Original Word: פְתִי
Part of Speech: Adjective; noun feminine
Transliteration: pthiy
Pronunciation: peh-thee
Phonetic Spelling: (peth-ee')
KJV: foolish, simple(-icity, one)
Word Origin: [from H6601 (פָּתָה - To entice)]

1. silly (i.e. seducible)

foolish, simplicity, one

Or pethiy {peh'-thee}; or pthaeiy {peth-aw-ee'}; from pathah; silly (i.e. Seducible) -- foolish, simple(-icity, one).

see HEBREW pathah

מֶּ֫תִי [for מָּתַי Lag BN 52 Ba^{ZMG xlii (1888), 353}; NB 320]

adjective simple, possibly as open-minded; — מֶּ֫תִי Proverbs 9:4 +, מֶּ֑תִי Psalm 19:8 +; plural מְּתָאיִם (Ges^{§ 93x}) Psalm 116:6 6t. Proverbs; מְּתָיִים Psalm 119:130; Proverbs 22:3; מְּתָיִם Proverbs 1:22,32; — simple, as substantive concrete: open to the instruction of wisdom or folly, Proverbs 9:4,16; believing every word Proverbs 14:15; lacking עָרְמָה Proverbs 1:14; Proverbs 8:5; Proverbs 19:25; needing בין Psalm 119:130, חכמה Psalm 19:8; Proverbs 21:11; in good sense, שׁמר ׳פתאים י Psalm 116:8 ׳י preserveth ths simple-minded; but usually tendency to bad sense; פתאים love פתי Proverbs 1:22; inherit אִוֶּלֶת Proverbs 14:18, are easily enticed, misled and go back Proverbs 1:32; Proverbs 7:7; Proverbs 9:6; Proverbs 22:3 = Proverbs 27:12; they need atonement Ezekiel 45:20 ("" שׁגה).

[מְּתִי] noun feminine simplicity (i.e.lack of wisdom), דְַמָֿתַי מְּתָיִם תְּאֵהֲבומֶּֿ֑תִי Proverbs 1:22.

Meaning and Concept

The term פְתִי describes a person who is still open, impressionable, and unformed in judgment. In the Old Testament this “simple” individual is morally untuned rather than mentally deficient. He or she stands at a crossroads: ready either to embrace wisdom and life or to yield to folly and death. The word never carries praise for naïveté; instead it exposes a spiritual vulnerability that urgently needs the guardrails of God-given instruction.

Literary Distribution

All nineteen occurrences lie within three literary settings:
• Wisdom psalms (Psalm 19:7; Psalm 116:6; Psalm 119:130)
• Proverbs (fourteen texts stretching from Proverbs 1 through Proverbs 27)
• Ezekiel 45:20, in a priestly regulation for atonement

The dominance of Proverbs shows that the simple are a primary pastoral concern of Israel’s sages. Psalms adds liturgical assurance that the Lord Himself intervenes for them, while Ezekiel displays covenantal provision for their unintentional sin.

Traits of the Simple

1. Impressionable: “The simple believe every word” (Proverbs 14:15).
2. Undiscerning: “I saw among the simple…a young man lacking judgment” (Proverbs 7:7).
3. Complacent: “The complacency of fools destroys them” (Proverbs 1:32).
4. In danger: “The waywardness of the simple will kill them” (Proverbs 1:32).
5. Yet reachable: “Leave your simple ways and you will live” (Proverbs 9:6).

These traits set the simple apart from hardened scoffers. They are still educable; the great question is who will educate them—Lady Wisdom or Lady Folly (Proverbs 9).

Divine Care and Remedy

Psalm 19:7 gives the primary antidote: “The testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.” God’s Word both enlightens (Psalm 119:130) and protects (Psalm 116:6). Wisdom’s house offers life-giving counsel: “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” (Proverbs 9:4). The wise teacher therefore confronts naïveté with persuasive clarity, while the covenant community provides structured instruction so the untrained heart may mature into prudence.

Warnings and Consequences

Unchecked simplicity slips into tragedy:

• Susceptibility to immoral seduction (Proverbs 7:7–23)
• Spiritual drift that proves fatal (Proverbs 1:32)
• Moral liability that still requires atonement (Ezekiel 45:20)

The “simple” eventually inherit either wisdom’s reward or folly’s ruin; neutrality is impossible.

Atonement for the Unaware

Ezekiel 45:20 extends sacrificial coverage “for anyone who sins unintentionally or through ignorance.” The presence of פְתִי in a priestly context underscores two truths: ignorance is not innocence, and God graciously provides cleansing even for those who stumble unknowingly. This sacrificial provision foreshadows the fuller atonement accomplished by Christ, “who died for sins once for all” (1 Peter 3:18), including sins of ignorance (Hebrews 9:7).

Historical and Cultural Setting

In ancient Israel education was largely domestic and communal. Young men and women were expected to internalize Torah through family, public recitation, and royal court schools. The “simple” therefore describes those who, because of age or indifference, have not yet digested covenant wisdom. The sages of Proverbs—often addressing “my son”—assume a setting where elders mentor youth, guiding them away from seductive voices in the marketplace.

Ministry Implications

1. Catechesis: Churches must consciously instruct new believers and covenant children, offering Scripture’s light before other voices captivate them.
2. Apologetics: Because the simple “believe every word,” discernment training is essential in an age of digital misinformation.
3. Pastoral Care: Like the Lord in Psalm 116:6, shepherds preserve the simplehearted, protecting them from predatory influences both moral and doctrinal.
4. Church Discipline: Public correction of overt sin “strikes a mocker” so “the simple gain prudence” (Proverbs 19:25; 21:11).

Christological Fulfillment

Jesus embodies the Wisdom who calls in the streets (Proverbs 1:20–23; 1 Corinthians 1:24). His teaching enlightens the simple, and His cross secures atonement for their unwitting sins. Discipleship under the risen Christ turns the naïve into spiritually discerning followers empowered by the Spirit of truth.

Summary

פְתִי exposes the human heart at its most impressionable juncture. Scripture portrays the simple as endangered but not condemned, protected by a God who speaks, instructs, disciplines, and atones. The church continues this divine concern by imparting biblical wisdom, guarding inexperienced believers from seductive folly, and pointing them to the crucified and risen Wisdom of God, in whom true prudence and eternal life are found.

בַפְּתָאיִ֗ם בפתאים וּ֝פְתָיִ֗ים וּמִפֶּ֑תִי וּפֶ֣תִי ומפתי ופתי ופתיים לִפְתָאיִ֣ם לפתאים פְּ֝תָאיִ֗ם פְּתָאיִ֣ם פְּתָיִ֣ם פְּתָיִֽים׃ פְּתָיִם֮ פְתָאיִ֣ם פֶ֥תִי פֶ֭תִי פֶּ֑תִי פֶּ֭תִי פֶּֽתִי׃ פתאים פתי פתי׃ פתיים׃ פתים ḇap·pə·ṯā·yim ḇappəṯāyim fetaYim Feti liftaYim lip̄·ṯā·yim lip̄ṯāyim pə·ṯā·yim pə·ṯā·yîm p̄ə·ṯā·yim pe·ṯî p̄e·ṯî petaYim pəṯāyim pəṯāyîm p̄əṯāyim Peti peṯî p̄eṯî ū·mip·pe·ṯî ū·p̄ə·ṯā·yîm ū·p̄e·ṯî ufetaYim uFeti umipPeti ūmippeṯî ūp̄əṯāyîm ūp̄eṯî vappetaYimInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts