סָכָל (sa.khal)
sa.khal
fool
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Definition
Definition
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word סָכָל describes more than simple ignorance; it points to a moral blindness where one rejects divine wisdom in daily life. In Ecclesiastes, we see this as a tragic reality: even the wise eventually face the same end as the fool, reminding us that earthly success is fleeting without God. It challenges us to consider what truly matters when our own understanding fails.
In Jeremiah, the term carries heavier weight, describing people who are skillful at evil yet unable to do good because they have forgotten God. This word invites honest self-reflection. We all have moments of confusion or pride, but recognizing our need for guidance is the first step toward true wisdom. May we seek understanding that endures beyond temporary circumstances.
Ultimately, this word highlights the value of humility. Instead of relying on our own limited perspective, we are invited to trust in a wisdom that surpasses human calculation. It offers comfort that our struggles with understanding are shared by many, and that God’s insight is available to those who ask for it with a sincere heart.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a fool2×
- like/ when/ a fool1×
- fools1×
- fool1×
- and/ the/ fool1×
- [is] a fool1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- סָכָ֥ל1×
- סָכָ֖ל1×
- סָכָ֔ל1×
- סָכָ֑ל1×
- סְכָלִים֙1×
- כְּ/שֶׁ/סָּכָ֥ל1×
- וְ/הַ/סָּכָ֖ל1×
Key Verses
-
Ecclesiastes 2:19
Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
This verse highlights the shared human fate of both the wise and the fool, emphasizing the vanity of earthly labor without divine perspective.
-
Jeremiah 4:22
“For my people are foolish. They don’t know me. They are foolish children, and they have no understanding. They are skillful in doing evil, but they don’t know how to do good.”
Here the word describes a spiritual condition where people actively choose evil while remaining ignorant of God’s will.
-
Ecclesiastes 10:3
Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
The fool’s lack of understanding is revealed publicly, showing how poor judgment affects one’s witness to others.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word סָכָל mean?
Is being called a fool in the Bible about intelligence?
How is this word used in Ecclesiastes?
Every Occurrence (6 verses across 2 books)
Ecclesiastes 4 verses
Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored,…
Ecclesiastes 7:17Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?
Ecclesiastes 10:3Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
Ecclesiastes 10:14A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?