What is a fool? How can you identify a fool?
How do the Ancient Writings define a “fool”? What are the characteristics of a “fool”? The New King James Version of the Bible (NKJV) uses some variation of the word “fool*” 196 times. The following list contains 75 characteristics of a fool from among those usages.
Fool Detector Test (FDT) instructions and/or suggestions for optimal results:
Consider this list as a resource for repeated reference as opposed to merely a list that you quickly read through one time.
Take your time with this as you check out the hyperlinks after each point, which typically open up a new page on BibleGateWay.com showing that verse in all English translations. This could be helpful for acquiring a more comprehensive picture of what the verse is saying.
Ask God to teach you and to show you more as you go through this list and examine the Scriptures for yourself. Thank Him for generously giving you wisdom so that you can apply these things to your life (see Psalm 139:23-24; Matthew 7:7-12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
As you examine and “dig deeper” into such verses or passages, consider taking notes and/or making your own list(s) based on what you discover.
The following is a partial list of how the Ancient Writings describe a “fool:”
Fools are like dogs who return to their vomit, repeating the same old unhealthy ways of thinking, behavioral patterns, and addictive cycles repeatedly (see Proverbs 26:11). Scoffers are like S.W.I.N.E (Someone Wise In their owN Eyes), as pigs do not “chew the cud”--meditating on the truth of Jesus’ words day and night, asking and trusting God to teach them and to show them more (see Leviticus 11:7; Deuteronomy 14:8; Psalm 1:1-3; Joshua 1:8; James 1:5).
Fools and scoffers have a lot in common, just as dogs and pigs appear together in both Matthew 7:6 and 2 Peter 2:22. Unteachable scoffers (who think they have nothing else they need to learn concerning a matter) severely limit their potential for a more hopeful and prosperous future (see Proverbs 26:12).
The fool says in his heart there is no God (see Psalm 14:1; 53:1).
Fools hate knowledge (see Proverbs 1:22).
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding [the root of an issue or another’s perspective (particularly God’s view on the subject) more accurately and thoroughly]
Rather, a fool delights in airing his own opinion (see Proverbs 18:2).
A fool is quick to quarrel or to become argumentative (see Proverbs 20:3).
A fool does not keep God’s commandments (see 1 Samuel 13:13).
A fool lacks self-control and selfishly violates others’ personal boundaries (see 2 Samuel 13:12-14).
A fool does not rely upon God, but trusts first in mere human strength, wisdom, and abilities (see 2 Chronicles 16:8-10).
A fool blames, curses, speaks evil of, and/or accuses God when facing adversity, pain, trials, loss, trouble, calamity, evil, or difficulty (see Job 2:10).
A fool is killed by wrath; [chronic anger can cause high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and even death] (see Job 5:3).
Fools may engage in reckless behavior that causes painful diseases with festering wounds (see Psalm 38:5).
Fool reproach, mock, insult, scoff, or laugh at God on a regular basis (see Psalm 74:22).
A fool does not understand the deep things and thoughts of God (see Psalm 92:5-6; 1 Corinthians 2:10,14).
Fools assume that God doesn’t understand them, care about what they are going through, nor pay attention to what they are doing. They presume that God won’t hold them accountable for their actions (see Psalm 94:7-9).
Fools suffer in life because of their selfish thoughts and actions; folly causes us to perish and die both physically and spiritually (see Psalm 107:17-20).
Fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7)
Fools are destroyed by smug complacency, thinking that nothing in their life needs to change and that they don’t need to learn more or to grow spiritually (see Proverbs 1:32).
Fools live in shame and self-hatred. God freely gives glory, honor, and esteem to the wise (see Proverbs 3:35,4).
A fool lacks sense and falls prey to the seduction of sex outside of marriage. [Soberingly, the pornography addict increases his risks of liver cancer] (see Proverbs 7:21-23).
Fools are naive, loud, and ignorant, but they will presume the contrary and lack self-awareness for how they come across (see Proverbs 9:13).
A fool causes his mother grief (see Proverbs 10:1).
A fool despises his mother (Proverbs 15:20).
A fool will talk excessively, which will result in personal trouble, setback, and ruin (see Proverbs 10:8).
A fool spreads slander; a fool participates in gossip. Those who spread a lying rumor by accusing others have hatred hidden in their hearts towards the people about whom they are speaking negatively (see Proverbs 10:18).
Fools die for lack of wisdom. They perish because they have rejected knowledge. (see Proverbs 10:21; Isaiah 5:13; Hosea 4:6).
