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אִוֶּלֶת

𐤀𐤅𐤋𐤕

ʼivveleth

H200 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אול to be foolish, to act imprudently

Definition

State or quality of being lacking in wisdom, sense, or moral insight; folly as expressed in thought or action, often marked by imprudent, reckless, or ethically deficient behavior. The term denotes not mere intellectual deficiency but encompasses moral shortsightedness and a disregard for prudent conduct. In some contexts, it also conveys the consequences or outcome of such folly, especially leading to ruin or shame.

Semantic Range

folly, foolishness, lack of wisdom, ethical shortsightedness, imprudence, reckless or senseless conduct, outcome or condition of being foolish, self-destructive behavior

Root / Etymology

Root: אול (ʼwl). The root meaning is 'to be foolish, to act without sense or prudence.' אִוֶּלֶת is the abstract noun form, signifying the quality or state derived from the action meaning of the root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical literature, אִוֶּלֶת is used to characterize not only intellectual deficiency but, more centrally, ethical or moral failings—especially as opposed to חָכְמָה (wisdom), which signals skill in living and right conduct. The term appears frequently in Proverbs, contrasting folly/ignorance with wisdom/discernment. In wisdom literature, 'folly' describes attitudes and behaviors considered destructive, unrighteous, or immature, rather than just lacking in education or cleverness. The notion contains both practical and ethical dimensions; a foolish action is one that ignores consequences, especially those related to covenantal and communal relationships. In narrative contexts, אִוֶּלֶת occasionally describes specific acts (e.g., reckless speech or conduct) that lead to harm, disgrace, or punishment. Later Hebrew (post-biblical) and translation tradition sometimes render the term as 'foolishness,' but English translations may miss the depth of its ethical and existential implications.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as אֱוִיל; silliness; folly, foolishly(-ness).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

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Root Family

אול (ʾ-w-l) — to be foolish, to act imprudently, to lack moral sense

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H177 אוּאֵל and Will-of-God
H191 אֱוִיל senseless man
H193 אוּל robust-bodied ones of
H196 אֱוִלִי foolish one
H197 אוּלָם yet indeed

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H200-04 אִוֶּֽלֶת ivelet HNcfsa folly reckless foolishness 15
H200-03 אִוַּלְתּ֣/וֹ ivaleto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his folly his foolishness 2
H200-05 כְּ/אִוַּלְתּ֑/וֹ keivaleto HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms according to his folly according to his folly 2
H200-08 וְ֝/אִוֶּ֗לֶת veivelet HC/Ncfsa but folly moral folly 2
H200-06 לְ/אִוַּלְתִּ֑/י leivaleti HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs my folly to my folly 1
H200-01 בְּ/אִוַּלְתּֽ/וֹ beivaleto HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms in his folly in his foolishness 1
H200-02 אִוַּלְתִּֽ/י ivaleti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my folly my foolishness 1
H200-07 בְ/אִוַּלְתּֽ/וֹ veivaleto HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms his folly his foolishness 1

Occurrences in Scripture

25 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H200-02 Psalms 38:6 אִוַּלְתִּֽ/י ivaleti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my folly my foolishness
H200-06 Psalms 69:6 לְ/אִוַּלְתִּ֑/י leivaleti HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs my folly to my folly
H200-03 Proverbs 5:23 אִוַּלְתּ֣/וֹ ivaleto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his folly his foolishness
H200-04 Proverbs 12:23 אִוֶּֽלֶת ivelet HNcfsa folly reckless foolishness
H200-04 Proverbs 13:16 אִוֶּֽלֶת ivelet HNcfsa folly reckless foolishness
H200-08 Proverbs 14:1 וְ֝/אִוֶּ֗לֶת veivelet HC/Ncfsa but folly moral folly
H200-08 Proverbs 14:8 וְ/אִוֶּ֖לֶת veivelet HC/Ncfsc but folly moral folly
H200-04 Proverbs 14:17 אִוֶּ֑לֶת ivelet HNcfsa foolishly reckless foolishness
H200-04 Proverbs 14:18 אִוֶּ֑לֶת ivelet HNcfsa foolishness reckless foolishness
H200-04 Proverbs 14:24 אִוֶּ֖לֶת ivelet HNcfsc the folly reckless foolishness
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