סָכַל (sa.khal)
sa.khal
be foolish
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sakal describes a state of being foolish, but it carries a specific weight beyond simple lack of intelligence. In the Old Testament, it often denotes moral or spiritual folly rather than mere ignorance. This is evident in passages like Psalm 14:1, where the fool says in his heart that there is no God, highlighting a practical rejection of divine order.
The word appears in various verb stems to show different aspects of this folly. The Niphal stem indicates acting foolishly, while the Hiphil can mean causing someone else to act foolishly or playing the fool. Its usage in historical books like Samuel and prophetic texts like Isaiah often contrasts human pride with divine wisdom.
Etymologically, some scholars link sakal to a root meaning "to be simple" or "naive," suggesting that true folly stems from an inability to grasp deeper truths. This simplicity becomes dangerous when it leads to arrogance or denial of God’s authority. Translators typically render it as "foolish" or "act foolishly," capturing the behavioral aspect of the sin.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word sakal describes a specific kind of foolishness that goes beyond simple lack of intelligence. In Scripture, it often points to moral or spiritual folly, such as the denial of God’s authority or the rejection of His wisdom. This is not merely about being unintelligent; it is about a heart that has turned away from divine order. When we see this word in the Psalms or Prophets, it reminds us that true wisdom begins with acknowledging God's sovereignty.
For your daily life, this word invites honest self-reflection. We all have moments where pride or impatience leads us to act without considering God’s will. Recognizing these moments is not about condemnation but about returning to humility. It is an invitation to pause and ask for divine perspective when our own understanding feels limited or when we face difficult decisions that require more than human strategy.
Ultimately, this word highlights the contrast between human arrogance and God’s enduring wisdom. While we may make mistakes or act foolishly in our strength, God offers grace and correction. The path forward is not to hide our folly but to bring it into the light of His truth, allowing His wisdom to reshape our hearts and actions.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you have acted foolishly2×
- I have acted foolishly2×
- you have behaved foolishly1×
- make foolish1×
- he makes foolish1×
- I have behaved foolishly1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נִסְכַּ֖לְתִּי2×
- סַכֶּל\־1×
- נִסְכָּ֑לְתָּ1×
- נִסְכַּ֣לְתָּ1×
- יְשַׂכֵּֽל\׃1×
- הִסְכַּ֥לְתָּֽ1×
- הִסְכַּ֛לְתִּי1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 13:13
Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you; for now Yahweh would have established your kingdom on Israel forever.
This verse shows how acting foolishly involves directly disobeying a clear command from God, leading to significant consequences for leadership.
-
II Samuel 15:31
Someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
David’s prayer here demonstrates turning to God when facing betrayal, asking Him to turn the enemy's wise counsel into foolishness.
-
Isaiah 44:25
who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish;
This passage illustrates God’s power to frustrate human plans and turn the knowledge of the wise into folly when it opposes His purposes.