Do you know someone who repeatedly repeats the same mistake but refuses to learn from the inevitable consequences? Do you know people who resist counsel?
People who ask for directions but repeatedly ignore what they’re told?
Or perhaps someone in your life loves to spout her opinions but resists listening to anyone else—especially anyone with biblical wisdom?
Hard as it is to say, we all have people who choose to live like the Bible’s description of fools.
What does the Bible say about fools, and how can it help us better interact with people? How can the biblical teaching about fools help us know how to interact with people in our lives? Better yet, how can it keep us from doing foolish things?
What Does the Bible Say Defines a Fool?
We know that God commands us to love others, serve them, and prayerfully present the gospel to all who don’t follow Jesus. So, we don’t often speak about fools or even use the word.
Fool is a harsh word and can be a harsh judgment, but the Bible uses some form of the word about 214 times in the NASB. It’s not a concept we should ignore.
We’re wisely cautious about calling names. Jesus warned about any of us calling someone a fool in anger (Matthew 5:22). God, however, can rightly judge a foolish heart. Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees they were fools (Matthew 23:17). He told a parable about prudent virgins or bridesmaids who prepared for the coming bridegroom and foolish ones who failed to prepare despite knowing their role.
Jesus warned that foolishness is a sin that comes from within a person’s heart in Mark 7:14-23. And He told a story about a rich man God called a fool in Luke 12:13-21. On the road to Emmaus, after He had risen, Jesus said, “You foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25), but then He instructed them to fill in their lack of knowledge.
In these examples, we can deduce that God views the following as examples of foolishness:
- harboring unbelief
- not preparing for Jesus’ return by entering a relationship with Him
- relying on our own righteousness
- indulging in sin
The Greek words used here are afrone (meaning acting without reason, reflection, or intelligence) and moros (meaning foolish, impious, or godless). It makes sense that in the New Testament, a fool is primarily someone who ignores Jesus—because, in the Old Testament, a fool ignores God’s ways, truth, or vision of how to live. Jesus is, after all, the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
In the Old Testament, the word most often translated as “fool” or at the root of words like foolish or foolishness in Hebrew is kᵊsîl (pronounced kes-eel), meaning “fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one.”
The Old Testament writers often contrasted the fool with the wise. The Hebrew word translated wise is often ḥāḵām, with a range of meanings skillful, wise, learned, shrewd, crafty, prudent, or ethically/morally wise.
For example, Ecclesiastes 10:2 says, “A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left.” This is simply to say that a foolish person chooses a way that completely opposes wisdom.
What Are the Behaviors of a Fool Listed in the Old Testament?
Foolish behavior isn’t hard to recognize for the most part. Here are some verses (as translated in the NASB) that describe the common behaviors of fools:
1. A fool doesn’t learn from her mistakes and often repeats them. “Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who repeats his folly” (Proverbs 26:11).
2. Fools speak nonsense, harbor sin in their hearts, and produce nothing of use for others. “For a fool speaks nonsense, and his heart inclines toward wickedness: To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the LORD, To keep the hungry person unsatisfied and to withhold drink from the thirsty.” (Isaiah 32:6).
3. A foolish person hates knowledge and scoffs when others try to educate them. “How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge?” (Proverbs 1:22)
4. Engaging in sin and wickedness is like a game to a fool. “Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, and so is wisdom to a man of understanding.” (Proverbs 10:23)
5. And fools love the sound of their own voices. Their opinions rule over all others. “A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind.” (Proverbs 18:2)
6. They do not control their anger. “A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back.” (Proverbs 29:11)
7. They create conflict. “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a dispute.” (Proverbs 15:18)
8. They reject God and His ways. “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good.” (Psalms 14:1)
I don’t know about you, but I’d be unhappy surrounded by foolish people. And God’s Word warns us that when we surround ourselves with fools in our closest relationships, we’ll suffer the consequences.
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)
That’s part of what makes fools dangerous. Their foolish ways seldom impact only their own lives.
What Does the Bible Say Makes Fools Dangerous?
In Ecclesiastes 10:1, the biblical writer makes the point that even a small amount of foolishness is potent and can outweigh a lot of wisdom:
“Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.”
In light of this, it’s imperative we recognize foolish behavior and be sure to steer clear of it in our lives and defend against it in others’ lives.
In Ecclesiastes 10, we find many warnings about the dangers of foolishness.
“There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler: foolishness is set in many exalted places while the rich sit in humble places.” (Ecclesiastes 10:5-6)
means that even rulers aren’t immune from being fools. In light of the previous proverbs, it’s easy to see the danger of being ruled by someone who hates knowledge, refuses to believe God, indulges in their anger, and sees wickedness as a sport.
Ecclesiastes 10:12-13 warns that foolish talk leads to foolish thinking and eventually to evil insanity.
“Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him; the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness.” We’ve all seen foolish talk get out of hand either in our lives or over social media. We’ve seen its potential for madness.
Foolish arguments produce quarrels, according to 2 Timothy 2:23.
“But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.”
Many Christians have experienced the energy-draining impact of quarrels and arguments over foolish topics. It depletes the church and saps energy for the gospel.
Foolishness will eventually lead to destruction and even death.
“For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them” (Proverbs 1:32).
How Does the Bible Say to Deal with Fools?
What can we do then? How will we respond if foolishness is so dangerous, but we encounter many who live this way?
First, we should avoid fools or minimize our time in their presence when possible. Proverbs 14:7 says, “Leave the presence of a fool, Or you will not discern words of knowledge.” In these days of 24/7 media, this may speak to being cautious about how much foolishness we allow into our days through various avenues. It also speaks to the wisdom of choosing friends, spouses, and churches who are not foolish and spend no time in foolish behaviors.
Second, we must use caution in crafting our response to foolishness. Fools often act angrily or without discretion, so it’s wise to refrain from responding in kind. Proverbs 26:4-5 offers dual wisdom about our response. “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.” In other words, we should not respond in anger but do respond with consequences and boundaries fitting to their foolishness. If foolish people are going to learn at all, it’s usually through suffering the natural outcomes of their actions.
Third, pray for them. Philippians 4:5-7 instructs us to let our gentleness or reasonableness be evident to all. Paul says not to be anxious but to pray in everything. We can pray for those who indulge in foolishness and ask God to correct them and bring them to salvation, restoring their right minds.
Finally, be watchful that we don’t engage in foolish behavior. In 1 Corinthians 10:12-15, Paul warns us that when we correct others, we must watch out that we don’t fall. He reminds us that God provides a way out no matter how we are tempted. He ends the passage by saying, “I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say.”
So, live as wise people of God with hearts open to instruction, correction, and belief in God’s ways. Set boundaries around the foolish and be cautious in their presence. Pray for them, always, that God will open their eyes and redeem their minds to know His truth and find salvation in Jesus.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Khosrork
This article is part of our Bible resource for understanding the significance and meaning of biblical phrases and ideas. Here are our most popular Bible articles to grow in your knowledge of God's Word:
Promises of God in the Bible
Is "This Too Shall Pass" in the Bible?
What Was the Ark of the Covenant?
Top 10 Bible Stories for Kids
“Iron Sharpens Iron” in Proverbs 27:17
"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made" in Psalm 139
“Be Still and Know That I am God” in Psalm 46:10
"No Weapon Formed Against Me Shall Prosper" - Isaiah 54:17
