Tag: #WISDOM

The three different Types of Fool:

1. כְּסִיל (kəsîl) – The dull, stubborn, “thick-headed” fool(The most common word; appears ~50 times in Proverbs)

• Prov 1:22 – “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools (כְּסִילִים) hate knowledge?”
• Prov 10:23 – “Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool (כְּסִיל), but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.”
• Prov 12:15 – “The way of a fool (כְּסִיל) is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”
• Prov 14:9 – “Fools (כְּסִילִים) mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.”
• Prov 15:5 – “A fool (כְּסִיל) despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.”
• Prov 17:10 – “A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool (כְּסִיל).”
• Prov 18:2 – “A fool (כְּסִיל) takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”
• Prov 26:11 – “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool (כְּסִיל) who repeats his folly.”
• Prov 29:9 – “If a wise man has an argument with a fool (כְּסִיל), the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.”

2. אֱוִיל (’ĕwîl) – The morally perverse, loud-mouthed, “vile” fool(More obnoxious and dangerous than the kəsîl)

• Prov 1:7 – “Fools (אֱוִילִים) despise wisdom and instruction.”
• Prov 7:22 (about the young man seduced) – “All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter… like a fool (אֱוִיל) to the correction of the stocks.”
• Prov 10:8 – “The wise in heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool (אֱוִיל שְׂפָתַיִם) shall fall.”
• Prov 12:16 – “The vexation of a fool (אֱוִיל) is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.”
• Prov 14:3 – “In the mouth of a fool (אֱוִיל) is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.”
• Prov 15:2 – “The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools (אֱוִילִים) pour out folly.”
• Prov 17:28 – “Even a fool (אֱוִיל) who keeps silent is considered wise…”
• Prov 20:3 – “It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool (אֱוִיל) will be quarreling.”
• Prov 27:3 – “A stone is heavy… but a fool’s (אֱוִיל) provocation is heavier than both.”

3. לֵץ (lēs) – The scoffer/mocker – the arrogant, cynical fool(The worst category; almost impossible to correct)

• Prov 1:22 – “…and scoffers (לֵצִים) delight in their scoffing…”
• Prov 9:7–8 – “Whoever corrects a scoffer (לֵץ) gets himself abuse… Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you.”
• Prov 13:1 – “A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer (לֵץ) does not listen to rebuke.”
• Prov 14:6 – “A scoffer (לֵץ) seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.”
• Prov 15:12 – “A scoffer (לֵץ) does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.”
• Prov 19:29 – “Condemnation is ready for scoffers (לֵצִים), and beating for the backs of fools.”
• Prov 21:24 – “Scoffer (לֵץ) is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with insolent pride.”
• Prov 22:10 – “Drive out a scoffer (לֵץ), and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.”
• Prov 29:8 – “Scoffers (לֵצִים) set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.”