Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical context, the term "foolishly" is often associated with actions or decisions that are contrary to wisdom, righteousness, and the fear of the Lord. The Bible frequently contrasts the wise with the foolish, emphasizing the moral and spiritual implications of foolish behavior.Old Testament References The concept of acting foolishly is prevalent in the Old Testament, particularly in the wisdom literature. In Proverbs, foolishness is depicted as a lack of understanding and discernment. Proverbs 14:16 states, "A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless." Here, acting foolishly is associated with a disregard for the consequences of one's actions and a failure to avoid evil. In 1 Samuel 13:13 , the prophet Samuel rebukes King Saul for acting foolishly by not keeping the commandment of the Lord: "You have acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time." Saul's foolishness is characterized by disobedience to God's direct command, resulting in severe consequences for his reign. New Testament References The New Testament continues to address the theme of foolishness, often in the context of spiritual understanding and readiness. In Matthew 7:26 , Jesus warns against hearing His words and not acting on them: "But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand." Here, foolishness is equated with a lack of spiritual foundation and preparedness. The Apostle Paul also addresses foolishness in his epistles. In Galatians 3:1 , he admonishes the Galatians for their lack of discernment: "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes, Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified." Paul uses the term "foolish" to describe their susceptibility to false teachings and their departure from the truth of the Gospel. Theological Implications From a theological perspective, acting foolishly is often linked to a rejection of divine wisdom and guidance. The fear of the Lord is described as the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), and thus, foolishness is seen as a departure from a life that honors God. The Bible consistently encourages believers to seek wisdom and understanding, which are rooted in a relationship with God and adherence to His commandments. Foolishness is not merely intellectual deficiency but a moral and spiritual failing. It reflects a heart that is not aligned with God's will and purposes. The Scriptures call believers to pursue wisdom, which leads to life and blessing, in contrast to the path of foolishness, which leads to destruction and loss. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (adv.) In a foolish manner.Greek 877. aphrosune -- foolishness ... folly, foolishly. From aphron; senselessness, ie (euphemistically) egotism; (morally) recklessness -- folly, foolishly(-ness). see GREEK aphron. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/877.htm - 6k 5397. phluaros -- babbling Strong's Hebrew 5528. sakal -- to be foolish or a fool... 5527b, 5528. sakal. 5529 . to be foolish or a fool. Transliteration: sakal Phonetic Spelling: (saw-kal') Short Definition: foolishly. Word Origin a prim. ... /hebrew/5528.htm - 6k 2973. yaal -- to be foolish 1891. habal -- to act emptily, become vain 200. ivveleth -- folly 8604. tiphlah -- unsavoriness, unseemliness 5039. nebalah -- senselessness, disgrace 5034. nabel -- to be senseless or foolish Library In Opposition to those who Foolishly Imagine that Christ Converted ... That we must not Speak Foolishly and Offensively. The Pythagoreans and Stoics, While they Hold the Immortality of ... Socrates had More Knowledge in Philosophy than Other Men, Although ... That Lucretius and Others have Erred, and Cicero Himself, in ... Examples of True Eloquence Drawn from the Epistles of Paul and the ... Book viii. The Blessed Apostle Paul in Laying Down the Form for ... Beware of False Doctrines. The Uses of the Law In the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, Again... Thesaurus Foolishly (20 Occurrences)...Foolishly (20 Occurrences). 2 Corinthians 11:17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. ... /f/foolishly.htm - 12k Dote (1 Occurrence) Acted (98 Occurrences) Foolish (259 Occurrences) Devices (43 Occurrences) Prate (1 Occurrence) Beseech (85 Occurrences) Beg (77 Occurrences) Foolishness (30 Occurrences) Sinned (156 Occurrences) Resources Can restoration occur after a pastor has been caught in a scandal? | GotQuestions.orgSummary of the Book of 1 Samuel - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org What are practical ways to depend on God alone? | GotQuestions.org Foolishly: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Foolishly (20 Occurrences)2 Corinthians 11:17 2 Corinthians 11:21 2 Corinthians 11:23 1 Timothy 5:13 Genesis 31:28 Numbers 12:11 1 Samuel 13:13 1 Samuel 26:21 2 Samuel 24:10 1 Chronicles 21:8 2 Chronicles 16:9 Job 1:22 Job 27:12 Psalms 75:4 Proverbs 14:17 Proverbs 17:12 Proverbs 20:19 Proverbs 30:32 Isaiah 19:13 Jeremiah 29:23 Subtopics Related Terms |