What does the Bible say about fools?

Question:

What means a fool, according to the Bible? What are the main characteristics that describe a fool person?

God speaks a lot about fool people in the Bible. Obviously it is impossible to give a full description of a fool in an article. Human foolishness is firstly seen by the way he relates to his Creator. In this article I will limit to this aspect of a fool’s life.

The fool ignores the existence of God

In the book of Psalms it is written:

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; there is no one who does good. (Psalm 14:1)(NASB)

The fool does not want to see and recognize God’s presence in creation:

How great are Your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep. A senseless man has no knowledge, nor does a stupid man understand this. (Psalm 92:5-6)(NASB)

As the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, so also denying the existence and presence of God is the foundation of human stupidity. Because they do not recognize the existence of God …

Fools despise the divine wisdom

In the beginning of the book of Proverbs wise Solomon writes:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)(NASB)

Therefore, in the book of Proverbs, God personified Wisdom and put in her mouth this address to the fools:

“How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing and fools hate knowledge? Turn to my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. (Proverbs 1:22-23)(NASB)

God wants to give wisdom, but fools do not see and do not admit that they need it. Therefore …

Fools create their own big problems

Further on, Wisdom continues

Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; and you neglected all my counsel and did not want my reproof; I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, when your dread comes like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but they will not find me, because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD. They would not accept my counsel, they spurned all my reproof. So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices. (Proverbs 1:24-31)(NASB)

The fool does not think about the salvation of his soul

Wisdom also says:

For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. But he who listens to me shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil.” (Proverbs 1:32-33)(NASB)

In this respect, Lord Jesus spoke to the people …

 

And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”‘ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16-21)(NASB)

God give us fear of Him, because that is the beginning of wisdom and let us not neglect the teaching of God’s Word.

Translated by Felicia Rotaru