What does אֱוִיל (ewil) mean in the Bible?
אֱוִיל (ewil): Describes moral and spiritual deficiency, not mere intellectual limitation; fool rejects divine wisdom and order
Hebrew · H191
אֱוִיל
(Figuratively) silly
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אֱוִיל H191
Pronunciation ewil
What does אֱוִיל (ewil) mean in the Bible?
אֱוִיל (ewil): Describes moral and spiritual deficiency, not mere intellectual limitation; fool rejects divine wisdom and order
Full entry for אֱוִיל (H191) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H191?
The BSB source-word alignment has 26 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include a fool (6), Fools (3), of a fool (2), [but] fools (1), A fool’s (1).
Where does אֱוִיל (ewil) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Job 5:2. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (19), Isaiah (2), Job (2), Hosea (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It a fool 6× Job 5:2, Job 5:3, Proverbs 15:5, Proverbs 17:28
Fools 3× Psalms 107:17, Proverbs 14:9, Isaiah 19:11
of a fool 2× Proverbs 12:15, Proverbs 14:3
[but] fools 1× Proverbs 1:7
A fool’s 1× Proverbs 12:16
and foolish 1× Proverbs 10:10
and fools 1× Isaiah 35:8
and the fool 1× Proverbs 11:29
are fools 1× Jeremiah 4:22
but foolish 1× Proverbs 10:8
but fools 1× Proverbs 10:21
fool 1× Proverbs 20:3
for a fool 1× Proverbs 24:7
from a fool 1× Proverbs 27:3
is [called] a fool 1× Hosea 9:7
like a deer 1× Proverbs 7:22
of fools 1× Proverbs 16:22
of the fool 1× Proverbs 10:14
Show sample aligned rows
Job 5:2 לֶֽ֭אֱוִיל to a fool Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Job 5:3 אֱוִ֣יל to a fool Noun - masculine singular Psalms 107:17 אֱ֭וִלִים to Fools Noun - masculine plural Proverbs 1:7 אֱוִילִ֥ים to [but] fools Noun - masculine plural Proverbs 7:22 אֱוִֽיל׃ to like a deer Noun - masculine singular Proverbs 10:8 וֶאֱוִ֥יל to but foolish Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Proverbs 10:10 וֶאֱוִ֥יל to and foolish Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Proverbs 10:14 אֱ֝וִיל to of the fool Noun - masculine singular Proverbs 10:21 וֶֽ֝אֱוִילִ֗ים to but fools Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural Proverbs 11:29 אֱ֝וִ֗יל to and the fool Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Job 5:2
Aligned rows 26
Books represented 6
Job 2 Psalms 1 Proverbs 19 Isaiah 2 Jeremiah 1 Hosea 1
Source forms
אֱוִ֣יל 4x ’ĕ·wîl Job 5:3, Proverbs 17:28, Jeremiah 4:22, Hosea 9:7
אֱ֝וִ֗יל 3x ’ĕ·wîl Proverbs 11:29, Proverbs 20:3, Proverbs 27:3
אֱ֭וִיל 2x ’ĕ·wîl Proverbs 12:15, Proverbs 14:3
אֱוִ֗יל 2x ’ĕ·wîl Proverbs 12:16, Proverbs 15:5
אֱ֭וִלִים 2x ’ĕ·wi·lîm Psalms 107:17, Proverbs 14:9
וֶאֱוִ֥יל 2x we·’ĕ·wîl Proverbs 10:8, Proverbs 10:10
אֱ֝וִיל 1x ’ĕ·wîl Proverbs 10:14
אֱוִ֑יל 1x ’ĕ·wîl Proverbs 29:9
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular 12x Job 5:3, Proverbs 7:22, Proverbs 10:14, Proverbs 11:29
Noun - masculine plural 5x Psalms 107:17, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 14:9, Proverbs 16:22
Adjective - masculine singular 2x Proverbs 29:9, Jeremiah 4:22
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural 2x Proverbs 10:21, Isaiah 35:8
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct 2x Proverbs 10:8, Proverbs 10:10
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular 2x Job 5:2, Proverbs 24:7
Article | Noun - masculine singular 1x Proverbs 27:22
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Describes moral and spiritual deficiency, not mere intellectual limitation; fool rejects divine wisdom and order
Source Gloss
(figuratively) silly
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Describes moral and spiritual deficiency, not mere intellectual limitation; fool rejects divine wisdom and order
(figuratively) silly BDB: foolish Usage: fool(-ish) (man).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
fool
One who lacks discernment or acts without wisdom.
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 26 lexical occurrence verses.
Why This Word Matters
The term highlights the exposure of Egypt’s supposed wisdom. Hosea 9:7-9
Prophet is derided rather than heard. Isaiah 19:11-15
Canonical Themes
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain