Bible Strands
Proverbs 16:30
He who winks his eye devises perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The text delivers wisdom instruction to a general audience of learners, positioned immediately after a warning about violent enticement and before a commendation of righteous longevity.
The words — The Hebrew עֹצֶה ('o.Tzeh) literally means "shutting," describing the deliberate closure of the eyes, while קֹרֵץ (ko.Retz) means "purses," indicating the tightening of the lips. These terms denote the physical gestures that precede calculated wickedness.
The thread — This motif of deceptive nonverbal communication appears in Proverbs 6:12 regarding a worthless person, Proverbs 10:10 regarding the grief caused by winking, and Matthew 13:15 regarding spiritual callousness.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that covert gestures can mask intentional malice, requiring the reader to examine their own unspoken expressions for hidden deceit.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 6:12 A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth,
- Matthew 13:15 For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
- Proverbs 10:10 He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin.
- Proverbs 16:27 A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
- Isaiah 6:10 Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
- Micah 7:3 Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together.
- Matthew 14:7 so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked.
- Matthew 27:23 “Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
- John 3:20 Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.