The Way of Foolishness

Proverbs 9:13 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
¹³The foolish woman is loud;
she is simpleminded^[1] and knows nothing.

The foolish woman is loud: The Hebrew word (כְּסִילוּת kesiluth) rendered foolish in verse 13, is literally “stupidity.” Here stupidity is personified as a woman and is seen as loud, simpleminded, and unaware of her ignorance. Fools: (כְּסִיל kesil) hate knowledge as they lack good judgment. Their character is stupidity, and rudeness, that is, one who completely lacks understanding, who is rebellious in his ways. Foolishness; Folly: (אִוֶּלֶת ivveleth) The foolishness of the foolish one, who has the trait of acting stupidly or rashly because he is devoid of wisdom or understanding, the Hebrew noun focusing on the evil behaviors which occur in this state.

She is simpleminded and knows nothing: Here, the Hebrew word (פְּתִיּוּת pethiyyuth) rendered simpleminded, which means thoughtlessness, lack of understanding, full of simpleness, implying ignorance and a difficulty in understanding. All who venture into her home are just as naïve and gullible as she.

You will notice that the foolish woman also has a house, which is said also to be the highest point in the city, meaning it would be a temple in the Ancient Near East. However, woman stupidity’s house associates her with the false gods and goddesses. These very false gods and goddesses mislead the Israelites off into false worship, abandoning the true God. Therefore, one must choose between Lady Wisdom and Lady foolishness, rather pure worship, or false worship. Stupidity is depicted as a boisterous, unruly, and ignorant woman. With her newly built home, she has gone about calling out to whoever is naive, innocent, and inexperienced. So, the one passing by has a decision to make. Will he accept wisdom’s invitation or that of the seductive simpleminded? On this Albert Barnes writes, “The picture of the harlot as the representative of the sensual life, the Folly between which and Wisdom the young man has to make his choice (v. 3 note). “Simple,” in the worst sense, which is open to all forms of evil. “Knows nothing,” ignorant with the ignorance which is willful and reckless.”[2]

[1] Lit simple; implying ignorance and has a difficulty in understanding

[2] Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Jeremiah, Lamentations & Ezekiel, ed. F. C. Cook and J. M. Fuller (London: John Murray, 1879), 33.