Lexical Summary sakal: To be prudent, to act wisely, to prosper, to have success Original Word: סָכָל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance foolish, sottish From cakal; silly -- fool(-ish), sottish. see HEBREW cakal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sakal Definition a fool NASB Translation fool (5), foolish (1), stupid (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs סָכָל noun masculine fool (on formation compare LagBN 48): — Jeremiah 5:21; Ecclesiastes 2:19; Ecclesiastes 7:17; Ecclesiastes 10:3 (twice in verse); Ecclesiastes 10:14; plural adjective סְכָלִים Jeremiah 4:22. Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope The Hebrew noun סָכָל denotes a person characterized by moral and spiritual folly rather than mere intellectual deficiency. It exposes an inner defect that resists the fear of the Lord, resulting in reckless behavior, distorted judgment, and eventual ruin. Occurrences in Scripture Ecclesiastes 2:19; Ecclesiastes 7:17; Ecclesiastes 10:3 (twice); Ecclesiastes 10:14; Jeremiah 4:22; Jeremiah 5:21. Ecclesiastes: Folly in Life’s Pursuits • Ecclesiastes 2:19 voices Solomon’s angst that all his labor could fall to “a man who has not worked for it—yet he will have control over everything I have labored for and achieved.” The “fool” here threatens the permanence of wise enterprise, underscoring the fleeting value of earthly achievements unmoored from eternal wisdom. Jeremiah: National Folly and Impending Judgment • Jeremiah 4:22: “For My people are foolish; they have not known Me. They are senseless children… skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.” The prophet applies סָכָל to covenant people whose practiced sin eclipses covenant knowledge, provoking the coming Babylonian siege. Theological Themes 1. Folly as Rebellion: סָכָל is not ignorance but defiant unbelief that rejects divine revelation (Psalm 14:1 uses a cognate idea). Historical Setting Ecclesiastes reflects the late-life reflections of Solomon (tenth century B.C.), a monarch wrestling with the futility of achievements detached from God. Jeremiah prophesied in the final decades of Judah (late seventh to early sixth century B.C.), addressing a populace hardened by idolatry and political intrigue. In both epochs, folly threatened the covenant community’s future. Related Hebrew Terms • כְּסִיל — the dull, obstinate fool (Proverbs 26:3). While overlapping, סָכָל uniquely stresses careless, senseless conduct that publicly betrays a heart estranged from God. Ministry Implications • Preaching: Expose cultural and personal folly that trivializes sin and dismisses divine authority. Canonical Trajectory and Christological Fulfillment The Old Testament’s critique of folly finds its resolution in Jesus Christ, “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24). At the cross, what the world deems foolish becomes the ultimate wisdom, reversing the verdict against God’s people and offering redemption to every repentant fool. Believers, therefore, are summoned to “walk circumspectly, not as the foolish but as the wise, redeeming the time” (Ephesians 5:15-16), embodying the opposite of סָכָל in a watching world. Forms and Transliterations וְהַסָּכָ֖ל והסכל כְּשֶׁסָּכָ֥ל כשסכל סְכָלִים֙ סָכָ֑ל סָכָ֔ל סָכָ֖ל סָכָ֥ל סכל סכלים kə·šes·sā·ḵāl kəšessāḵāl keshessaChal sā·ḵāl saChal sāḵāl sə·ḵā·lîm sechaLim səḵālîm vehassaChal wə·has·sā·ḵāl wəhassāḵālLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ecclesiastes 2:19 HEB: יִהְיֶה֙ א֣וֹ סָכָ֔ל וְיִשְׁלַט֙ בְּכָל־ NAS: or a fool? Yet he will have control over KJV: whether he shall be a wise [man] or a fool? yet shall he have rule INT: become or foolish over all Ecclesiastes 7:17 Ecclesiastes 10:3 Ecclesiastes 10:3 Ecclesiastes 10:14 Jeremiah 4:22 Jeremiah 5:21 7 Occurrences |
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