Hebrew noun (masculine) · H3684
כְּסִיל
kesilkes-eel'
fool
70 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key
Concordance spelling: kᵉçîyl
Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H3684is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.
- 3 of 39Old Testament books
- 32spellings
The definition in full
Strong's key (1890) · H3684
properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly
The King James renders it: fool(-ish).
James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.
Summary
kesil is rendered "fool". It stands 70 times in the Hebrew text, across three books.
- Forty-nine of the uses stand in Proverbs, more than in any other book.
- Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Psalms 49:10For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.
- The Greek text spells it thirty-two different ways.
The first use
For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.
Psalms 49:10כְּסִ֣יל
The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.
Where the word stands
Forty-nine of the word's seventy uses are in Proverbs.
What the word means
Each meaning, and the words it is translated by
How the Greek text is glossed, word by word
- a fool26
- fools17
- and a fool6
- the fool6
- for a fool3
- to a fool3
- and fools2
- and O fools2
- the fools2
- among the fools1
- and the fool1
- in the fools1
The words built on the same word-part
Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.
| Word | Written | Meaning | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| כְּסַף | kesaph | silver | Uses13 |
| כְּסוּת | kesuth | covering | Uses8 |
| כְּסִיל | Kesil | Orion | Uses4 |
| כְּסִילוּת | kesiluth | stupidity | Uses1 |
Other numbers on this spelling
Strong gave these words the same spelling and different numbers, so the site counts and defines them apart.
The words it stands beside
All 70, in canonical order
Every use, in order
Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.
32 spellings and their grammar
STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.
How it is spelled
- לִכְסִ֣יל5
- וּ֝כְסִילִ֗ים4
- כְ֭סִיל4
- כְּ֝סִ֗יל4
- כְּסִ֑יל4
- כְּסִילִ֣ים4
- וּ֝כְסִ֗יל3
- כְּ֭סִיל3
- כְּסִ֖יל3
- כְּ֝סִילִ֗ים3
- כְּסִילִֽים׃3
- הַכְּסִיל֙2
and 20 more spellings in the ledger below.
The grammar of each form
- adjective · masculine singular26HAamsa
- adjective · masculine plural17HAampa
- conjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine singular6HC/Aamsa
- preposition + adjective · masculine singular6HR/Aamsa
- the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singular6HTd/Aamsa
- conjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine plural4HC/Aampa
- preposition with the article + adjective · masculine plural2HRd/Aampa
- the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine plural2HTd/Aampa
- conjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singular1HC/Td/Aamsa
Psalms
three uses
For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.
- כְּסִ֣ילkesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
A senseless man does not know, and a fool does not understand,
- וּ֝כְסִ֗ילukhesilconjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: and a fool
Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?
- וּ֝כְסִילִ֗יםukhesilimconjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine pluraltagged: and O fools
Proverbs
forty-nine uses
“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
- וּ֝כְסִילִ֗יםukhesilimconjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine pluraltagged: and fools
For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
- כְּסִילִ֣יםkesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.
- וּ֝כְסִילִ֗יםukhesilimconjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine pluraltagged: and fools
O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
- וּ֝כְסִילִ֗יםukhesilimconjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine pluraltagged: and O fools
The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
- כְּ֝סִ֗ילkesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
- כְסִֽיל׃khesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.
- לִ֭כְסִילlikhsilpreposition + adjective · masculine singulartagged: for a fool
A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.
- כְּ֝סִילִ֗יםkesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
- וּ֝כְסִ֗ילukhesilconjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: and a fool
Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools.
- כְּ֝סִילִ֗יםkesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
- כְסִילִ֣יםkhesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.
- כְּסִ֑ילkesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
- כְּסִילִ֣יםkesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
- וּ֝כְסִ֗ילukhesilconjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: and a fool
The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly.
- כְּסִילִ֣יםkesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; even among fools she is known.
- כְּ֝סִילִ֗יםkesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
- כְ֝סִילִ֗יםkhesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.
- כְּסִילִ֣יםkesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
- כְ֝סִילִ֗יםkhesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
- וּכְסִ֥ילukhesilconjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: and a fool
A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
- כְּסִ֣ילkesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
- כְּ֝סִ֗ילkesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
- כְּסִ֑ילkesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
- כְּ֭סִילkesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
- כְ֝סִ֗ילkhesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
- כְּסִ֑ילkesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
- כְּ֭סִילkesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
- כְ֭סִילkhesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
- כְ֭סִילkhesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
- כְסִֽיל׃khesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
Luxury is unseemly for a fool—how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
- לִכְסִ֣ילlikhsilpreposition + adjective · masculine singulartagged: for a fool
A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.
- כְּסִ֑ילkesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
- כְּסִילִֽים׃kesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
- וּכְסִ֖ילukhesilconjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: and a fool
Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
- כְ֭סִילkhesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
- לִכְסִ֣ילlikhsilpreposition + adjective · masculine singulartagged: for a fool
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
- כְּסִילִֽים׃kesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
- כְּ֭סִילkesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
- כְ֭סִילkhesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
- כְּסִֽיל׃kesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
- כְסִילִֽים׃khesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
- לִכְסִ֣ילlikhsilpreposition + adjective · masculine singulartagged: to a fool
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
- כְסִילִֽים׃khesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
- כְּ֝סִ֗ילkesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
- כְּ֝סִ֗ילkesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- לִכְסִ֣ילlikhsilpreposition + adjective · masculine singulartagged: to a fool
He who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.
- כְסִ֑ילkhesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.
- כְסִ֑ילkhesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- לִכְסִ֣ילlikhsilpreposition + adjective · masculine singulartagged: to a fool
Ecclesiastes
eighteen uses
The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both.
- וְהַכְּסִ֖ילvehakesilconjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: and the fool
So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” And I said to myself that this too is futile.
- הַכְּסִיל֙hakesilthe definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the fool
For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!
- הַכְּסִ֖ילhakesilthe definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the fool
- הַכְּסִֽיל׃hakesilthe definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the fool
The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
- הַכְּסִיל֙hakesilthe definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the fool
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.
- וּכְסִ֔ילukhesilconjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: and a fool
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
- הַכְּסִילִ֖יםhakesilimthe definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine pluraltagged: the fools
As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.
- כְּסִ֖ילkesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow.
- בַּכְּסִילִ֑יםbakesilimpreposition with the article + adjective · masculine pluraltagged: in the fools
What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others?
- הַכְּסִ֑ילhakesilthe definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the fool
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
- כְּסִילִ֖יםkesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.
- כְּסִילִֽים׃kesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile.
- הַכְּסִ֑ילhakesilthe definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the fool
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.
- כְּסִילִ֖יםkesilimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: fools
The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools.
- בַּכְּסִילִֽים׃bakesilimpreposition with the article + adjective · masculine pluraltagged: among the fools
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
- כְּסִ֖ילkesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
- כְּסִ֖ילkesiladjective · masculine singulartagged: a fool
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
- הַכְּסִילִ֖יםhakesilimthe definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine pluraltagged: the fools
Where it leads
How the numbers are counted
Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.
Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.
The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.
The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.