.
ū·ḵə·sîl — 6 Occ.
ū·ḵə·sî·lîm — 4 Occ.
wə·hak·kə·sîl — 1 Occ.