Fools engage in toxic, unhealthy behavior and treat it like a joke (see Proverbs 10:23).
Fools don’t listen to wise advice, but merely assume that they are already doing everything right (see Proverbs 12:15).
A fool is easily angered, immediately making it clearly known that he or she is bitterly hurt and offended (see Proverbs 12:16; 1 Corinthians 13:5).
Fools broadcast their foolish opinions without restraint, but wise people conceal knowledge as they intelligently discern whether or not an audience is ready enough to receive it yet (see Proverbs 12:23; Matthew 7:6).
Fools flaunt their folly for all to see, [resulting in shame when their stupidity is exposed for what it is]; but wise people are more likely to plan ahead with accumulated knowledge (see Proverbs 13:16).
Fools are repulsed at the thought of changing their mindsets, actions, or lifestyle [even though their toxic attitudes and relationships are slowly killing them from the inside-out] (see Proverbs 13:19).
Fools bring their friends down to their own level, so that their companions remain stuck in a place of setback, failure, stagnancy, misery, harm, and destruction (see Proverbs 13:20).
Fools tear their own lives apart (see Proverbs 14:1).
When fools lash out at others in wounded pride, then their own vertebrae may suffer a slight disintegration, as if from the lashes on an invisible rod (see Proverbs 14:3; 26:3).
Fools scorn the idea of making things right in their relationships with God and others, so they remain in a place of rejection (see Proverbs 14:9).
Fools are impetuous, reckless, overconfident, and careless when they speak or act without knowledge; wise people and sober-minded and avoid spiritual danger (Proverbs 14:16).
Fools think foolishly and make foolish decisions, which keeps them from prospering financially and excelling in life and relationships (see Proverbs 14:24).
Rather than presenting knowledge well, fools will speak nonsense. (see Proverbs 15:2)
A fool despises his father’s instruction and correction (see Proverbs 15:5)
Fools spend their time feeding on things that will not benefit them well long-term (see Proverbs 15:14).
Fools don’t learn from their mistakes, but repeat the same unhealthy patterns and cycles over and over. Fools may have to hit “rock bottom” before they finally consider submitting to God’s Way, Truth, and Life. Wise people will seek course-correction and humble themselves more quickly (see Proverbs 17:10; John 14:6).
Fools are "over-bear-ing," like a mother bear robbed of her cubs. Filled with anxiety and fear of losing what is most valuable to them, they will intimidate and angrily attack others whom they assume are out to take away their rights, property, or pursuit of happiness. There is greater potential danger in crossing an angry, narcissistic fool than in crossing a bear robbed of her cubs. Both require great alertness, sober-mindedness, and wisdom to escape the imminent danger (see Proverbs 17:12).
Fools may waste financial investments on their education if they lack a concrete vision or heart to carry out and apply that knowledge in their lives (see Proverbs 17:16).
Fools bring sorrow rather than joy to their parents (see Proverbs 17:21).
Fools lack wisdom in life because they lack an eternal perspective. Their mind is on earthly things that will one day perish (see Proverbs 17:24).
A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to his mother (see Proverbs 17:25).
A fool has no filter on his words. He does not hold his peace, but voices whatever negative, inappropriate, untimely, toxic, vapid statements come through his mind (see Proverbs 17:28).
A fool shares his own opinions freely without considering how it will come across to his audience. His foolish perspective will not truly benefit, help, or give life-giving encouragement or direction to his audience. He doesn’t care to understand the heart of his audience, but only wants himself to be heard (see Proverbs 18:2).
A fool is quick to quarrel or to get into a debate for the sake of proving himself right (as opposed to understanding another’s viewpoint in order to better help another person to see things clearly). (see Proverbs 18:6).
A fool will lose his cool and become irritable as he starts a quarrel or tries to pick a fight. A wise person is open to the possibility of being proved wrong and to make things right; a wise person can discuss debatable matters with patience and a calm attitude, seeking to put an end to the strife (see Proverbs 20:3).
A fool will say things that invite ruin and destruction into his life. His bitter words will drive away good relationships and repel the resources that can make him more successful. The words he says will trap and imprison his intellect, will, and emotions (see Proverbs 18:7).
A fool is perverse in his lips. A fool also has a broken heart, for perverse lips break a person’s spirit (see Proverbs 15:4). It is better to be financially poor yet have a godly character than to be a fool who is financially well-off (see Proverbs 19:1).
