Read Proverbs 17 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph:
10:1b-19:9 {p} …
Hebrew has five different words to describe the foolish person, from the most innocent progressing to the most depraved. The most innocent is the simpleton, followed by the proud fool, complacent fool, and scorning fool. Last and worst is the depraved fool.
Excellent speech does not become a depraved fool; much less lying lips a prince. Pro 17:7
The Hebrew is from Strong’s H5034 נבל nabal, meaning, “to become withered, to be foolish.”
nun נ ן = seed, thus continue, heir, son
bet ב = house, thus house, household, family, in, within
lamed ל = shepherd’s staff, thus teach, yoke, to, bind
According to the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon, the root of its meaning is found in the bet + lamed pair, which is the heart of the verb, “to flow.” The home (bet) is the center of authority (lamed), the source from which life flows. “River,” another cognate word, encapsulates the same idea of life-giving water flowing from its source. The negative spin on the verb is “nothing,” as when water is poured out on pavement and it flows away to no purpose, until nothing is left. The Hebrew Root Word parable is of the seed (nun) which flows (bet + lamed) to no result, a vain or empty thing. This verb is the root of the Hebrew word for bestiality.
The depraved fool …
Provokes God with Vanity
“They have moved Me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked Me to anger with their vanities; and I will move them to jealousy with those who are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish [nabal] nation.” Deu 32:12
The depraved fool angers God by chasing empty, worthless things.
Lacks Loyalty to God
But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish [nabal] women speaks. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this did not Job sin with his lips. Job 2:10
Job’s wife urged him to curse God and give up. A depraved fool abandons faith and integrity when life gets hard.
Is Base and Degraded
They were children of fools [nabal], yes, children of base men; they were viler than the earth. Job 30:8
A base man, according to Webster’s, lacks noble qualities of mind or spirit. The depraved fool is of low character.
Denies God and Lives Corruptly
The fool [nabal] has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good. Psa 14:1 (also Psa 53:1).
Corrupt, according to Webster’s, means morally degenerate and perverted. See Romans 1:18-32 for a Greek Testament description.
Blasphemes and Slanders God
Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O YHVH, and the foolish [nabal] people have blasphemed Your name. Psa 74:18 (see also Psa 74:22).
To reproach, according to its Hebrew Root Word parable, is to pierce the name or reputation of another. It is often used interchangeably with “to blaspheme” in the English translations. To blaspheme is to spurn, to view or treat with contempt, to scorn; despise, abhor, according to Strong’s in its biblical usage.
Is Vile and Hypocritical
For the vile person [nabal] will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice hypocrisy, and to utter error against YHVH, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. Isa 32:6
Vile, according to Webster’s, is morally despicable or abhorrent; repulsive; of little worth or account; degraded.
The use of nabal in Scripture is limited to its definition and description; there is no mention of turning from his foolishness so that he may live. Perhaps causing to turn is outside of the influence of parents, or any human undertaking; but dependent on the action of God, with whom all things are possible.
If there are questions, these are good resources:
1 Samuel 25, and David’s encounter with Nabal – Christine Miller
Proverbs 8, The Simple Fool – Christine Miller
Proverbs 10, The Proud Fool – Christine Miller
Proverbs 13, The Complacent Fool – Christine Miller
Proverbs 14, The Scorning Fool – Christine Miller
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