What does "winks his eye" symbolize in Proverbs 16:30? Text of the Verse “He who winks his eye devises perversity; he who purses his lips is bent toward evil.” (Proverbs 16:30) Winking in the Ancient Near East - Not the playful gesture we use today - A covert signal shared between plotters - Body language that said, “Keep this quiet—we’re up to something” - Linked with other subtle motions (foot tapping, finger pointing, lip-curling) in Proverbs 6:12-14, a portrait of the “worthless person” What the Wink Symbolizes in Proverbs 16:30 1. Secret evil intentions • The man “devises perversity”—planning trouble out of sight 2. Deliberate deception • Trying to hide motives behind an innocent face 3. Cunning agreement with sin • Silent collusion: the wink seals the conspiracy 4. Hardened commitment to wrongdoing • Parallel line (“purses his lips”) confirms stubborn resolve to carry it out Scriptural Echoes - Proverbs 10:10: “He who winks the eye causes grief…”—same link between a wink and harm - Psalm 35:19: enemies “wink with the eye” while plotting against the righteous - Proverbs 6:12-15: a catalog of furtive gestures ending in sudden calamity Why Scripture Calls It Out - God exposes what sinners try to hide (Hebrews 4:13) - Small gestures reveal the heart (Luke 6:45) - The contrast: wisdom is transparent, not covert (James 3:17) Living This Out Today • Refuse all secret alliances with sin—no “little signals” that endorse wrongdoing • Be alert to subtle manipulations in others; weigh them against Scripture’s call to honesty • Cultivate integrity so consistent that even our body language matches a pure heart When Proverbs speaks of the one who “winks his eye,” it is unmasking the schemer whose sly signals betray a heart already set on evil. God sees, judges, and calls His people to the open, truthful path instead. |
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