Proverbs 6:13
He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
Original Language Analysis
קֹרֵ֣ץ
He winketh
H7169
קֹרֵ֣ץ
He winketh
Strong's:
H7169
Word #:
1 of 6
to pinch, i.e., (partially) to bite the lips, blink the eyes (as a gesture of malice), or (fully) to squeeze off (a piece of clay in order to mould a
בְּ֭עֵינָו
with his eyes
H5869
בְּ֭עֵינָו
with his eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
2 of 6
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
בְּרַגְלָ֑ו
with his feet
H7272
בְּרַגְלָ֑ו
with his feet
Strong's:
H7272
Word #:
4 of 6
a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
Cross References
Psalms 35:19Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.Job 15:12Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at,Proverbs 10:10He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.
Historical Context
Ancient honor-shame cultures heightened awareness of non-verbal communication. Winking, gesturing, and body positioning communicated volumes. Modern Western cultures, being more verbally explicit, may miss these subtleties. Yet deception still employs bodily signals - eye contact avoidance, nervous gestures, defensive postures reveal hidden truth.
Questions for Reflection
- What does your body language reveal about your heart that words might conceal?
- How can you develop consistency between verbal and non-verbal communication?
- What subtle signals might you be sending that contradict your stated intentions?
Analysis & Commentary
The worthless person winks with eyes, signals with feet, points with fingers - bodily communication of deceit. The Hebrew 'beliyaal' (worthlessness/wickedness) describes moral corruption. The threefold physical description (eyes, feet, fingers) indicates comprehensive bodily involvement in deception. Speech can be guarded, but body language reveals heart intent. Deceitful people employ subtle signals to co-conspirators while maintaining plausible deniability.