Lexical Summary evil: Evil, wickedness, bad, harmful, distress Original Word: אֱוִיל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance foolish man From an unused root (meaning to be perverse); (figuratively) silly -- fool(-ish) (man). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition foolish NASB Translation fool (11), fool's (1), foolish (6), foolish man (1), fools (7). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֱוִיל26 adjective (foolish — ׳א Job 5:2 +; plural אֱוִילִים Psalm 107:17 +, etc.; — foolish, Proverbs 29:9 (׳אִישׁ א) Hosea 9:7 (predicate of prophet); compare Isaiah 35:8, elsewhere noun masculine fool (always morally bad), who despises wisdom & discipline Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 15:5; mocks at guilt Proverbs 14:9; is quarrelsome Proverbs 20:3; licentious Proverbs 7:22; it is folly & useless to instruct him Proverbs 16:22; Proverbs 27:22 (19 t. Proverbs); compare also Jeremiah 4:22; Job 5:2,3; Isaiah 19:11; Psalm 107:17. Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope The Hebrew term אֱוִיל describes a moral and spiritual fool—one whose attitude, speech, and behavior betray obstinate disregard for God’s wisdom. Unlike a merely uninformed person, the אֱוִיל is culpable, having access to truth yet rejecting it. Character Traits of the אֱוִיל 1. Self-destructive Passion. “For resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple” (Job 5:2). Internal passions consume him long before external enemies do. Contrast with Wisdom Proverbs repeatedly places the אֱוִיל opposite the wise: Consequences of Foolishness 1. Social Discord. “Whoever brings ruin on his family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart” (Proverbs 11:29). Historical Setting In Wisdom literature the fool embodies covenantal infidelity within Israel’s theocracy, threatening communal stability. The prophets adopt the term to unmask leaders who mislead the nation (Jeremiah 4:22). Post-exilic audiences reading Proverbs could measure their life against these portraits, ensuring renewed devotion to Torah. Redemptive Perspective Although folly is pervasive, Scripture offers hope: “Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not find words of knowledge” (Proverbs 14:7) implies the possibility of choosing better company and paths. Moreover, the suffering of fools in Psalm 107 culminates in deliverance when “they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress” (verse 19). The cross ultimately answers the guilt of folly, for the “foolishness of God is wiser than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25), transforming former fools into disciples. Practical Ministry Application • Discipleship: Shepherds must identify patterns of persistent folly—unteachability, rash speech, moral mockery—and confront in love (2 Timothy 2:24-25). The recurring biblical witness to אֱוִיל warns against self-satisfied ignorance, while offering the hope of transformation through reverent submission to God’s wisdom revealed in Scripture and, ultimately, in Christ. Forms and Transliterations אֱ֝וִ֗יל אֱ֝וִיל אֱ֭וִיל אֱ֭וִלִים אֱוִ֑יל אֱוִ֗יל אֱוִ֣יל אֱוִֽיל׃ אֱוִילִ֥ים אֱוִלִ֣ים אויל אויל׃ אוילים אולים הָאֱוִ֨יל ׀ האויל וֶֽ֝אֱוִילִ֗ים וֶאֱוִ֥יל וֶאֱוִילִ֖ים ואויל ואוילים לֶֽ֭אֱוִיל לֶֽאֱוִ֣יל לאויל ’ĕ·wi·lîm ’ĕ·wî·lîm ’ĕ·wîl ’ĕwîl ’ĕwilîm ’ĕwîlîm eVil Evilim hā’ĕwîl hā·’ĕ·wîl haeVil le’ĕwîl le·’ĕ·wîl Leevil veeVil veeviLim we’ĕwîl we’ĕwîlîm we·’ĕ·wî·lîm we·’ĕ·wîlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 5:2 HEB: כִּֽי־ לֶֽ֭אֱוִיל יַהֲרָג־ כָּ֑עַשׂ NAS: slays the foolish man, And jealousy KJV: killeth the foolish man, and envy INT: for the foolish slays wrath Job 5:3 Psalm 107:17 Proverbs 1:7 Proverbs 7:22 Proverbs 10:8 Proverbs 10:10 Proverbs 10:14 Proverbs 10:21 Proverbs 11:29 Proverbs 12:15 Proverbs 12:16 Proverbs 14:3 Proverbs 14:9 Proverbs 15:5 Proverbs 16:22 Proverbs 17:28 Proverbs 20:3 Proverbs 24:7 Proverbs 27:3 Proverbs 27:22 Proverbs 29:9 Isaiah 35:8 Jeremiah 4:22 Hosea 9:7 25 Occurrences |
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