"to be foolish, to play the fool; in NT trans. to make foolish, convict of folly, 1 Cor. 1:20; pass. to be convicted of folly, to incur the character of folly, Rom. 1:22; to be rendered insipid, Mt. 5:13; Lk. 14:34*"
Definition and meaning
to be foolish, to play the fool; in NT trans. to make foolish, convict of folly, 1 Cor. 1:20; pass. to be convicted of folly, to incur the character of folly, Rom. 1:22; to be rendered insipid, Mt. 5:13; Lk. 14:34*
In the original Greek the word is written: μωραίνω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of moraino (G3471) across the King James Bible.
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
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Common questions
Strong's G3471 (moraino) is a Greek word that means: to be foolish, to play the fool; in NT trans. to make foolish, convict of folly, 1 Cor. 1:20; pass. to be convicted of folly, to incur the character of folly, Rom. 1:22; to be rendered insipid, Mt. 5:... It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word moraino (G3471) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3471 is moraino, a Greek word defined as: to be foolish, to play the fool; in NT trans. to make foolish, convict of folly, 1 Cor. 1:20; pass. to be convicted of folly, to incur the character o. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
moraino is a Greek word found in the New Testament.