Why is Dame Folly Important?
The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" "Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Key Facts
Term Name
Dame Folly
Role
Personification of Foolishness
Born
N/A (figurative)
Died
N/A (figurative)
Key Takeaways
- Dame Folly personifies reckless foolishness in Proverbs 9:13-18.
- Folly contrasts with Wisdom by offering destructive 'cheap food' instead of life.
- Rejecting Folly’s prideful path requires humility and embracing correction.
Who Was Dame Folly in the Bible?
In Proverbs 9:13-18, Folly is vividly personified as a boisterous, self-indulgent woman who mocks wisdom.
She is described as laughing loudly, refusing correction (Proverbs 9:14-15), and luring others with deceptive invitations to her 'cheap food' (Proverbs 9:17), ultimately leading to ruin (Proverbs 9:18).
Folly's Contrast with Wisdom in Proverbs
In Proverbs 9, Wisdom and Folly are portrayed as opposing forces with distinct invitations and consequences.
Wisdom, in Proverbs 9:1-6, builds a house and prepares a feast to call the simple to partake in her generous, life-giving wisdom. Folly, by contrast, in Proverbs 9:13-18, mocks correction, laughs loudly without cause, and offers deceptive 'cheap food' to those who ignore her warnings. While Wisdom seeks to uplift, Folly’s reckless indulgence leads only to destruction.
This contrast underscores the biblical warning that Folly represents a deliberate rejection of wisdom’s path, rather than mere ignorance. Her behavior cautions against the allure of self-centeredness and the false promises of sin.
What We Can Learn From Dame Folly
Dame Folly’s reckless pride and rejection of correction reveal the dangers of valuing self-indulgence over God’s wisdom.
In Proverbs 9:14-15, Folly is depicted as laughing loudly and refusing to correct her foolish ways, illustrating how pride blinds individuals to their need for guidance. Her deceptive invitations to "cheap food" (Proverbs 9:17) symbolize the false promises of sin, which ultimately lead to destruction (Proverbs 9:18). By contrast, avoiding her path requires humility - accepting correction (Proverbs 9:14) and prioritizing Wisdom’s call to life (Proverbs 9:6). This tension between pride and humility underscores the biblical imperative to seek God’s wisdom rather than self-serving shortcuts.
Further Reading
Key Scripture Mentions
Proverbs 9:13-18
Dame Folly’s loud, self-centered invitations to destruction.
Proverbs 9:1-6
Wisdom’s contrasting call to life through humility and correction.
Related Concepts
Wisdom (Theological Concepts)
The biblical ideal of discernment and life-giving guidance.
Pride (Theological Concepts)
Folly’s embodiment of self-centeredness and rejection of correction.
Cheap Food (Terms)
A metaphor for false promises of sin in Proverbs 9:17.