ἄφρων
Foolish
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.
What does ἄφρων (áphrōn) mean in the Bible?
ἄφρων (áphrōn) is a Greek word meaning "foolish". ἄφρων, -ον genitive -ονος (φρήν), [in LXX for כְּסִיל, נָבָל, etc.
Meaning
Moral and spiritual obtuseness—reckless inconsideration rather than mere intellectual deficiency
(φρήν), [in LXX for כְּסִיל, נָבָל, etc. ;] without reason, senseless, foolish, expressing "want of mental sanity and sobriety, a reckless and inconsiderate habit of mind" (Hort; cf. MM, see word): Luk.11:40 12:20, Rom.2:20, 1Co.15:36, 2Co.11:16 12:6 12:11, 1Pe.2:15; opposite to φρόνιμος, 2Co.11:19; to συνιέντες, Eph.2:17.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Witnesses
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain