The term "sottish" is an archaic English word that describes someone as foolish or lacking in good sense. In the context of the Bible, it is often used to characterize individuals or groups who act unwisely, particularly in their spiritual or moral decisions. The word is derived from the Middle English "sott," meaning a fool or a drunkard, and it carries connotations of senselessness and irrationality.

Biblical Usage and Context

While the specific term "sottish" does not appear in the Berean Standard Bible, the concept is present throughout Scripture, often associated with folly and a rejection of divine wisdom. The Bible frequently contrasts the wise, who fear the Lord and follow His commandments, with the foolish, who disregard God's guidance and pursue their own understanding.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, the prophets often lament the foolishness of the people of Israel, who turn away from God despite His continuous guidance and provision. Jeremiah, in particular, uses language that aligns with the concept of being "sottish." In Jeremiah 4:22 , the prophet declares, "For My people are fools; they do not know Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they do not know how to do good." This verse highlights the spiritual folly of the Israelites, who have become adept at sinning but lack the wisdom to pursue righteousness.

Similarly, in Jeremiah 5:21 , the prophet calls out, "Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear." Here, the term "senseless" captures the essence of being "sottish," as it describes a willful ignorance and a refusal to heed God's word.

Wisdom Literature

The wisdom literature of the Bible, particularly the Book of Proverbs, frequently addresses the theme of folly. Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." This verse underscores the biblical view that true wisdom begins with reverence for God, while folly, akin to being "sottish," is marked by a rejection of divine instruction.

Proverbs 12:15 further illustrates this contrast: "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel." The "sottish" individual is self-deceived, believing in the correctness of their own path, while the wise person seeks and heeds wise counsel.

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, the theme of folly continues, particularly in the teachings of Jesus and the writings of the apostles. Jesus often rebukes the religious leaders of His time for their spiritual blindness and lack of understanding. In Matthew 23:17 , He calls them "blind fools," highlighting their inability to perceive the truth despite their religious knowledge.

The Apostle Paul also addresses the concept of spiritual folly in his epistles. In 1 Corinthians 1:18 , he writes, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." Here, Paul contrasts the world's perception of the Gospel as foolishness with the believer's recognition of its divine power, illustrating the spiritual blindness of those who reject Christ.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, being "sottish" is not merely an intellectual deficiency but a spiritual condition. It reflects a heart that is hardened against God and His truth. The Bible consistently calls individuals to seek wisdom, which begins with the fear of the Lord and is manifested in obedience to His word. The "sottish" person, in contrast, is characterized by a stubborn refusal to acknowledge God's authority and a preference for their own flawed understanding.

In summary, while the term "sottish" itself may not appear in modern translations like the Berean Standard Bible, its essence is woven throughout Scripture, serving as a warning against the perils of spiritual folly and a call to pursue the wisdom that comes from God alone.(a.) Like a sot; doltish; very foolish; drunken.SOTTISH

sot'-ish (cakhal "thick-headed"): "They are sottish (stupid, very foolish) children" (Jeremiah 4:22).

5530. sakal -- a fool
... stupid (1). foolish, sottish. From cakal; silly -- fool(-ish), sottish. see
HEBREW cakal. 5529, 5530. sakal. 5531 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5530.htm - 6k

Psalm 115:2. Second Metre. As the New Tune of the 50Th Psalm. ...
... neither sees nor hears: Their hands are helpless, nor their feet can move, They
have no speech, nor thought, nor power, nor love; Yet sottish mortals make ...
/.../watts/the psalms of david/psalm 115 2 0 second metre as.htm

That those who Complain of Christianity Really Desire to Live ...
... that is to say, with moderation, sobriety, temperance, and piety; for your purpose
rather is to run riot in an endless variety of sottish pleasures, and thus ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 30 that those who complain.htm

Psalm 115 to the Tune of the 50Th Psalm.
... They have no speech, nor thought, nor power, nor love; Yet sottish mortals make
their long complaints. To their deaf idols and their moveless saints. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 115 to the tune.htm

Sunday after Ascension Day
... He who is not careful to discharge the obligations of his office or station with
temperance and sobriety, but is daily in a sottish condition, is incapable of ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/sunday after ascension day.htm

How Upon the Death of Jotham, Ahaz Reigned in his Stead; against ...
... Now this king was so sottish and thoughtless of what was for his own good, that
he would not leave off worshipping the Syrian gods when he was beaten by them ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 12 how upon the.htm

Of Boasting.
... 6. And yet so sottish a vice is Pride, that it can make even those insidious Flatteries
matter of boast, which is a much more irrational object of it than the ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section ix of boasting.htm

Dwight -- the Sovereignty of God
... A child enters the world in China; and unites, as a thing of course, with
his sottish countrymen in the stupid worship of the idol Fo. ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/dwight the sovereignty of.htm

Of Love to God
... What loadstone so powerful to draw love, as the blessed Deity? He is blind whom
beauty does not tempt, he is sottish who is not drawn with the cords of love. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/of love to god.htm

Chapter eleven
... The transformation of these coarse, brutal, sottish lives into praying, rapturous
lovers of Christ, struck Rachel and Virginia every time with the feeling that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter eleven.htm

Matt. Ii. 2
... And the mother of poets, and wise men, and magicians, [358] were but inventions
of sottish old women, but the real philosophy, and worthy of heaven, is this ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily viii matt ii 2.htm

Sottish (2 Occurrences)
...SOTTISH. sot'-ish (cakhal "thick-headed"): "They are sottish (stupid, very foolish)
children" (Jeremiah 4:22). Multi-Version Concordance Sottish (2 Occurrences) ...
/s/sottish.htm - 7k

So'tai (2 Occurrences)
So'tai. Sotai, So'tai. Sottish . Multi-Version Concordance So'tai (2 Occurrences).
Ezra ... RSV). Sotai, So'tai. Sottish . Reference Bible.
/s/so'tai.htm - 6k

Intelligence (45 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 4:22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish
children, and they have no intelligence; they are wise to do evil, but to do ...
/i/intelligence.htm - 19k

Sought (199 Occurrences)

/s/sought.htm - 37k

Sottish: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus