1948. holeluth
Lexical Summary
holeluth: madness

Original Word: הוֹלֵלוּת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: howleluwth
Pronunciation: ho-lay-looth
Phonetic Spelling: (ho-lay-looth')
KJV: madness
NASB: madness
Word Origin: [from active participle of H1984 (הָלַל - To praise)]

1. folly

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
madness

From active participle of halal; folly -- madness.

see HEBREW halal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from halal
Definition
madness
NASB Translation
madness (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
הוֺלֵלוּת noun feminine id. (formed unusually from the participle, an Aramaic formation, compare BaNB 414 f.) תְּהִּלַּת דִּבְּרֵיפִֿיהוּ סִכְלוּת וְאַחֲרִית מִּיהוּ הוֺלֵלוּת רָעָה Ecclesiastes 10:13 the beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, and the end of his mouth (his speech) is evil madness.

הַלֲלוּיָהּ, הַלֲלוּיָהֿ see הלל

Pi`el

Topical Lexicon
Scriptural Occurrence

הוֹלֵלוּת appears once in the canon, in Ecclesiastes 10:13. The Berean Standard Bible renders the term “madness”: “The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is evil madness.” Its solitary placement within Solomon’s discourse intensifies its force, portraying a final, spiraling stage of destructive talk.

Context within Wisdom Literature

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon surveys life “under the sun” and contrasts the sure guidance of wisdom with the ruinous path of folly. The verse containing הוֹלֵלוּת sits in a passage (Ecclesiastes 10:12-14) that tracks the progression of the fool’s speech—from naïve folly to pernicious insanity. Other Hebrew terms for “madness” (for example, holeloth in Ecclesiastes 1:17; 2:12; 7:25) broaden the theme, but הוֹלֵלוּת marks the culminating, most virulent expression of folly. It is speech that has crossed a moral threshold; the fool is no longer merely misguided but has become dangerous.

Characterization of Corrupt Speech

1. Rejection of wisdom’s beginning (Proverbs 1:7).
2. Escalation from careless words to active moral evil (Psalm 10:7; James 3:6).
3. Inability to recognize or heed correction (Proverbs 12:15; Ecclesiastes 4:13).

The verse warns that words carry momentum: once loosed, they shape both the speaker and the hearer, eventually lodging the speaker in “evil madness.”

Moral and Spiritual Consequences

• Personal ruin: the fool “consumes himself” (Ecclesiastes 10:12).
• Community harm: evil counsel multiplies “many words,” clouding judgment (Proverbs 11:14).
• Divine accountability: “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:37).

Historical and Cultural Insights

Ancient Near-Eastern sages prized measured discourse. In royal courts, rash speech could provoke military disaster or diplomatic breach (cf. 1 Kings 12:13-16). Within Israel, prophetic critique often labeled idolatry-driven policies as “madness” (Hosea 9:7). Ecclesiastes captures this social awareness: when leaders or advisers indulge in הוֹלֵלוּת, nations suffer (Ecclesiastes 10:16-17).

Pastoral and Discipleship Applications

1. Cultivate restrained speech: encourage memorization of James 1:19-20 alongside Ecclesiastes 10:13.
2. Diagnose escalating folly: small compromises in truth-telling can mature into hostile, irrational discourse.
3. Promote accountability partnerships that address unhealthy patterns before they harden into הוֹלֵלוּת.
4. Emphasize Spirit-filled speech (Ephesians 4:29), the antidote to destructive talk.

Homiletical and Devotional Use

A sermon or study can trace “the anatomy of a fool’s words” from Ecclesiastes 10:12-14, illustrating each stage with New Testament parallels (for example, Acts 19:28-34 for mob-level madness). Devotionally, believers may pray Psalm 19:14, asking the Lord to keep their words from trending toward folly’s extreme.

Summary

הוֹלֵלוּת exposes the endgame of unrestrained folly—speech so perverse it borders on insanity. Ecclesiastes employs the term to jolt readers into humility, reminding every generation that wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and is preserved by disciplined, righteous speech.

Forms and Transliterations
הוֹלֵל֖וּת הוללות hō·w·lê·lūṯ holeLut hōwlêlūṯ
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Ecclesiastes 10:13
HEB: וְאַחֲרִ֣ית פִּ֔יהוּ הוֹלֵל֖וּת רָעָֽה׃
NAS: and the end of it is wicked madness.
KJV: of his talk [is] mischievous madness.
INT: and the end of his talk madness mischievous

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 1948
1 Occurrence


hō·w·lê·lūṯ — 1 Occ.

1947
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