כְּסִיל (ke.sil)
ke.sil
fool
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 64 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun kesil describes a person who is not merely unintelligent, but morally and spiritually dull. It refers to a fool whose stubbornness prevents them from learning or changing their ways. In Proverbs, this figure is often contrasted with the wise person, highlighting a fundamental difference in how one responds to instruction and correction.
Unlike other words for foolishness that might imply ignorance, kesil carries a sense of arrogance and insolence. The lexical sources note its connection to being "fat," suggesting a sluggishness or self-sufficiency that resists growth. This character is depicted as someone who mocks wisdom rather than seeking it, as seen in the repeated warnings throughout Proverbs about the dangers of associating with such individuals.
Interestingly, the same word appears in poetic texts like Job and Amos to name a constellation, likely Orion. Ancient translators understood this celestial "fool" or giant as a symbol of impious power bound by God. This dual usage underscores the biblical view that true folly is not just a lack of intellect, but a rebellion against divine order.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word kesil points to more than simple ignorance; it describes a stubborn heart that refuses wisdom. This kind of foolishness is not an accident but a choice, marked by arrogance and a resistance to correction. When we encounter this spirit in ourselves or others, it reveals how far we have drifted from the humility required to learn.
Scripture invites us to examine our own hearts before judging those who seem lost in their ways. The path of wisdom begins with admitting what we do not know and remaining open to instruction. This posture protects us from the self-destruction that comes when pride blocks the way to growth.
May you find strength in the counsel of the wise and grace for those who still struggle to see. True understanding is a gift received through a quiet, teachable spirit rather than earned by stubborn independence.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 64 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a fool21×
- fools17×
- the/ fool6×
- and/ a fool5×
- for/ a fool3×
- [is] a fool3×
- and/ fools2×
- and/ O fools2×
- [belongs] to/ a fool2×
- to/ a fool1×
- and/ the/ fool1×
- among <the>/ fools1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לִ/כְסִ֣יל5×
- כְּסִילִ֣ים4×
- כְּסִ֑יל4×
- כְּ֝סִ֗יל4×
- כְ֭סִיל4×
- וּ֝/כְסִילִ֗ים4×
- כְּסִילִֽים\׃3×
- כְּ֭סִיל3×
- כְּ֝סִילִ֗ים3×
- כְּסִילִ֖ים2×
- כְּסִ֖יל2×
- כְסִילִֽים\׃2×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 1:22
“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
This verse highlights the deliberate rejection of knowledge, showing that the fool actively hates wisdom rather than merely missing it.
-
Proverbs 17:10
A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.
The text contrasts how rebuke affects a wise person versus a fool, illustrating that the latter remains unaffected by correction.
-
Psalms 94:8
Consider, you senseless among the people; you fools, when will you be wise?
A direct address to the senseless, this verse questions when such stubbornness will ever yield to true understanding.