Dote
Two Meanings of Doting
The word "dote" carries two distinct meanings in biblical usage. The first is to be foolishly and excessively fond of something or someone, describing an unhealthy infatuation. The second meaning is to be weakminded or foolish, suggesting mental deterioration or poor judgment. Both senses appear in Scripture, each carrying warnings about the dangers of misplaced devotion or corrupted thinking.
Doting as Sinful Infatuation
The most vivid biblical use of "dote" in the sense of foolish infatuation appears in Ezekiel 23:5-20. In this extended allegory, the prophet describes Israel and Judah as two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah, who "doted" on foreign nations. Oholah (representing Samaria) doted on the Assyrians, while Oholibah (representing Jerusalem) doted on both the Assyrians and the Babylonians. The word conveys an obsessive, irrational attraction that led the nations to abandon their covenant loyalty to God in pursuit of foreign alliances and foreign gods. The imagery is deliberately shocking, designed to expose the depth of Israel's unfaithfulness.
Doting as Foolishness
In Jeremiah 50:36, the prophet pronounces judgment on Babylon, declaring that a sword will come against her wise men and they "shall dote" or become fools. The word here conveys the idea of being stripped of wisdom and discernment, reduced to confusion and poor judgment. This represents God's judgment on a proud empire, removing the very wisdom on which it relied.
New Testament Usage
In 1 Timothy 6:4, Paul warns against those who are "doting about questions and strifes of words." Modern translations render this as being "obsessed" or having an "unhealthy craving" for controversy and disputes. Paul identifies this as a spiritual sickness that produces envy, strife, and constant friction among people who have been corrupted in mind. The warning remains relevant for any community where intellectual sparring replaces genuine pursuit of truth.
Biblical Context
The word 'dote' appears in Ezekiel 23:5-20 describing Israel's infatuation with foreign nations, in Jeremiah 50:36 as a judgment on Babylon's wise men, and in 1 Timothy 6:4 warning against obsession with controversies. Each usage warns against misplaced devotion or corrupted thinking.
Theological Significance
The biblical use of 'dote' warns against two spiritual dangers: the idolatrous infatuation with things other than God, and the foolish obsession with disputes that produce nothing good. Ezekiel's use is particularly significant, portraying covenant unfaithfulness as an irrational addiction. Paul's warning in 1 Timothy cautions that intellectual pride can be as spiritually destructive as sensual idolatry.
Historical Background
The English word 'dote' was common in medieval and early modern English but has largely fallen out of use except in the phrase 'doting parent.' The biblical translators used it to capture Hebrew and Greek words conveying obsessive attachment or mental debility. The allegorical language of Ezekiel 23 reflects the common ancient Near Eastern practice of personifying nations as women in diplomatic and prophetic texts.