Fools

Opening Scripture. Proverbs 17:10.

• Prov. 17:10 (GNT): An intelligent person learns more from one rebuke than a [kesil] fool learns from being beaten a hundred times.
• Prov. 17:10 (ESV): A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.
• Prov. 17:10 (KJ21): A reproof entereth deeper into a wise man than a hundred stripes into a fool.

How this sermon came about. In preparing for the prior sermon on Bible translations, I came across a recent translation, the Legacy Standard Bible, which made a distinction among "fools" mentioned in the Old Testament. It turns out, in the Hebrew language, there are different words to describe a fool. And the LSB attempts to make this distinction in its translation. In the Hebrew mind, fools come in all shapes and sizes which is not brought out in most translations, including the KJV. So, I thought it would be an interesting study to learn about these different Hebrew words for fools and how they may apply in our day..

Introduction. But, before I begin to describe them to you, one cautionary note. Once you learn to identify the different types of fools mentioned in the Bible, this knowledge can become a weapon. It can become a weapon to wield and ridicule and harass people with. This was, in fact, how it was used in Jesus' day. People went around calling each other fools. It especially came from those in the upper classes like the scribes and Pharisees. And Jesus had to say something about that in his Sermon on the Mount.

• Matthew 5:22 (CSB): But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother will be subject to the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire.
• Matthew 5:22 (AMP+): But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother or harbors malice against him will be guilty before the court; and whoever speaks [contemptuously and insultingly] to his brother, ‘You empty-headed idiot!’ will be guilty before the supreme court (Sanhedrin); and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fiery hell.

What Jesus is saying is that going around insulting people can get you into trouble, not only with civil authorities, but also with God himself. Besides, going around insulting people is not a way to make friends and influence people. Speaking in the venacular, it can be "bad juju"--what comes around goes around, type of thing. So don't let this kind of knowledge become a tool for misuse, no matter what.

Rather, it should be considered a diagnostic tool and possibly even a remedial tool. You can use it to discern the condition of an individual. In most cases, *you* may be doing a self-diagnosis. Once the problem is diagnose, then there is the opportunity to fix it.

1. The nabal [H5036] fool. We will start with the worst of the fools. We can think of him as the wicked, hardened fool. He is a steadfast fool.

• wicked fool [H5036, nāḇāl]--wicked (esp. impious), esp. of the man who has no perception of ethical and religious claims; religious and moral insensibility. See Proverbs 17:7.
• The wicked fool have regressed to the point where they have entered into apostasy. The Hebrew word is nabal, which means wicked and vile. It also means to fall away, to fail, to faint, to despise, to dishonor, to lightly esteem, or to abandon.

It is the nabal fool who says in his heart that there is no God. He can even teach about God, yet deny Him in his thinking. The nabal fool blasphemes God. He insults and sneers at God all day long.

• Psalm 14:1. The [nabal] fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good.
• Psalm 74:18: Remember this, that the enemy has mocked you, O LORD (Yahweh). [Nabal] Foolish people have blasphemed your name.
• Psalm 74:22 (Mine): Arise, O God, and plead Your own cause; Remember how the [nabal] fool insults [scorn] and sneers at You all day long.
• Job 2:10. “But he said to her, “You speak as one of the [nabal] foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”
• Ezekiel 13:3. “Thus says the Lord GOD, “Woe to the [nabal] foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing.”
• Proverbs 17:21 (Mine): It is never pleasant to be the parent of a [kesil] fool and to be the father of a nabal fool is nothing but pain.
• Proverbs 17:7 (Mine): Fine speech is unbecoming to a [nabal] fool, and even less are lying lips to a prince.

2. The simple-minded (i.e. airheaded, naive, simpleton) fool. The Hebrew word pethiy (peth-ee') [H6612] (the petayim, "simple ones"), meaning a stupid mule or a fool who is easily persuaded by flattery, delusion, deception, and enticement. He is ready to believe almost anything and he exhibits great gullibility. He believes gossip, slander, and false teaching, and he hates academic discipline. He intentionally avoids knowledge and understanding. "I don't want to know about the Bible, so I don't have to be responsible for anything."

• 1:32 (Mine): Simple fools [petayim] will die because they refuse to listen; they will be destroyed because they do not care
• 7:7: I saw among the simple ones, I noticed among the youths, a young man void of understanding.
• 9.6: Leave the simple life and live; and go in the way of understanding.
• 14:15 (CEB+): The simple fool believes anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.
• 14:15 (CEV): Don't be stupid and believe all you hear; be smart and know where you are headed.
• 22:3 (CEV): When you see trouble coming, don't be stupid and walk right into it— be smart and hide.
• 27:12. The prudent sees danger and hides himself, But the pethiy go on, and are punished for it.

