Lexical Summary ivveleth: Folly, foolishness Original Word: אִוֶּלֶת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance folly, foolishness From the same as 'eviyl; silliness -- folly, foolishly(-ness). see HEBREW 'eviyl NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as evil Definition folly NASB Translation folly (17), foolish (1), foolishly (1), foolishness (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs אִוֶּ֫לֶת25 noun feminine folly. — absolute Proverbs 12:23 +; construct Proverbs 14:8 +; suffix אִוַּלְתִּי Psalm 38:6, etc.; — folly, special product of כְּסִילִים (see כֶּסֶל) Proverbs 12:23 + (12 t.); with מְּתָאִים Proverbs 14:18; with אֱוִלִיים only Proverbs 16:22; Proverbs 27:22 for alliteration. It is bound up in mind of boy, to be removed only by rod of discipline Proverbs 22:15; ׳א personified tears down house built by חַכְמוֺת נָשִׁים Proverbs 14:1; it is contrasted with תְּבוּנָה Proverbs 14:29; Proverbs 15:21. II. אול, איל (be in front of, precede, lead; see Thes NöMBA 1880, 774; SBA 1882, 1175, who compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Definition and Conceptual Scope אִוֶּלֶת denotes moral and spiritual folly, not mere mental deficiency. It signifies a willful resistance to truth, a rejection of God-centered wisdom, and a self-exalting posture that infects behavior, speech, and relationships. Occurrences and Literary Distribution The word appears twenty-five times, heavily concentrated in Proverbs (twenty-three occurrences) and twice in the Psalms. Its placement within Wisdom Literature highlights a recurring pedagogical contrast: folly versus wisdom, sin versus righteousness, death versus life. Historical and Cultural Background In the ancient Near Eastern milieu, wisdom was prized for ordering society and securing prosperity. Israel’s sages, however, grounded true wisdom in “the fear of the LORD” (Proverbs 1:7). Accordingly, folly became more than social impropriety; it was covenantal disloyalty, inviting divine displeasure and communal disorder. Characteristics of Folly • Self-advertising: “A fool displays his folly” (Proverbs 13:16). Consequences of Folly Personal Ruin: “He dies for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly” (Proverbs 5:23). Social Harm: “A wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands a foolish one tears hers down” (Proverbs 14:1). Spiritual Alienation: “A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD” (Proverbs 19:3). Divine Judgment: “Even a fool’s scheme is sin” (Proverbs 24:9). Contrast with Wisdom Wisdom is constructive (“builds her house”), discerning (“understanding is a fountain of life”), and fruitful (“crown of the wise is their wealth”), whereas folly is destructive, deceptive, and barren (“the effort of fools is folly,” Proverbs 14:24). Means of Deliverance from Folly Parental Discipline: “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15). Patient Instruction: Proverbs 26:4–5 balances refusal to imitate folly with the responsibility to expose it. Fear of the Lord: Reverence for God redirects the heart from self to divine wisdom. Community Accountability: The righteous counsel of the wise counteracts the isolation of the fool. Christological and Redemptive Connections The New Testament identifies Jesus Christ as the embodiment of divine wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30). At the cross, what the world deemed “foolishness” is revealed as God’s saving power, exposing the ultimate vanity of human folly and opening the way for sinners to receive true wisdom through faith. Pastoral and Discipleship Implications • Preaching: Folly must be named as sin, not personality. Key Verses for Meditation and Teaching Psalm 38:5; Psalm 69:5; Proverbs 5:23; Proverbs 14:1, 8, 18, 29; Proverbs 15:21; Proverbs 17:12; Proverbs 26:11. Forms and Transliterations אִ֭וֶּלֶת אִוֶּ֑לֶת אִוֶּ֖לֶת אִוֶּ֣לֶת אִוֶּ֥לֶת אִוֶּֽלֶת׃ אִוַּלְתִּֽי׃ אִוַּלְתּ֣וֹ אִוַּלְתּֽוֹ׃ אולת אולת׃ אולתו אולתו׃ אולתי׃ בְּאִוַּלְתּֽוֹ׃ בְאִוַּלְתּֽוֹ׃ באולתו׃ וְ֝אִוֶּ֗לֶת וְאִוֶּ֖לֶת ואולת כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ כאולתו לְאִוַּלְתִּ֑י לאולתי ’iw·wal·tî ’iw·wal·tōw ’iw·we·leṯ ’iwwaltî ’iwwaltōw ’iwweleṯ bə’iwwaltōw ḇə’iwwaltōw bə·’iw·wal·tōw ḇə·’iw·wal·tōw beivvalTo ivvalTi ivvalTo ivVelet kə’iwwaltōw kə·’iw·wal·tōw keivvalTo lə’iwwaltî lə·’iw·wal·tî leivvalTi veivvalTo veivVelet wə’iwweleṯ wə·’iw·we·leṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 38:5 HEB: חַבּוּרֹתָ֑י מִ֝פְּנֵ֗י אִוַּלְתִּֽי׃ NAS: [and] fester Because of my folly. KJV: because of my foolishness. INT: my wounds because of my folly Psalm 69:5 Proverbs 5:23 Proverbs 12:23 Proverbs 13:16 Proverbs 14:1 Proverbs 14:8 Proverbs 14:17 Proverbs 14:18 Proverbs 14:24 Proverbs 14:24 Proverbs 14:29 Proverbs 15:2 Proverbs 15:14 Proverbs 15:21 Proverbs 16:22 Proverbs 17:12 Proverbs 18:13 Proverbs 19:3 Proverbs 22:15 Proverbs 24:9 Proverbs 26:4 Proverbs 26:5 Proverbs 26:11 Proverbs 27:22 25 Occurrences |
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for 
, ᵑ7 אוולא; compare Sabean אול DHMEpigr. Denkm. 33. 34; see on the other hand LagOr ii. p. 3; M i. p.100 & below I. אלה below) **Arabic 
, etc., from 
, see Lane.