Stupidity
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Topical Encyclopedia
Stupidity, as understood in the biblical context, often refers to a lack of wisdom, discernment, or understanding, particularly in spiritual or moral matters. The Bible frequently contrasts wisdom with folly, highlighting the consequences of living without regard for God's guidance and truth.

Old Testament References

The concept of stupidity is closely related to folly in the Old Testament. The Book of Proverbs, a key source of wisdom literature, frequently addresses the foolishness of ignoring divine instruction. Proverbs 12:1 states, "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid." This verse underscores the importance of being open to correction and learning, as opposed to stubbornly persisting in ignorance.

In Proverbs 14:7, the text advises, "Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech." Here, the association of foolishness with a lack of valuable knowledge is evident, warning believers to avoid the influence of those who reject wisdom.

The Psalms also touch on this theme. Psalm 92:6 declares, "A senseless man does not know, and a fool does not understand." This verse highlights the spiritual blindness that accompanies a rejection of God's wisdom, emphasizing the importance of seeking understanding through a relationship with the Lord.

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul addresses the issue of spiritual ignorance in his letters. In Romans 1:21-22, Paul writes, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools." This passage illustrates the self-deception and moral decline that result from turning away from God.

The teachings of Jesus also highlight the dangers of spiritual stupidity. In Matthew 7:26, Jesus warns, "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." This parable emphasizes the importance of not only hearing God's word but also acting upon it, as failure to do so leads to ruin.

Moral and Spiritual Implications

Stupidity, in the biblical sense, is not merely an intellectual deficiency but a moral and spiritual failing. It is characterized by a refusal to acknowledge God's sovereignty and a neglect of His commandments. This condition leads to destructive behaviors and ultimately, separation from God.

The Bible encourages believers to seek wisdom and understanding through a relationship with God. Proverbs 9:10 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." This verse encapsulates the biblical remedy for stupidity: a reverent and obedient relationship with God, which leads to true wisdom and understanding.

Practical Application

Believers are called to pursue wisdom diligently, as outlined in James 1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." This promise assures Christians that God is willing to provide the wisdom needed to navigate life's challenges.

In summary, the Bible presents stupidity as a serious spiritual issue, urging believers to seek wisdom through God's word and to live in accordance with His will. By doing so, they can avoid the pitfalls of folly and experience the fullness of life that comes from walking in God's truth.
Topical Bible Verses
2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Topicalbible.org

James 2:14
What does it profit, my brothers, though a man say he has faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Topicalbible.org

Revelation 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Topicalbible.org

1 Corinthians 15:39
All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
Topicalbible.org

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) The quality or state of being stupid; extreme dullness of perception or understanding; insensibility; sluggishness.

2. (n.) Stupor; astonishment; stupefaction.

Greek
3474. moros -- dull, stupid, foolish
... flat/insipid" (, 1062). 3474 () is used ironically of stupidity in 1 Cor
1;25,27, 3:18.]. Word Origin a prim. word Definition dull ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3474.htm - 7k

4457. porosis -- a covering with a callous, fig. blindness
... callousness, blindness, hardness. From poroo; stupidity or callousness -- blindness,
hardness. see GREEK poroo. (porosei) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4457.htm - 7k

454. anoia -- folly, foolishness
... folly, madness. From a compound of a (as a negative particle) and nous; stupidity;
by implication, rage -- folly, madness. see GREEK a. see GREEK nous. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/454.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
3689. kesel -- loins, stupidity, confidence
... 3688, 3689. kesel. 3690 . loins, stupidity, confidence. Transliteration:
kesel Phonetic Spelling: (keh'-sel) Short Definition: loins. ...
/hebrew/3689.htm - 6k

3687. kesiluth -- stupidity
... 3686, 3687. kesiluth. 3688 . stupidity. Transliteration: kesiluth Phonetic
Spelling: (kes-eel-ooth') Short Definition: folly. Word ...
/hebrew/3687.htm - 6k

3690. kislah -- stupidity, confidence
... 3689, 3690. kislah. 3691 . stupidity, confidence. Transliteration: kislah
Phonetic Spelling: (kis-law') Short Definition: confidence. ...
/hebrew/3690.htm - 6k

6580. pash -- extremity
... extremity Probably from an unused root meaning to disintegrate; stupidity (as a
result of grossness or of degeneracy) -- extremity. 6579, 6580. pash. 6581 ...
/hebrew/6580.htm - 5k

Library

The Stupidity of Godlessness
... THE STUPIDITY OF GODLESSNESS. 'The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's
crib: but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider.'"Isaiah 1:3. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the stupidity of godlessness.htm

The Cause of Spiritual Stupidity.
... THE CAUSE OF SPIRITUAL STUPIDITY. 'How is it that ye do not understand?'"
Mark 8:21. After feeding the four thousand with seven ...
/.../macdonald/unspoken sermons/the cause of spiritual stupidity.htm

But Here Stupidity Has Proceeded to Such a Length as to Give a ...
... Of Prayer. John Calvin Chapter 22 But here stupidity has proceeded to such
a length as to give a manifestation of? But here stupidity ...
/.../of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 22 but here stupidity.htm

Letter vi. --Fear of Wasting Time.
... 3rd. The rule of faith must be also taken, by which to form a judgment about
the stupidity you have experienced for some time past. ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter vi fear of wasting time.htm

Letter ii. --Good Symptoms.
... The slight distraction and diminution of peace that you experienced directly you
left this state of stupidity for a short time ought to have shown you what ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter ii good symptoms.htm

The Title "Word" is to be Interpreted by the Same Method as the ...
... are not consistent, and do not, as in the case of the other titles, search out what
is behind the meaning of the term "Word." I wonder at the stupidity of the ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/23 the title word is.htm

Lo, if Some one were to Place Before You Copper in the Lump...
... What stupidity it is"for I refuse to call it blindness"to suppose that the natures
of things are changed by the kind of form into which they are forced ...
/.../arnobius/the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/15 lo if some one.htm

Celsus, in the Next Place, as one who Has Heard the Subject of ...
... and those thoughts that are wonderful""humbles himself under the mighty hand of
God." If there are some, however, who through their stupidity [4362] have not ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xv celsus in the.htm

Meanwhile a Somewhat Embarrassing Interview had Taken Place ...
... foresight of an ancient Egyptian sorcerer was in the composition of the Archbishop
himself, for he judged mankind alone by its general stupidity and credulity ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/iii meanwhile a somewhat embarrassing.htm

Degrees of Glory in Heaven.
... enjoy worthily what they know not; both from their want of knowledge how to use
the good things given them, and from their excessive stupidity, being ignorant ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xiv degrees of glory in.htm

Thesaurus
Stupidity (1 Occurrence)
... insensibility; sluggishness. 2. (n.) Stupor; astonishment; stupefaction.
Multi-Version Concordance Stupidity (1 Occurrence). Ecclesiastes 7 ...
/s/stupidity.htm - 7k

Stupid (20 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Resulting from, or evincing, stupidity; formed without skill or genius;
dull; heavy; -- said of things. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/s/stupid.htm - 11k

Stupor (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Intellectual insensibility; moral stupidity; heedlessness or inattention
to one's interests. Multi-Version Concordance Stupor (5 Occurrences). ...
/s/stupor.htm - 8k

Laodiceans (2 Occurrences)
... It is quite harmless, so far as falsity and stupidity combined can ever be regarded
as harmless" (Lightfoot, in the work quoted 282). See APOCRYPHAL EPISTLES. ...
/l/laodiceans.htm - 28k

Insensibility (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) Want of tenderness or susceptibility of emotion or passion; dullness; stupidity.
Multi-Version Concordance Insensibility (1 Occurrence). ...
/i/insensibility.htm - 7k

Folly (68 Occurrences)
... strife (Proverbs 11:29; Proverbs 14:17 'iwweleth; 29:9); unrestrained in his anger
(Job 5:2 Proverbs 17:12); silly, stupid even with brute stupidity (Proverbs 7 ...
/f/folly.htm - 39k

Rouse (25 Occurrences)
... 6. (v.) To excite to lively thought or action from a state of idleness, languor,
stupidity, or indifference; as, to rouse the faculties, passions, or emotions. ...
/r/rouse.htm - 14k

Dullness (1 Occurrence)
... (n.) The state of being dull; slowness; stupidity; heaviness; drowsiness; bluntness;
obtuseness; dimness; want of luster; want of vividness, or of brightness. ...
/d/dullness.htm - 6k

Ass (95 Occurrences)
... long ears. The tame or domestic ass is patient, slow, and sure-footed,
and has become the type of obstinacy and stupidity. There ...
/a/ass.htm - 48k

Awake (83 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To rouse from a state resembling sleep, as from death, stupidity., or inaction;
to put into action; to give new life to; to stir up; as, to awake the ...
/a/awake.htm - 33k

Resources
What does the Bible say about ignorance? | GotQuestions.org

Why did Jesus warn against saying the word 'raca' in Matthew 5:22? | GotQuestions.org

Was Martin Luther anti-Semitic? | GotQuestions.org

Stupidity: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Stupidity (1 Occurrence)

Ecclesiastes 7:25
I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.
(WEB NIV)

Subtopics

Stupidity

Related Terms

Stupidity (1 Occurrence)

Up (25836 Occurrences)

Relapse (1 Occurrence)

Astonishment (51 Occurrences)

Affright (10 Occurrences)

Sturdiest (1 Occurrence)

Stupid (20 Occurrences)

Sturdy (3 Occurrences)

Stir (57 Occurrences)

Drunkenness (10 Occurrences)

Written (323 Occurrences)

Ears (449 Occurrences)

Stupid
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