Holy Saturday
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!
Bible Dictionaries
Foolishness
Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words
or 'Ivveleth (אִוֶּלֶת, Strong's #200), “foolishness; stupidity.” This noun appears 25 times in the Old Testament. It can mean “foolishness” in the sense of violating God’s law, or “sin” (Ps. 38:5). The word also describes the activities and life-style of the man who ignores the instructions of wisdom (Prov. 5:23). In another nuance, the noun means “thoughtless.” Hence 'ivveleth describes the way a young person is prone to act (Prov. 22:15) and the way any fool or stupid person chatters (Prov. 15:2).
Nebâlâh (נְבָלָה, Strong's #5039), “foolishness; senselessness; impropriety; stupidity.” This abstract noun appears 13 times in the Old Testament. Its use in 1 Sam. 25:25 signifies “disregarding God’s will.” Nebâlâh is most often used as a word for a serious sin (Gen. 34:7—the first occurrence).
These files are public domain.
Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Foolishness'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/vot/f/foolishness.html. 1940.
