GŁUPI, GŁUPSZY… BEZBOŻNY. O ROZUMIENIU GŁUPOTY W BIBLII HEBRAJSKIEJ
FOOLISH, MORE FOOLISH… GODLESS: ON THE UNDERSTANDING OF STUPIDITY, AS SEEN IN THE HEBREW BIBLE

Summary/Abstract: Stupidity, or folly, as seen in the Hebrew Bible, is a diverse, multi-aspect phenomenon. It embraces concepts pertaining to ethics, law, social relations, and religion (broadly understood). Stupidity is also conceived, albeit rarely, as a lack of knowledge. A variety of kinds of stupidity is reflected in, among others, numerous terms applied to describe it. The article discusses the terms most frequently used in the Tanakh: iwwelet-”), ĕwîl ( ĕwīlî, iwwelet-), nāb-āl (nebālāh), and kesîl (kesîlût-, kislāh), as well as the derivatives of the stem sk-l (verbal forms, nouns sāk-āl, sik-lût-). The common denominator among these terms and concepts related to stupidity is acting against a certain Order, Harmony or Good which, for Israelites, not only come from God, but were his emanation. Thus, according to the Hebrew Bible, stupidity is not limited to negative behavior causing destruction, but constitutes an infringement of what is most important for man and for Israel as a whole: their relationship with YHWH.

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