Lexical Summary pethiyyuth: Simplicity, Naivety Original Word: פְתַיּוּת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance simple From pthiy; silliness (i.e. Seducibility) -- simple. see HEBREW pthiy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pathah Definition simplicity NASB Translation naive (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְּתַיּוּת id. Proverbs 9:13 (Toy conjectures מְפַתָּה). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Connotation פְתַיּוּת describes a moral and intellectual shallowness marked by gullibility, inexperience, and lack of discernment. It is not mere childlike simplicity but a culpable refusal to pursue understanding, leaving the heart open to seductive voices that oppose the fear of the LORD. Old Testament Occurrence Proverbs 9:13 presents Folly as an unruly woman whose dominant trait is פְתַיּוּת: “The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing”. The single use is strategic, anchoring the final contrast in the opening section of Proverbs (chapters 1–9) between personified Wisdom and Folly. Wisdom has built her house (Proverbs 9:1); Folly occupies the same social space but offers only empty promises. פְתַיּוּת is thus set in deliberate antithesis to the “fear of the LORD” that “is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Cultural and Literary Background In ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature, personification was a didactic tool. Hebrew sages employ it to place abstract qualities on the street where every listener walks. By branding Folly with פְתַיּוּת, the inspired author exposes the seductiveness of ignorance wrapped in noise and bravado. The setting—a public place where the simple pass by—mirrors real markets and city gates, places of commerce, justice, and conversation. There, naïveté can be exploited by idolatry, unjust gain, or illicit sexuality, all of which Proverbs warns against. Theological Significance 1. Moral culpability: פְתַיּוּת is never excused; it is a failure to heed revealed wisdom (Proverbs 1:22–23). Relation to the Broader Canon While the noun appears once, its concept reappears through synonyms and themes. Ecclesiastes 10:1–3 depicts the fool’s lack of reason. Jesus warns of the blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:14), paralleling the peril of פְתַיּוּת. Paul urges believers to “stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20), echoing Proverbs’ call to abandon naïveté. Christological Perspective Christ embodies the wisdom Folly caricatures. “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24) exposes the bankruptcy of פְתַיּוּת and invites all to a wisdom that is “from above” (James 3:17). Discipleship in Christ therefore entails intentional rejection of naïveté through Spirit-guided renewal of the mind (Romans 12:2). Ministry Application • Preaching and Teaching: Use Proverbs 9 to contrast the invitations of Wisdom and Folly, pressing hearers toward deliberate pursuit of biblical discernment. Practical Exhortations 1. Cultivate Fear of the LORD: Reverence for God is the antidote to פְתַיּוּת. In a world filled with voices that entice the undiscerning, the solitary appearance of פְתַיּוּת in Scripture stands as a beacon, warning of the peril of complacent ignorance and inviting every reader into the rich, covenantal wisdom found in the fear of the LORD and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations פְּ֝תַיּ֗וּת פתיות pə·ṯay·yūṯ petaiYut pəṯayyūṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 9:13 HEB: כְּ֭סִילוּת הֹֽמִיָּ֑ה פְּ֝תַיּ֗וּת וּבַל־ יָ֥דְעָה NAS: is boisterous, [She is] naive and knows KJV: [is] clamorous: [she is] simple, and INT: of folly is boisterous naive and and knows 1 Occurrence |
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