A fool is full of anxiety, for he does not trust that God will treat him well. He is constantly afraid that God will reject him or stab him in the back with sickness or calamity if he messes up. A wise person submitted to God who believes the good news of Jesus is made perfect in God’s love and becomes free from anxiety (see Proverbs 19:3; 1 John 4:18; Romans 5:1-5; Philippians 4:4-8; Isaiah 26:3; Romans 8:6).
A fool can live a luxurious lifestyle, but it does not suit him well. He is still miserable on the inside and might be in danger of losing his wealth through foolish decisions (see Proverbs 19:10).
A fool cannot bring his wealth with him after death, so what then will become of him and his wealth? (see Luke 12:13-21)
A foolish son is the ruin of his father. The good news is that despite how we may have dishonored and treated God the Father and squandered our spiritual inheritance, the Father’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith[fulness], humility, and fatherly discipline never ceases to pursue us and/or to await our return to Him (see Proverbs 19:13; Luke 15:11ff; Galatians 5:22-23).
Fools receive stripes or blows upon their backs. As a “fool for Christ,” the apostle Paul was scourged with whips and beaten with rods on multiple occasions. Yet Paul’s sufferings were not in vain, but were preparing for him an eternal weight of glory as he was filled with God’s love and joy. Jesus’ took stripes upon his back so that we could be healed from the sicknesses brought about by sin (guilt, shame, fear, anxiety, pride, bitterness, envy, folly, grief, etc.) See Proverbs 19:29; 1 Corinthians 4:10; 2 Corinthians 11:16ff; Romans 8:18; 1 Peter 4:12-13; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Isaiah 53:4-5.
A fool is descriptive of everyone who hears Jesus’ sayings and does not do, act on, or obey them. (see Matthew 7:26).
Fools try to be made right with God on the basis of their human efforts and good works. Rather, we are justified by faith in the good and perfect work that Jesus Christ did on the cross (see Galatians 3:1-3; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-10; Hebrews 10:14).
Fools are prone to becoming ensnared by lusts and temptations for material things, which will lead to their ruin. Fools desire money more than they desire God, and consequently they fall into harmful lusts which drown men [like mermaids did in old legends, such that they will eventually hit “rock bottom”] (see 1 Timothy 6:9).
Fools generate strife as they engage in fruitless quarrels and speculations (see 2 Timothy 2:23).
Fools are prone to become ignorant, disobedient, rebellious, deceived, envious, and jealous. They serve harmful passions and pleasures, becoming enslaved and addicted to them, and they become hateful and distrustful towards other people (see Titus 3:3).
Foolish people waste and squander their resources quickly rather than wisely investing and increasing their wealth with a vision for the future (see Proverbs 21:20).
Foolish children require loving discipline, healthy correction, and properly administered punishment to remove their rebellious or foolish ways of thinking (see Proverbs 22:15).
Fools despise and scoff at wise words, so one ought to be wary about speaking or reasoning with such a hard-hearted, close-minded rebel (see Proverbs 23:9; Matthew 7:6).
Fools are dishonorable by the very nature of folly, so it is out of place to honor a fool (see Proverbs 26:1).
Fools are easily offended and quick to become angry (see Proverbs 14:29; 19:11; Ecclesiastes 7:9).
Fools die prematurely (see Ecclesiastes 7:17).
Fools may be popularly seen as noble, honorable, liberal, generous, and/or respectable, but this will no longer be the case when Jesus comes to set up His kingdom for 1,000 years at His Jerusalem headquarters (see Isaiah 32:5; Revelation 20:1-8).
Fools dabble in occultism and rely upon human wisdom and mere created things for counsel, advice, and wisdom while rejecting or bypassing the Creator’s “Owner’s Manual” for what they ought to do, how they ought to see reality, and how they ought to live (see Isaiah 44:25).
Fools listen to ideas or messages that merely make them feel good but reject [those parts of the] messages that expose the sin that is causing their bondage, sickness, difficulty, or problem (see Lamentations 2:14; Ephesians 5:11).
Fools don’t realize that “faith without works is dead,” for if a person truly has saving faith, then that person’s heart transformation will be evident in every area of their lives, particularly their words, actions, attitudes, and lifestyle (see James 2:20).
Fools are ignorant to the “will of God,” but the wise understand what the “will of the Lord” is (see 1 Peter 2:15; Ephesians 5:15-17).
For more information on entering into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, see “Which Fiery Furnace Will You Choose?”
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