← H1946 H1948 →

הוֹלֵלָה

𐤄𐤅𐤋𐤋𐤄

hôwlêlâh

H1947 noun

SILEX Entry

Root הָלַל to act madly, to boast, to praise, to act foolishly

Definition

A state or act of foolishness, senselessness, or irrational behavior; most often designates intellectual, moral, or spiritual folly, particularly conduct or attitudes that defy wisdom or propriety. In context, may highlight the lack of discernment or absence of reason, and can also refer to a state of delusion or madness.

Semantic Range

folly, foolishness, madness, senseless or irrational behavior, lack of wisdom or discernment, morally deficient or reckless conduct

Root / Etymology

From the root הלל (h-l-l), meaning 'to be boastful, to act madly, to praise'. The word הוֹלֵלָה is a feminine noun derived from the active participle of the verb, indicating the quality or state of acting foolishly or foolish behavior. The core verbal sense ('to be boastful, to act madly') underlies the nominal concept of folly or madness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Primarily used in wisdom literature (e.g., Ecclesiastes, Proverbs) as a negative quality contrasted with wisdom, discipline, or understanding. In these contexts, הוֹלֵלָה marks not merely a lack of intelligence but a willful rejection or disregard for wise counsel, sometimes associated with self-destructive behavior or attitudes. The term is notably distinct from סִכְלוּת (siklut, 'folly') and אִוֶּלֶת (‘iwwelet, 'folly, foolishness'), both of which also appear in wisdom literature. הוֹלֵלָה sometimes lends a stronger sense of madness or wild irrationality, whereas the others focus more on simple foolishness or lack of discipline. The association with moral and spiritual blindness is a persistent feature in Israelite wisdom texts. English translations vary between 'folly,' 'foolishness,' and 'madness'; 'madness' can exaggerate the sense, but the Hebrew often indicates both intellectual deficiency and moral unruliness. The term's use does not point to psychiatric madness in the modern sense, but rather denotes extreme deviation from reason or wisdom as understood in ancient Israelite culture.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine active participle of הָלַל; folly; madness.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

הלל (h-l-l) — to act madly, to boast, to praise, to act foolishly

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1948 הוֹלֵלוּת reckless foolishness
H1966 הֵילֵל shining one
H1974 הִלּוּל festal rejoicings
H1984 הָלַל I will extol
H1985 הִלֵּל Praise-One

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1947-02 וְ/הוֹלֵל֖וֹת veholelot HC/Ncfpa and madness and follies 2
H1947-01 הוֹלֵל֖וֹת holelot HNcfpa acts of folly 2

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1947-01 Ecclesiastes 1:17 הוֹלֵל֖וֹת holelot HNcfpa acts of folly
H1947-02 Ecclesiastes 2:12 וְ/הוֹלֵל֖וֹת veholelot HC/Ncfpa and follies
H1947-01 Ecclesiastes 7:25 הוֹלֵלֽוֹת holelot HNcfpa acts of folly
H1947-02 Ecclesiastes 9:3 וְ/הוֹלֵל֤וֹת veholelot HC/Ncfpa and madness and follies
← H1946 Hebrew Lexicon H1948 →