Words for Wisdom and Folly in Proverbs

Taken from Michael V. Fox, Proverbs 1-9. New York: Doubleday. pp.28-43.

 

 

Folly

 

  1. ba‘ar ra(Øab “ignoramus”  Associated with a beast.  More ignorance than sin.
  2. Êasar leb b×"l-rasAx “mindless, empty headed (person)”  Lacking the ability or willingness to make a prudent decision.
  3. ’ivvelet telåUi)ø “ folly, perverse folly”; ’evil lyéwE)  “fool, knave”  Having to do with the willful refusal to make moral choices.  Morally obtuse.  Can be immature waywardness and recalcitrance.                 ROOT: lw)
  4. kesilut tUlyis:K “stupidity, doltishness ” ; kesil lyØis:k “dolt, oaf”  Has to do with smug mental sloth.May be overcometence, trusts too much in own abilities. Smugness rather than inexperience.
  5. laîon }wocfl “scorn, insolence”; leî j"l “scornful, insolent person”  Often translated aroogant.  Tends to deride and mock others. Characterized by hybris.
  6. petayyut tUY)ft:p “callowness, naivit¾, gullibility, simple” ; peti )ft:p “callow, naïve, gullible (person), a simpleton” Not inheritantly culpable.          

ROOT: )tp (seduce, tempt)

  1. nabal lfbæn -- “scoundrel, ignoble disgraceful”; not a cognitive failing.  No perception of ethical or religious claims.

Wisdom

 

  1. binah hfnyib - “understanding”; mebin }yib"m - “discerning person”; nabon }Obæn - “astute, sensible person -- intellectual discernment and interpretation in words and deeds, includes reason   ROOT: }yb 
  2. da’at ta(Ùad - “knowledge”; yodea‘ (Ø"dOy -- “knowledgeable person”

Broadest of the terms, any cognition from minimal to deep.  “Knowledge of God” is an awareness of how God acts in human affairs and is available to and required of all.  Often synonymous with “wisdom.”          ROOT: (dy

  1. ‘eîah hfc"(- “planning, design”; yo‘eî - “advisor, planner” Deliberation, careful thinking and planning, the end and capacity for such activity           ROOT: hc(
  2. Êokmah hÛfm:kfx “expertise, wisdom”; Êakam {fkfxø “expert, wise person”  A high degree of knowledge and skill in any domain.  Can mean expertise.  Can vary from expertise in craft to knowledge to understanding to perceptiveness to skill to prudence to sagacity.  Has both an intellectual and moral quality.  Globally Êokmah is inherently righteous and effective.           ROOT: {kxø
  3. mezimmah - hfMéz:mø “shrewdness, circumspection, discretion  Involves planning, even scheming.  Hidden, private thinking.  Can be negative or positive.

ROOT: {mz

  1. muzar rasUm - “discipline, correction, chastisement, education” Teach to avoid faults, particularly moral faults.  The discipline of a superior. Can be the entire process of attaining wisdom.               ROOT: rsy (punish, inflict)
  2. ‘ormah hfm:rf( “cunning”; ‘arom {Orf( “cunning person”  The talent to devise and use adroit and wily tactics in attaining one’s goals.  Can mean cunning.         

ROOT: {r(

  1. íekel lekØ"& “discretion, good sense, discernment”; maíkil lyiK:&am “person of good sense”  Has to do with insight, the ability to grasp implications.       ROOT: lk&
  2. taÊbulot twÛoluB:xaT - “strategy, guidance”  Steering, navigation, knowing the ropes  Ethically neutral.        ROOT: leBex (rope)
  3. tebunah hØfnUb:T  “good sense, competence”; mebin $y×ib"m “intellget, sensible (person)” nabon }wèobæn ”sensible person”  More pragmatic and less conceptual than its root companion, binah.  Aims at efficacy and accomplishment.  It is know-how.                        ROOT: }yb 
  4. tuëiyyah hÕfYi$UT “resourcefulness, competence, wits”  Clear efficient thinking in the exercise of power.  Has to do with decisions and strategies.  Can be a form of counsel.                        ROOT: h$y