Lexical Summary sakal: To be prudent, to act wisely, to prosper, to have success Original Word: סָכַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be silly, play the foolFor kacal; to be silly -- do (make, play the, turn into) fool(-ish, -ishly, -ishness). see HEBREW kacal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be foolish or a fool NASB Translation acted foolishly (2), acted...foolishly (1), done* (1), done...foolishly (1), foolishly (1), foolishness (2), make (1), played the fool (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [סָכַל] verb be foolish, or a fool, usually in moral or spititual sense (Syriac  Aph`el act foolishly;  foolish, etc., ᵑ7 סְכַל derived species, act foolishly; סַכְלָא fool; Christian-Palestinian Aramaic  , Aph`el = ἁμαρτάνω, also derivatives SchwIdioticon 62; Assyrian saklu, perhaps foolish, DlHWB 498; Aramaic  סְכַל know, be intelligent, cause to understand, etc. (derived species), compare שׂכל; MeiChrest. Targ. derives both these opposite meanings from Arabic  form, likeness. Gerber178 thinks Hebrew verb denominative); — Piel Imperfect יְסַכֵּל Isaiah 44:25, Imperative סַכֶּלנָֿא 2 Samuel 15:31, make foolish, turn into foolishness. Niph`al Perfect2masculine singular נִסְכַּלְתָּ2Chronicles 16:9; נִסְכָּ֑לְתָּ 1 Samuel 13:13; 1singular נִסְכַּלְתִּי 2 Samuel 24:10 = 1 Chronicles 21:8, act or do foolishly. Hiph`il Perfect2masculine singular הִסְכַּלְתָּ Genesis 31:28 (E), 1 singular הִסְכַּלְתִּי 1 Samuel 26:21, do foolishly, play the fool. Topical Lexicon Core Idea of סָכַלThe verb conveys deliberate or careless departure from God-given wisdom, resulting in actions rightly labeled “foolish.” Unlike intellectual deficiency, סָכַל exposes a moral and spiritual shortfall—acting in disregard of revelation, covenant, and fear of the Lord. Each of its eight appearances highlights either disobedience that courts divine displeasure, or a prayer that such folly be overturned. Survey of Key Texts Genesis 31:28 – Laban rebukes Jacob: “You have acted foolishly.” Human relationships are strained when one pursues self-interest without honest consultation, a paradigm of pragmatic but shortsighted scheming. 1 Samuel 13:13 – Samuel indicts Saul: “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the command that the LORD your God gave you.” Foolishness here is covenant breach, costing Saul the dynasty. 1 Samuel 26:21 – Saul confesses: “Indeed, I have acted foolishly and erred greatly.” Folly acknowledged can open the door to reconciliation, though in Saul’s case the pattern of disobedience persists. 2 Samuel 15:31 – David prays: “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.” Divine intervention can neutralize human brilliance when it rebels against God’s anointed. 2 Samuel 24:10; 1 Chronicles 21:8 – David after the census: “I have sinned greatly... I have acted very foolishly.” Even a man after God’s heart can lapse into folly when self-reliance eclipses trust. 2 Chronicles 16:9 – Hanani to Asa: “You have acted foolishly in this matter; therefore from now on you will be at war.” Military alliances that bypass reliance on the Lord are branded as folly with lasting consequences. Isaiah 44:25 – God “...makes fools of diviners... turns their knowledge into foolishness.” Prophetic irony: human systems of knowledge collapse under divine verdict. Theological Themes • Foolishness as Disobedience Every occurrence ties folly to ignored commands, misplaced trust, or rebellious counsel. The verb therefore strengthens the biblical correlation between wisdom and submission to Yahweh. • Corporate and Personal Repercussions Kings (Saul, David, Asa) illustrate how a leader’s סָכַל spreads suffering—loss of dynasty, pestilence, war. Conversely, when folly is confessed, mercy is still accessible, underscoring God’s readiness to forgive repentant hearts. • Divine Sovereignty over Human Counsel David’s plea concerning Ahithophel and Isaiah’s oracle demonstrate that God can overturn sophisticated strategies, showcasing His supremacy and protecting His redemptive purposes. • Contrast with Fear of the Lord Proverbs teaches, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” The verb סָכַל exposes the antithesis: practical atheism that sidelines God, whether in everyday dealings (Genesis 31) or national policy (2 Chronicles 16). Historical Insights In the monarchy narratives, סָכַל marks pivotal moments that redirect Israel’s history: Saul’s dynasty is cut short (1 Samuel 13), Absalom’s revolt is blunted (2 Samuel 15), and the chronicler warns post-exilic readers against Asa-like compromises (2 Chronicles 16). The Isaiah usage falls in the larger polemic against idolatry in the exile context, assuring Israel that pagan “experts” will be exposed as fools. Ministry Implications 1. Leadership accountability: spiritual leaders who act without seeking God emulate Saul and Asa. Practical Exhortation Believers are called to interrogate motives and strategies in light of Scripture, lest they “act foolishly.” Confession remains the God-ordained remedy, leading to restored fellowship and redirected paths. Forms and Transliterations הִסְכַּ֛לְתִּי הִסְכַּ֥לְתָּֽ הסכלת הסכלתי יְשַׂכֵּֽל׃ ישכל׃ נִסְכַּ֖לְתִּי נִסְכַּ֣לְתָּ נִסְכָּ֑לְתָּ נסכלת נסכלתי סַכֶּל־ סכל־ his·kal·tā his·kal·tî hisKalta hiskaltā hisKalti hiskaltî nis·kā·lə·tā nis·kal·tā nis·kal·tî niskālətā nisKalta niskaltā nisKalti niskaltî sak·kel- sakkel sakkel- yə·śak·kêl yesakKel yəśakkêlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 31:28 HEB: וְלִבְנֹתָ֑י עַתָּ֖ה הִסְכַּ֥לְתָּֽ עֲשֽׂוֹ׃ NAS: Now you have done foolishly. KJV: and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in [so] doing. INT: first henceforth foolishly in doing 1 Samuel 13:13 1 Samuel 26:21 2 Samuel 15:31 2 Samuel 24:10 1 Chronicles 21:8 2 Chronicles 16:9 Isaiah 44:25 8 Occurrences |
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