He who winks his eye devises perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
Parallel translations
- WEB One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
- KJV He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
- ESV Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things; he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.
- NKJV He winks his eye to devise perverse things; He purses his lips and brings about evil.
- NASB He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things; He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
- NLT With narrowed eyes, people plot evil; with a smirk, they plan their mischief.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Sly gestures, like winking eyes or pursed lips, signal someone scheming evil. It matters because even subtle body language can betray a heart set on wrongdoing.
Overview
This proverb pictures the schemer whose winking and lip-compressing reveal a mind bent on perversity. Outward signs often disclose inner intent. It cautions readers to discern such deceit and reflects the broader biblical truth that the heart's evil eventually shows itself.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Matt 13:15For 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.’
- Prov 6:12–14A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth,
- Isa 6:10Make 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.”
- Mic 7:3Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together.
- Matt 14:7–8so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked.
- Matt 27:23–26“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
- Prov 10:10He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin.
- John 3:20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
- Prov 16:27A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 16:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.