Ecclesiastes 10:2 — Word Study
WLCלֵ֤ב חָכָם֙ לִֽימִינ֔וֹ וְלֵ֥ב כְּסִ֖יל לִשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃
BSAA wise man’schâkâm [intelligent, skilled, prudent] heartlêb [feelings, will, and intellect] inclines to the rightyâmîyn [tends, leans, the right hand or side; the south] but the heartlêb [feelings, will, and intellect] of a foolkᵉçîyl [stupid, silly, rejecting God] to the leftsᵉmôʼwl [wrong direction]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לֵ֤ב | [the] heart of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| חָכָם֙ | a wise [person] | Adj |
| לִֽימִינ֔וֹ | [is] to right [hand] his | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וְלֵ֥ב | and [the] heart of | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| כְּסִ֖יל | a fool | Adj |
| לִשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃ | [is] to left [hand] his | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left. |
| KJV | A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. |
| ASV | A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. |
| YLT | The heart of the wise [is] at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left. |
| WEB | A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left. |
| BBE | The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong. |
Translations agree on the meaning of the verse, emphasizing the contrast between the wise and the fool.
The sentence has two main clauses that contrast the wise and the fool, emphasizing their different inclinations.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Ecclesiastes 10:2
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Wisdom and Folly in Ecclesiastesgenerated
Ecclesiastes 10:2 contrasts the inclinations of a wise man's heart with those of a fool. The passage emphasizes the importance of wisdom in guiding one's actions and decisions, as seen throughout the book of Ecclesiastes. This verse serves as a reminder of the consequences of foolishness, which can lead to poor outcomes, as elaborated in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecclesiastes 9:10 | Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom. |
| 2 | Proverbs 14:8 | The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them. |
| 3 | Luke 14:28–32 | Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? |
| 4 | Ecclesiastes 10:10–14 | If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success. |
| 5 | Proverbs 17:16 | Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom? |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — לֵב, levgenerated
The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It represents the center of feelings and intellect, often used to describe moral character and the seat of appetites and courage.
In this verse, לֵב indicates the guiding force behind a person's actions. The wise man's heart leads him to make prudent choices, while the fool's heart leads him to foolish decisions.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses inclines for the wise man and to the left for the fool.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse consists of two main clauses: the first describes the wise man and the second describes the fool. Each clause has a subject and a predicate, highlighting the contrast between wisdom and folly.
The first clause emphasizes the wise man's inclination to the right, while the second clause focuses on the fool's inclination to the left, illustrating the different outcomes of their respective paths.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word לֵב is translated as καρδία (kardia), which also means 'heart.' This choice reflects a consistent understanding of the heart as the center of thought and emotion.
The translation of חָכָם as σοφοῦ (sophou) emphasizes wisdom, aligning with the Hebrew meaning and maintaining the contrast with foolishness.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ecclesiastes 10:2 tells us that a wise man's heart leads him in the right direction, while a fool's heart leads him astray. This verse highlights the importance of wisdom in guiding our choices and actions.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It suggests that wisdom guides a person's decisions towards positive and beneficial outcomes.
It indicates that foolishness leads to poor choices and negative consequences.
The heart represents the center of a person's thoughts, emotions, and will, influencing their actions.
We are reminded of the importance of seeking wisdom to guide our decisions and avoid foolish behavior.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I see the influence of wisdom guiding my choices?
- How can I recognize when my heart is leading me towards foolishness?
- What practical steps can I take to cultivate wisdom in my daily decisions?
- How does understanding the heart's role in decision-making change my perspective on my actions?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Jerome comments on this verse, illustrating the contrast between wisdom and folly as seen in the inclinations of their hearts.
"A wise man's mind tends to his right; while a fool's mind tends to his left. Even on the road as the fool walks, he lacks sense, and proclaims to all that he is a fool.Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 10 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ecclesiastes 10:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleA wise man's heart [is] at his right hand,.... This is not designed to express the direct position and situation of the heart of man, wise or foolish, which is the same in both; and which, according
Read John Gill on Ecclesiastes 10 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryA wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. A wise man's heart (is) at his right hand - (Ecclesiastes 2:14.) The right hand is more expert than the left.
Read Robert Jamieson on Ecclesiastes 10 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleA wise man’ s heart, i.e. his understanding or wisdom, is at his right hand; is always present with him, and ready to direct him in all his actions. He manageth all his affairs prudently and piously. He mentions the right hand, because that is the chief and most common instrument of actions, which by most men are done with more strength, and expedition, and orderliness, and comeliness by their right hand than by their left. A fool’ s heart at his left; his understanding and knowledge serves him only for idle speculation and vain ostentation, but is not at all useful or effectual to govern his affections and actions. He acts preposterously and foolishly, like one without heart, as it follows.
