סֶכֶל
𐤎𐤊𐤋
çekel
H5529 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Intellectual capacity; understanding, insight, or prudence. While the term can refer to mental acumen and careful thought, it can also be employed ironically or negatively to describe lack of judgment or folly, depending on context. The primary lexical sense revolves around the concept of reasoned intelligence or discernment, but the word can be contextually nuanced to describe both wise understanding and, by implication or irony, foolishness.
Semantic Range
understanding, insight, prudence, intelligence, sense, practical wisdom; by implication or irony, folly, lack of sense
Root / Etymology
From the root סכל, which carries the sense of 'to be foolish, to act or judge unwisely.' The noun סֶכֶל is derived from this root but is lexically specialized to mean 'intelligence, understanding, prudence,' and in other contexts, 'folly' (particularly by implication, contrast, or negative context). Etymology is secure within the root family of ס-כ-ל.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, סֶכֶל predominantly refers to intelligence, insight, or practical understanding. It appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, notably in contexts that contrast wisdom (חָכְמָה) with foolishness, or that call for wise action (see, e.g., Ecclesiastes 2:21). Unlike the more common חָכְמָה (wisdom) and בִּינָה (understanding/discernment), סֶכֶל tends to carry a practical nuance of applied intellect, sometimes with an ironic edge highlighting a lack thereof. In post-biblical Hebrew and later Jewish literature, the semantic range of the root broadens, but in biblical usage the term 'silliness' or 'folly' is often contextually inferred rather than inherent. English translations frequently render סֶכֶל as 'sense,' 'understanding,' or 'prudence,' but sometimes as 'folly' where the context is pejorative or ironic. The term is rare in the biblical corpus, which also distinguishes it from the more pejorative אִוֶּלֶת (foolishness) or כְּסִיל (foolish person).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from סָכַל; silliness; concretely and collectively, dolts; folly.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סכל (s-k-l) — to lack understanding, to act unwisely, to be foolish
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5528 | סָכַל | you have acted foolishly |
| H5530 | סָכָל | a senseless man |
| H5531 | סִכְלוּת | in foolishness |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5529-01 |
הַ/סֶּ֔כֶל | hasekhel | HTd/Ncmsa |
folly | the discernment | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5529-01 |
Ecclesiastes 10:6 | הַ/סֶּ֔כֶל | hasekhel | HTd/Ncmsa |
folly | the discernment |