UBS Greek Dictionary Article

Form 1

Part of speech: adjc.

Inflections: μωρός; -ά, -όν

Related lemmas: μωραίνω

Sense 1: unwise, foolish, fool

Semantic entry: 32.55

Semantic domains: Understand

Subdomains: Lack of Capacity for Understanding

Definition: pertaining to being extremely unwise and foolish

Notes: In rendering μωρός in OET CO1 4:10 it is essential to recognize the rhetorical exaggeration. Paul is not stating that he and his colleagues actually act unwisely or foolishly, and so it may be necessary in some languages to translate ‘we are fools for Christ’s sake’ as ‘we are regarded as fools for Christ’s sake’ or ‘it might seem that we are fools in order to serve Christ.’

Show passage in OET: MAT 5:22

OET-RV MAT 5:22

22 But I’m telling you that anyone who gets angry at another will be liable for judgement, and anyone who calls another person a numbskull will have to face the court, and if you call them a fool, you’re liable for hellfire.

OET-LV MAT 5:22

22 But I am _saying to _you _all that everyone which being _angered by _the brother of _him, will _be liable to _the judgement, and whoever wishfully may _say to _the brother of _him:
Raca, will _be liable to _the council, and whoever wishfully may _say:
Foolish, will _be liable to the geenna of_ the _fire.

Show passage in OET: MAT 7:26

OET-RV MAT 7:26

26 “But anyone who hears these messages of mine and doesn’t put them into practice, they can be likened to a stupid person who built their house on the sand.

OET-LV MAT 7:26

26 And everyone which hearing the these messages of _me and not doing them, will _be _being _likened to_a_ foolish _man, who built the house of _him on the sand.

Jump to OET MAT 5:22 section.

Jump to OET MAT 7:26 section.

All 10 recorded passages for this sense

MAT: OET MAT 5:22 · OET MAT 7:26 · OET MAT 23:17 · OET MAT 25:2–3 · OET MAT 25:8

CO1: OET CO1 1:25 · OET CO1 3:18 · OET CO1 4:10

TIT: OET TIT 3:9

Sense 2: foolish, nonsensical, to be nonsense

Semantic entry: 32.58

Semantic domains: Understand

Subdomains: Lack of Capacity for Understanding

Definition: (derivative of μωρία ‘foolishness,’ 32.57: μωρία) pertaining to thoughts devoid of understanding and therefore foolish

Notes: Some translators have endeavored to render μωρός[b] in the sense of 'nonsense´ as 'that which cannot be understood,´ but this could refer to some type of deep mystery. Accordingly, the expression 'what the world considered to be nonsense´ can often be better rendered as ‘what the world thinks makes no sense’ or ‘what so many people think is foolishness.’

Show passage in OET: CO1 1:25

OET-RV CO1 1:25

25 because God’s foolishness is better than humankind’s wisdom, and God’s weakness is greater than humankind’s strength.

OET-LV CO1 1:25

25 Because the foolish of_ the _god, wiser than the humans is, and the weak of_ the _god, stronger than the humans.

Show passage in OET: CO1 1:27

OET-RV CO1 1:27

27 but God chose the foolish things of the world to shame those considered to be wise, and he chose the weak things of the world to shame those considered to be strong.

OET-LV CO1 1:27

27 But the foolish things of _the world chose the god, in _order _that he _may _be _disgracing the wise, and the weak things of _the world chose the god, in _order _that he _may _be _disgracing the strong,

Jump to OET CO1 1:25 section.

Jump to OET CO1 1:27 section.

All 3 recorded passages for this sense

CO1: OET CO1 1:25 · OET CO1 1:27

TI2: OET TI2 2:23

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

μωρός

Form 1

Sense 1: unwise, foolish, fool

Sense 2: foolish, nonsensical, to be nonsense