The Greek adjective asophos (ἄσοφος) means "unwise, lacking wisdom, foolish" — from the alpha-privative a- and sophos (wise). It describes the opposite of sophos — someone who lacks the practical and spiritual discernment that wisdom provides. The word appears only once in the New Testament.
In Ephesians 5:15–16, Paul writes: "Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise (asophoi) but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." The contrast between asophos and sophos frames a call to intentional, redemptive living. The unwise person drifts through life passively, squandering time. The wise person understands the value of every moment — especially in evil times — and actively redeems it for God's purposes. Paul's exhortation echoes Proverbs: wisdom is not theoretical but practical, shaping how one walks (behaves) in the world.