5531. sikluth

Lexicon

sikluth: Folly, foolishness

Original Word: סִכְלוּת
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: cikluwth
Pronunciation: sik-LOOTH
Phonetic Spelling: (sik-looth')
Definition: Folly, foolishness
Meaning: silliness

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

folly, foolishness

Or sikluwth (Eccl. 1:17) {sik-looth'}; from cakal; silliness -- folly, foolishness.

see HEBREW cakal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from sakal
Definition
folly
NASB Translation
folly (5), foolishness (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

סִכְלוּת, שִׂכְלוּת noun feminine folly; — ׳ס Ecclesiastes 2:3,12,13; Ecclesiastes 7:25; Ecclesiastes 10:1,13; ׳שׁ Ecclesiastes 1:17 (שׂ erroneously for ס).

שִׂכְלוּת Ecclesiastes 1:17 see סִכְלוּת.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root סָכַל (sakal), which means to be foolish or to act foolishly.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G2167 (εὐφραίνω, euphrainō): While not a direct translation of סִכְלוּת, this Greek term is related in the sense of contrasting joy or merriment with foolishness. In the New Testament, εὐφραίνω often denotes rejoicing or being glad, which can be seen as the positive counterpart to the negative connotations of folly. The use of joy in a righteous context stands in opposition to the destructive nature of foolishness.

Usage: The word סִכְלוּת (siklut) is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe foolish behavior or attitudes, often in contrast to wisdom and understanding. It is typically associated with actions or thoughts that are contrary to God's will or wisdom.

Context: • Occurrences in Scripture: The term סִכְלוּת (siklut) appears in several passages within the Hebrew Bible, often in wisdom literature such as Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. It is used to highlight the contrast between the wise and the foolish, emphasizing the consequences of folly.
• Theological Implications: In the biblical context, סִכְלוּת (siklut) is not merely a lack of intellectual capacity but is often tied to moral and spiritual dimensions. It reflects a departure from the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). The foolish person, characterized by סִכְלוּת, often rejects divine instruction and pursues paths that lead to ruin.
• Examples in Scripture:
• Ecclesiastes 10:1 (BSB): "As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor."
• Proverbs 14:24 (BSB): "The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools is folly."
• Moral and Ethical Lessons: The biblical portrayal of סִכְלוּת serves as a warning against the dangers of ignoring divine wisdom. It encourages believers to seek understanding and to live in accordance with God's commandments, avoiding the pitfalls of foolishness.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּסִכְל֔וּת בסכלות הַסִּכְל֑וּת הסכלות וְהַסִּכְל֖וּת וְסִכְל֑וּת וְשִׂכְל֑וּת והסכלות וסכלות ושכלות סִכְל֑וּת סִכְל֥וּת סכלות bə·siḵ·lūṯ besichLut bəsiḵlūṯ has·siḵ·lūṯ hassichLut hassiḵlūṯ sichLut siḵ·lūṯ siḵlūṯ vehassichLut vesichLut wə·has·siḵ·lūṯ wə·siḵ·lūṯ wə·śiḵ·lūṯ wəhassiḵlūṯ wəsiḵlūṯ wəśiḵlūṯ

Englishman's Concordance

Ecclesiastes 1:17
HEB: וְדַ֥עַת הוֹלֵל֖וֹת וְשִׂכְל֑וּת יָדַ֕עְתִּי שֶׁגַּם־
NAS: madness and folly; I realized
KJV: madness and folly: I perceived
INT: know madness and folly realized also

Ecclesiastes 2:3
HEB: בַּֽחָכְמָה֙ וְלֶאֱחֹ֣ז בְּסִכְל֔וּת עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁר־
NAS: and how to take hold of folly, until
KJV: and to lay hold on folly, till I might see
INT: wisely to take of folly against I

Ecclesiastes 2:12
HEB: חָכְמָ֔ה וְהוֹלֵל֖וֹת וְסִכְל֑וּת כִּ֣י ׀ מֶ֣ה
NAS: madness and folly; for what
KJV: and madness, and folly: for what [can] the man
INT: wisdom madness and folly for what

Ecclesiastes 2:13
HEB: לַֽחָכְמָ֖ה מִן־ הַסִּכְל֑וּת כִּֽיתְר֥וֹן הָא֖וֹר
NAS: excels folly as light
KJV: excelleth folly, as far as light
INT: wisdom at folly excels light

Ecclesiastes 7:25
HEB: רֶ֣שַׁע כֶּ֔סֶל וְהַסִּכְל֖וּת הוֹלֵלֽוֹת׃
KJV: of folly, even of foolishness [and] madness:
INT: the evil of folly of foolishness of madness

Ecclesiastes 10:1
HEB: מֵחָכְמָ֥ה מִכָּב֖וֹד סִכְל֥וּת מְעָֽט׃
NAS: so a little foolishness is weightier
KJV: [so doth] a little folly him that is in reputation
INT: wisdom honor foolishness A little

Ecclesiastes 10:13
HEB: דִּבְרֵי־ פִ֖יהוּ סִכְל֑וּת וְאַחֲרִ֣ית פִּ֔יהוּ
NAS: of his talking is folly and the end
KJV: of his mouth [is] foolishness: and the end
INT: of the words of his mouth is folly and the end of his talk

7 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5531
7 Occurrences

bə·siḵ·lūṯ — 1 Occ.
has·siḵ·lūṯ — 1 Occ.
siḵ·lūṯ — 2 Occ.
wə·has·siḵ·lūṯ — 1 Occ.
wə·śiḵ·lūṯ — 2 Occ.