Lexical Summary holeluth: madness Original Word: הוֹלֵלוּת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance madness From active participle of halal; folly -- madness. see HEBREW halal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom 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). 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). 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. 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 hōwlêlūṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 |
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