Read Matthew Poole on Ecclesiastes 10 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsEcclesiastes 10:2 A wise man’ s heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool’ s heart at his left. Ver. 2. A wise man’ s heart is at his right hand.] He doth his business discreetly and dexterously, he is handy and happy at it. And as he "ordereth his affairs with discretion," so he doth his affections too, reining them in with his right hand, and not suffering them to run riot, as the fool doth oft to his utter ruin. As the wise man’ s "eyes are in his head," so his "heart is at his right hand"; he hath it at command, to think of what he will when he will; it is as a hawk brought to the falconer’ s lure; or as a horse that is taught his postures. Hence he keeps his credit untainted, he retains…
Read John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 10 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(2) At his right hand.—Perhaps better, towards his right hand, i.e., leads him to go to the right hand. The thought is the same as Ecclesiastes 2:13, namely, that though the actual results of wisdom are often disappointing, the superiority of wisdom over folly is undeniable.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Ecclesiastes 10 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 2. A wise man's heart is at his right hand] As the right hand is ordinarily the best exercised, strongest, and most ready, and the left the contrary, they show, 1. The command which the wise man has over his own mind, feelings, passions, c., and the prudence with which he acts. And, 2. The want of prudence and management in the fool, who has no restraint on his passions, and no rule or guard upon his tongue. The right hand and the left are used in Scripture to express good and evil. The wise man is always employed in doing good the fool, in nonsense or evil.
Read AdamClarke on Ecclesiastes 10 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges2. A wise man’s heart is at his right hand] The symbolism of the right or the left hand, the former pointing to effective, the latter to ineffective, action, is so natural that it is scarcely necessary to look for its origin in the special thoughts or customs of this or that nation. It is, however, noticeable, probably as another trace of the Greek influence which pervades the book, that this special symbolism is not found elsewhere in the Old Testament, in which to “be on the right hand” of a man is a synonym for protecting him (Psalms 16:8; Psalms 110:5), while to “sit on the right hand,” is to occupy the place of honour (Psalms 110:1). In Greece, on the other hand, the figurative…
Read Cambridge on Ecclesiastes 10 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe metaphor perhaps means “A wise man’s sense is in its place, ready to help and protect him; but a fool’s sense is missing when it is wanted, and so is useless.”
Read Albert Barnes on Ecclesiastes 10 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
A wise person’s good sense protects him, but a fool’s lack of sense leaves him vulnerable.
Tyndale line
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart is at his left.
The heart of a wise man is at his right hand: but the heart of a foole is at his left hand.
Strictly literal
The heart of a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
The heart of the wise [is] at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
The heart of the wise [is] at his right hand, || And the heart of a fool at his left.
The heart of a wise man is at his right hand; but the heart of a fool is at his left.
The heart of a wise person tends to the right, but the heart of a fool tends to the left.
From the Latin
The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.
Simplified
The mind of the wise person chooses the right side, but the mind of the fool goes left!
The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with a complete match of the six words in the Hebrew text. This consistency suggests a strong preservation of the original meaning across traditions.
לֵ֤ב חָכָם֙ לִֽימִינ֔וֹ וְלֵ֥ב כְּסִ֖יל לִשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Ecclesiastes 10:2
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.
לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart
seldom of things in the midst of the sea
elsewhere of men
the inner man in contrast with the outer
the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
specific reference to mind
spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
spec. ref. to conscience
[various]
for the man himself
as seat of appetites
as seat of emotions and passions
seat of courage
base
לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.
ref
H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea
. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer
. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
. specific reference to mind
. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
. spec. ref. to conscience
. [various]
. for the man himself
. as seat of appetites
. as seat of emotions and passions
. seat of courage
H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash
3820 leb labe
a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very
widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;
likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,
consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),
(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X
heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X
themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,
wisdom.
see HEBREW for 03824
לֵב (lev) — heart.
1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding
1a) inner part, midst
1a1) midst (of things)
1a2) heart (of man)
1a3) soul, heart (of man)
1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory
1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
1a6) conscience
1a7) heart (of moral character)
1a8) as seat of appetites
1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage
לֵב (lev) — Leb.
§ Leb- = "heart of"
(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word חָכָם (*chakam*) means 'wise' and encompasses various aspects of wisdom, including skillfulness in technical work, shrewdness, and ethical understanding. It can refer to a class of learned individuals, including those involved in astrology and magic. The word is derived from a related term, חָכַם (*chakam*), which also relates to intelligence and craftiness.
חָכָם adj. wise
skilful in technical work
wise in the administration of affairs
shrewd, crafty, cunning
pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like
prudent
wise, ethically and religiously
base
H2450 חָכָם wise . skilful in technical work
. wise in the administration of affairs
. shrewd, crafty, cunning
. pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like
. prudent
. wise, ethically and religiously
2450 chakam khaw-kawm'
from 2449; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or
artful):--cunning (man), subtil, ((un-)), wise((hearted),
man).
see HEBREW for 02449
חָכָם (cha.kham) — wise.