3. The kesil fool. Thirdly, there is the kesil fool; this is the thickheaded, stubborn, rebellious fool. He's a know-it-all, won't listen to advice, is willing to spread lies, doesn't get along with his authorities, thinks he can do a better job than his boss.

This Hebrew word literally means that the loins and flanks of a person are so crowded by fat that they are inactive, passive, and dull. The kesil fool will hide his hatred with hypocritical lies, and then utter slander in the next breath. The kesil fool is two-faced. If you keep company with him, you will suffer harm.

• 10:18 (CEV): You can hide your hatred by telling lies, but you are a [kesil] to spread lies.
• 10:23 (AMP+): Engaging in evil is like sport to the [kesil], but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
• 12:23 (CSB+): A prudent man conceals knowledge, but a [kesil's] heart publicizes stupidity.
• 13:20. He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of [kesilim] will suffer harm.
• 13:20 (CSB+): The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but you hurt youself by going around with [kesilim].
• 14:7. “Leave the presence of a [kesil], Or you will not discern words of knowledge.”
• 14:16 (CJB+): A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a [kesil] is reckless and overconfident.
• 15:14. The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, But the mouth of [kesils] feed on folly.
• 17:10 (GNT): An intelligent person learns more from one rebuke than a [kesil] learns from being beaten a hundred times.
• 17:12 (CJB+): Rather meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs than a [kesil] immersed in folly.
• 18:2 (Mine): A [kesil] finds no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
• silly questions
• 26:4 (EXB+): Don’t answer a [kesil] when he speaks foolishly, or you will be just like him.
• 26:4 (GNT): If you answer a silly question, you are just as silly as the person who asked it.
• 26:5: (ESV): Answer a [kesil] according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
• 26:5 (EHV): Answer a fool according to his folly. If you do not, he will consider himself wise.
• 26:5 (GNT+): Give a silly answer to a silly question, or he will think himself to be wise.
• 26:11 (AMP): Like a dog that returns to his vomit Is a kesil who repeats his foolishness.
• 26:11 (JUB): As a dog returns to his vomit, so the kesil returns to his folly.
• 26:12 (LSB): Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a kesil than for him.
• 26:12 (ERV+): A person who thinks he is wise when he is not is worse than a kesil.
• 28:26 (LSB): He who trusts in his own heart is a kesil, But he who walks wisely will escape.
• 28:26 (CEB+): He who trusts in his own reasoning is a kesil, but he who walks in wisdom will be kept safe.
• 29:11 (CSB): A kesil gives full vent to his anger, but a wise person holds it in check.
• 29:11 (CEV+): Don't be a kesil and quickly lose your temper--be patient and restrain youself.
• 29:20 (CSB): Do you see someone who speaks too soon? There is more hope for a kesil than for him.
• 23:9 (ESV) Do not speak in the hearing of a kesil, for he will despise the good sense of your words.

4. The ev-eel' [H191] fool. The eviyl fool is a babbling, ignorant fool. One who despises wisdom and instruction, mocks when guilty, he is quarrelsome. He is full of arrogance and self-justification when confronted with the truth. He is easy to spot because his brain has stopped thinking but his tongue is in high gear. In fact, the only way a babbling fool can appear wise is to keep his mouth shut. As soon as it is opened, his foolishness is revealed.

• 1:7: The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; Ignorant fools [evilim] despise wisdom and instruction.
• 10:8 (AMPC+) The wise in heart will accept and obey commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
• 12:15: The way of an ignorant fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
• 12:16 (EXB+) Fools [evilim] quickly show when they are upset, but the wise ignore insults.
• 14:3 (CEV): Babbling fools are punished for their stupid talk, but sensible talk can save your life.
• 14:9 (CSB+): Fools mock at making reparation [or restitution)], but favor is with those who do right.
• 14:9 (GNT): Foolish people don't care if they sin, but good people want to be forgiven.
• 15:5 (ERV+): Ignorant fools refuse to listen to their father’s advice, but those who accept discipline are prudent.
• 17:28: Even an ignorant fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered discerning.
• 20:3. “Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any babbling fool will quarrel.”
• 24:7 (NET+): Wisdom is unattainable for a ignorant fool; in court he does not open his mouth.
• 27:3 (ERV): A stone is heavy, and sand is hard to carry, but the irritation caused by a babbling fool is much harder to bear.
• 27:22 (CEV+): No matter how hard you beat a babbling fool, you can't pound out his foolishness.
• 29:9 (ERV): If someone who is wise tries to settle a problem with a babbling fool, the fool will argue and say stupid things, and they will never agree.

5. Scorning or mocking fool. The Hebrew word luwts [H3887, loots; pl., lesim; scoffers]. This is the scorning or mocking fool. The scorning fool is flirting with a reprobate mind. This is the fool that uses his mouth to scoff, mock, or to ridicule. He will even scoff at the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God. The mocking fool seeks for wisdom in vain because his motivation is wrong and he is blind and deaf to spiritual matters. The mocking fool is obnoxious and is an abomination to others. He delights in mocking Christians and their standards. In any group of people, if you get rid of the scoffer or the mocking fool, you will solve most of your problems within that group.

• 9:7-8. “He who corrects a scoffer [a mocking fool] gets dishonor for himself, And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. Do not reprove a scoffer [luwts], or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you.”
• 13:1. “A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, But a scoffer [luwts] does not listen to rebuke.”
• 14:6. “A scoffer [luwts] seeks wisdom and finds none, But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.”
• 19:29: Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And beatings for the backs of [kesilim] fools.
• 21:11 (AMP): When the scoffer [luwts] is punished, the simple [observes the lesson and] becomes wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
• 22:10. Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease.
• 22:10 (CEB): Remove the mocker and conflict disappears; judgment and shame also stop.

Choice quotes

• 18:2 (ESV) A fool [kesil; thickheaded] takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
• 18:6: (AMP): A fool’s [kesil] lips bring contention and strife, And his mouth invites a beating.
• 18:7 (CEV): Saying foolish [kesil] things is like setting a trap to destroy yourself.
• 20:3 (CEB): It is honorable to back off from a fight, but babbling, ignorant fools jump right in.
• 20:3 (ERV): Men who refuse to argue deserve respect. Any babbling, ignorant fool can start an argument.
  

Summary of foolish attributes

1. Unteachable. They will not accept instruction.
2. Unable to receive honor, they are inclined to tear others down. Prov. 3:35.
3. They quickly gossip and slander others.
4. They do not have real, spiritual understanding
5. They always think they are right and will not listen to nor accept humbly the counsel of others.
6. They get angry quickly.
7. They will always, ultimately display their foolishness. It cannot be hidden for long.
8. If you associate with them, it will lead to harm.
9. Deceitful and self-deceived. They are deceitful, often not even realizing their deception. They are full of self-deception. Prov. 14:8
10. Arrogant and careless. They are arrogant and careless, particularly about walking into evil.
11. Opinionated. They are quick to tell everyone what they think, but it's folly. They have an opinion on everything, that they believe is right.
12. Undisciplined. They reject discipline.
13. Ignorant in true knowledge. They do not spread real knowledge (although they think they do).
14. Should not be given positions of honor and power. Don't give them position and honor. Prov. 26:8
15. Uncorrectable. They will not receive a healthy rebuke, because they always think they're right.
16. Hyper-protective. They are dangerously protective when you deal with them. They will hurt you to protect their way. Prov. 17:12
17. Don't want to understand. They don't want understanding, but they love to tell you what they think. Prov. 18:2: A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind.
18. They create strife. Prov. 18:6
19. They love to quarrel. Prov. 20:3
20. Unreasonable. It is useless to try to reason with them. Prov. 23:9; 26:4-5

Dealing with fools - wisdom, not law

• Dealing with fools requires wisdom. Wisdom is not like Law. If you want to learn about Law, you go to the books of Moses. If you want learn Wisdom, you go to the wisdom books. What's the difference? The difference is that Law is black and white. Wisdom has a lot of gray areas in it.
• Example: Proverbs 26:4-5. Do we answer or not answer a fool? The difficulty is that you lose either way.
• Wisdom gives you guidelines, but not absolutes. At times it may be wise to keep silent and then there are times when one must speak.
• A fool gets progressively worse:
• Eccl. 10:12-13: The words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. What he says starts with foolishness and ends with wicked madness.
• There comes a time when wisdom no longer works and Law comes into the picture, especially when things get out of hand.

Levels of engagement

• 1. Simpleton. What do you do with a simpleton? You educate him, as best as possible. Show him the consequences of foolishness.
• 2. Silly, babbling, ignorant fools. Think before you speak.
• 3. Stubborn (kesil) fools. They are rooted in the lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eyes and boastful pride. Kesils have some serious underlying issues. Beating them 100 times may not be enough. They may have to go through some serious life issues, before they turn around.
• 4. Scorning, mocking fools. They create unrest and contention; despise rules and authorities. They are of a criminal nature and should be punished for their crimes and forced to make restitution.
• 5. Steadfast, wicked (nabal) fools. These are godless individuals. They have a seared conscience and believe it is right to do wrong. They are skilled in argumentation and seek followers for selfish gain. You should refuse to argue with a nabal--it is futile. Rather, expose them and warn others about their errors.

The Biggest Choice

• Two kinds of people in the world: The wise and the foolish.
• What distinguishes them? The answer is simple: It's how they deal with light and truth.
• Wise. When the light comes to them they adjust themselves. When the truth comes, they change.
• Fool. When the light comes they adjust the light. The light hurts their eyes, so they dim it. They try to change the truth. They dismiss it, or excuse it, deny, shoot the messenger, diminish it. They get angry, because it does not match their reality or the reality they want to exist.
• A fool is a fool by choice. A fool is a fool not because he lacks intelligence, but because his heart rages against the Lord. He has no fear of God. Light and truth are the enemy of his reality.
• Prov. 19:3: A man’s foolishness [ivveleth, same as evil; silliness] ruins his life, and his heart rages against the Lord.
• Consequences. But there are consequences. You can choose to reject God, but you can't choose not to get the consequences that rejection. Now, it's not because God is punishing you, but because there are consequences to living a foolish life.
• Two ways. There are only two ways in this world: God's way or man's way. "There is a way that seems right to a man, and its end is death."
• You either are: saved/lost, submissive/rebellious, humble/proud, live for eternity/live for now, wisdom/foolishness, narrow/wide way.
• Evil. What happens to a fool when he takes it to the extreme? They become evil. They have destruction in their heart. They want to inflict pain. There truly are bad people in the world. These are the ones that sear their conscience.
• Proverbs 9:7-9: The one who corrects a mocker will bring abuse on himself; the one who rebukes the wicked will get hurt. 8 Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke the wise, and he will love you. 9 Instruct the wise, and he will be wiser still; teach the righteous, and he will learn more.

Root problems and cause

• Root problems. The three temptations: moral, material/temporal values, and pride/bitterness
• Root cause. Rejecting truth and light.
• 1 Corinthians 1:22-25: For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to Greeks. 24 Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, 25 because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
• In sum: A fool is one who rejects spiritual and moral truth. They reject the truth and don't want to be told the truth. A fool has no fear of God.
• Prov. 1:7: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• Prov. 8:13: To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

Insatiable desire for wisdom

• Fool: Wise in his own eyes. A foolish man could care less about this type of instruction because he thinks he is wise on his own. He does not know that wisdom is something that must be gained. And it is gained only when it is sought with aggressive tenacity.
• A wise man or woman is a treasure. To be the right one, doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right purpose.

Proverbs 4 (CSB):

4:1 Listen, sons, to a father’s discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,
2 for I am giving you good instruction. Don’t abandon my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother,
4 he taught me and said, “Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; don’t forget or turn away from the words from my mouth.
6 Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you.
7 Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9 She will place a garland of favor on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty.”

Two Ways of Life
10 Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years.
11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction; don’t let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Keep off the path of the wicked; don’t proceed on the way of evil ones.
15 Avoid it; don’t travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by.
16 For they can’t sleep unless they have done what is evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don’t know what makes them stumble.

The Straight Path
20 My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings.
21 Don’t lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to one’s whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously.
25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze[b] straight ahead.
26 Carefully consider the path[c] for your feet, and all your ways will be established.
27 Don’t turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil.

Solomon's appeal

The Book of Proverbs starts out by appealing to search out for wisdom, to seek it like silver and gold. Whatever you get, get wisdom; and get understanding. Basically, it devotes the first 9 chapters to this idea. The rest of the book are the proverbs of Solomon.

• Proverbs 1:21 (LSB): How long, O simple ones [petayim, H6612], will you love simplicity? And scoffers [lesim, H3887] delight in scoffing And fools [kesilim, H3684] hate knowledge?
• Proverbes 10:1: The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish [kesil] son is a grief to his mother.
  

Notes

• Hymn #482: Father, lead me day by day
• Hymn #537: He leadeth me