1) wise, wise (man)
1a) skilful (in technical work)
1b) wise (in administration)
1c) shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle
1d) learned, shrewd (class of men)
1e) prudent
1f) wise (ethically and religiously)
Adj — AdjHAamsa
The Hebrew word יָמִין (*yamiyn*) means 'right hand' or 'right side,' and it can also refer to the direction south, as the right hand points south when facing east. It is derived from the root word for 'to be strong' and covers various contexts, including body parts and directional references.
יָמִין 137 n.f. right hand
right hand
of situation on, or direction toward the right
of other parts of the body
= south, because when facing east the right hand is toward the south
base
H3225 יָמִין right hand . right hand
. of situation on, or direction toward the right
. of other parts of the body
. = south, because when facing east the right hand is toward the south
3225 yamiyn yaw-meen'
from 3231; the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or
other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally,
the south:--+ left-handed, right (hand, side), south.
see HEBREW for 03231
יָמִין (ya.min) — right.
1) right, right hand, right side
1a) right hand
1b) right (of direction)
1c) south (the direction of the right hand when facing East)
Also means: ya.min (יָמִין ": south" H3225H)
יָמִין (ya.min) — right: south.
1) right, right hand, right side
1a) right hand
1b) right (of direction)
1c) south (the direction of the right hand when facing East)
יָמִין (ya.min) — [Ben]jamin.
A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.35.18;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Rachel (H7354);
brother of: Joseph (H3130);
half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783);
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.
לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart
seldom of things in the midst of the sea
elsewhere of men
the inner man in contrast with the outer
the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
specific reference to mind
spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
spec. ref. to conscience
[various]
for the man himself
as seat of appetites
as seat of emotions and passions
seat of courage
base
לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.
ref
H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea
. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer
. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
. specific reference to mind
. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
. spec. ref. to conscience
. [various]
. for the man himself
. as seat of appetites
. as seat of emotions and passions
. seat of courage
H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash
3820 leb labe
a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very
widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;
likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,
consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),
(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X
heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X
themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,
wisdom.
see HEBREW for 03824
לֵב (lev) — heart.
1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding
1a) inner part, midst
1a1) midst (of things)
1a2) heart (of man)
1a3) soul, heart (of man)
1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory
1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
1a6) conscience
1a7) heart (of moral character)
1a8) as seat of appetites
1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage
לֵב (lev) — Leb.
§ Leb- = "heart of"
(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
כְּסִיל (kciyl) refers to a fool or a stupid person. It is derived from a root meaning 'fat' and is used figuratively to describe someone who is foolish, simple-minded, or arrogant. The term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, emphasizing a lack of wisdom or understanding.
כְּסִיל 70 n.m. stupid fellow, dullard, fool
base
H3684 כְּסִיל
3684 kciyl kes-eel'
from 3688; properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or
silly:--fool(-ish).
see HEBREW for 03688
כְּסִיל (ke.sil) — fool.
fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one
Adj — AdjHAamsa
Any person who does not act wisely, that is, does not follow the warnings and requirements of God, which are founded in infinite wisdom. Hence "a fool" is put for a wicked man, an enemy or neglecter of God, Ps 14:1 Pr 19:1. So folly is put for wickedness, 2Sa 13:12,13 Ps 38:5, foolish lusts for wicked lusts, etc. Foolish talking, foolish questions, are vain, empty, unprofitable conversation, 2Ti 2:23.
שְׂמֹאל (semol) means 'left' and can refer to the left hand or side. It also denotes the direction north when facing east. The word is derived from the idea of darkness or being enveloped, suggesting a connection to the north. The entries consistently highlight these meanings without significant disagreement.
שְׂמֹאל, שְׂמֹאול 54 n.[m.] the left (√ dub.)
left, region on the left
left hand
= north (on left of one facing east)
base
H8040 שְׂמֹאל, שְׂמֹאול the left (√ dub.) . left, region on the left
. left hand
. = north (on left of one facing east)
8040 smo'wl sem-ole'
or smosl {sem-ole'}; a primitive word (rather perhaps from
the same as 8071 (by insertion of the aleph) through the idea
of wrapping up); properly, dark (as enveloped), i.e. the
north; hence (by orientation), the left hand:--left (hand,
side).
see HEBREW for 08071
שְׂמֹאל (se.mo.l) — left.
1) the left, the left hand, the left side
1a) left
1b) left hand
1c) north (as one faces east)
שְׂמֹאל (se.mo.l) — left: north.
1) the left, the left hand, the left side
1a) left
1b) left hand
1c) north (as one faces east)
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms