Proverbs 6:13 — Word Study
WLCקֹרֵ֣ץ בְּ֭עֵינָיו מֹלֵ֣ל בְּרַגְלָ֑יו מֹ֝רֶ֗ה בְּאֶצְבְּעֹתָֽיו׃
BSAwinkingqârats [with sly intent, to wink or pinch] his eyesʻayin [the source of sight] speakingmâlal [to say or utter, to communicate] with his feetregel [the foot, the leg] and pointingyârâh [to show or teach, to shoot an arrow] with his fingersʼetsbaʻ [a means to grasp or hold, a way to signal]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| קֹרֵ֣ץ | [he is] winking | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| בְּ֭עֵינָיו | with eyes his | Preposition, noun common feminine dual construct, suffix |
| מֹלֵ֣ל | [he is] scraping | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| בְּרַגְלָ֑יו | with feet his | Preposition, noun common feminine dual construct, suffix |
| מֹ֝רֶ֗ה | [he is] pointing | Verb, Hiphil, participle (active) masculine singular |
| בְּאֶצְבְּעֹתָֽיו׃ | with fingers his | Preposition, noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers. |
| KJV | He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; |
| ASV | That winketh with his eyes, that speaketh with his feet, That maketh signs with his fingers; |
| YLT | Winking with his eyes, speaking with his feet, Directing with his fingers, |
| WEB | who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers, |
| BBE | Making signs with his eyes, rubbing with his feet, and giving news with his fingers; |
The translations agree on the description of the wicked person's actions, particularly the gestures involved.
The sentence is structured around three main actions, each highlighting a different aspect of the wicked person's deceitful behavior.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbקָרַץ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 6:13
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Deceptive Actions of the Wickedgenerated
Proverbs 6:13 illustrates the gestures of a worthless person who uses subtlety and deception to manipulate others. This verse is part of a larger warning against wickedness, as seen in the surrounding verses that describe the consequences of such behavior. The author emphasizes how the wicked employ various means to convey their deceitful intentions, which leads to discord and calamity, as noted in Proverbs 6:14.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 5:6 | She does not consider the path of life; she does not know that her ways are unstable. |
| 2 | Proverbs 10:10 | He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin. |
| 3 | Job 15:12 | Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash, |
| 4 | Psalm 35:19 | Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — קֹרֵ֣ץ, ko.Retzgenerated
The verb קָרַץ (qarats) means to wink or pinch, often implying a sly or malicious intent. It describes a gesture that can signify deceit or manipulation, suggesting that the person is not to be trusted.
In this verse, the participle form indicates ongoing action, portraying the wicked person as constantly engaging in deceptive gestures. This highlights the insidious nature of their behavior, as they communicate their intentions through subtle physical cues.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered similarly across translations, with all versions capturing the essence of the wicked person's actions.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse consists of three main verbs: קֹרֵ֣ץ (winking), מֹלֵ֣ל (speaking), and מֹ֝רֶ֗ה (pointing), each followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the means by which the actions are performed.
This parallel construction emphasizes the deceptive nature of the wicked person's behavior, with each action described in a similar grammatical form, reinforcing the idea of their manipulative tactics.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates the actions of the wicked using the Greek word ἐννεύμασιν, which conveys a sense of signaling or indicating, aligning with the Hebrew concept of pointing or teaching.
This choice reflects a broader interpretation of the gestures as not only deceptive but also instructive, suggesting that the wicked person is actively misleading others.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 6:13 describes the actions of a wicked person who uses gestures to deceive others. This person winks, speaks with their feet, and points with their fingers, all indicating their sly intent. The surrounding verses warn about the consequences of such behavior.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Winking here suggests a sly or malicious intent, indicating deceit.
The gestures illustrate the manipulative nature of the wicked, showing how they communicate deceit.
The surrounding verses indicate that such deceitful actions lead to discord and calamity.
They highlight the insidious methods the wicked use to manipulate and deceive others.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see subtle manipulation in my own life or the lives of others?
- How can I be aware of the signs of deceit in my interactions with others?
- What steps can I take to ensure that my communication is honest and clear?
- How do the actions described in this verse reflect broader themes of morality and integrity?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 6:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe winketh with his eyes,.... Not through natural infirmity, but purposely and with design; with one of his eyes, as Aben Ezra, as is usual with such persons: it is the air and gesture of a sneering
Read John Gill on Proverbs 6 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 6 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHe vents his wickedness, as by his speech, so also by his gestures, whereby he secretly signifies what he is afraid or ashamed to express openly to his accomplices, his intentions or desires of some evil towards another person; which having in the general declared by the motion of his eyes or feet, he points out the particular person by his fingers.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 6 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 6:13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;Ver. 13. He winketh with his eyes.] He is restless in evil, and with his odd tricks and gesticulations seeks to spread mischief, even there, where he dares not otherwise discover himself. Or the sense may be this: Though he speak froward things, though he slander and detract, to the hurt of the hearers, yet as if he spake nothing but truth, and out of deep affection to the party, he seeks to assure it by the constance of his countenance, by the gravity of his gait, and by the motion of his fingers, to make believe that it is so indeed, when as in truth it is neither so nor so.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 6 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(13) He winketh with his eyes . . .—A picture, taken from the life, of a malicious tattler and scandalmonger, who fills out his lying tale with winks and signs, whereby even more is suggested than he says, to the blasting of his neighbour’s character.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 6 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 13. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers] These things seem to be spoken of debauchees; and the following quotation from Ovid, Amor. lib. i., El. iv., ver. 15, shows the whole process of the villany spoken of by Solomon: Cum premit ille torum, vultu comes ipsa modesto Ibis, ut accumbas: clam mihi tange pedem. Me specta, nutusque meos, vultum que loquacem Excipe furtivas, et refer ipsa, notas. Verba superciliis sine voce loquentia dicam Verba leges digitis, verba notata mero. Cum tibi succurrit Veneris lascivia nostrae, Purpureas tenero pollice tange genas, &c., &c. The whole elegy is in the same strain: it is translated in Garth's Ovid, but…
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 6 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges13. winketh] Comp. Proverbs 10:10; Psalms 35:19. speaketh] Not only the tongue (Proverbs 6:12), but the eye, the foot and the hand are used to make false suggestions, and to further his deceitful designs. Comp. Proverbs 16:30. Shuffleth, R.V. marg., is a rendering adopted by many good scholars, σημαίνει, LXX. teacheth] This is retained in R.V. marg. (διδάσκει, LXX.), but giveth signs, R.V. text, is preferable. Attention has been called to the striking parallel of the description in the Tarentilla of the Latin poet Nζvius: “alium tenet, alii adnictat, alibi manus est, alii percellit pedem.”
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 6 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible13. His arts are further described. He winketh with his eyes, etc.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 6 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers.
who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers,
winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers.
he winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, and points with his fingers;
Tyndale line
He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
That winketh with his eyes, that speaketh with his feet, That maketh signs with his fingers;
He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he maketh signs with his fingers;
He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
He maketh a signe with his eyes: he signifieth with his feete: he instructeth with his fingers.
Strictly literal
he winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
Winking with his eyes, speaking with his feet, Directing with his fingers,
Winking with his eyes, speaking with his feet, || Directing with his fingers,
He blinketh with his eyes, he scrapeth with his feet, he pointeth with his fingers;
winking his eyes, making signals with his feet and pointing with his fingers.
From the Latin
He winketh with the eyes, presseth with the foot, speaketh with the finger.
Simplified
winking slyly, giving sneaky foot gestures, rudely pointing with their fingers.
Making signs with his eyes, rubbing with his feet, and giving news with his fingers;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text presents the verse as קֹרֵ֣ץ בְּ֭עֵינָיו מֹלֵ֣ל בְּרַגְלָ֑יו מֹ֝רֶ֗ה בְּאֶצְבְּעֹתָֽיו׃, while the Septuagint matches four of the six words, indicating a close relationship between the two texts in this instance.
קֹרֵ֣ץ בְּ֭עֵינָיו מֹלֵ֣ל בְּרַגְלָ֑יו מֹ֝רֶ֗ה בְּאֶצְבְּעֹתָֽיו׃
4 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 6:13
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
קָרַץ (qarats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to pinch or wink. It can refer to gestures like biting lips or blinking eyes, often with a connotation of malice. The root encompasses actions such as narrowing or squeezing, and it can describe the process of shaping clay. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
[קָרַץ] vb. nip, pinch
Qal let them not pinch the eye, i.e. wink maliciously
Pu. from clay I was nipped off
base
H7169 קָרַץ
7169 qarats kaw-rats'
a primitive root; 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 vessel from
it):--form, move, wink.
קָרַץ (qa.rats) — to wink.
1) to narrow, form, nip, pinch, squeeze, wink, purse
1a) (Qal) to pinch
1b) (Pual) to be nipped or pinched off, be formed
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularHVqrmsa
The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye
lit. as physical organ
eyes as showing mental qualities
desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes
Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states
Transferred mngs.:
visible surface of earth
appearance
gleam, sparkle
Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead
base
עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:
ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1
ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19
ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.
ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)
base
H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ
. . eyes as showing mental qualities
. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes
. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states
. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth
. appearance
. gleam, sparkle
. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead
H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)
5869 `ayin ah'-yin
probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or
figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the
landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +
think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +
displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,
fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,
knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,
presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +
think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.
: eye
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).
§ spring, fountain
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.
§ spring, fountain
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.
: seeing
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.
: appearance
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).
: before(the_eyes)
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.
: sin
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
Prep | N-cd | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffixHR/Ncfdc/Sp3ms
מָלַל (malal) is a Hebrew verb with two primary meanings: to speak or say, and to rub or scrape. The speaking aspect is often poetic, while the rubbing meaning appears only in the Qal participle form. Notably, it is referenced in Proverbs 6:13. The lexicons agree on these meanings without significant disagreement.
ref
H4448a מָלַל Pi. speak, utter, say H4448b מָלַל rub, scrape—onlyQal Pt.
4448 malal maw-lal'
a primitive root; to speak (mostly poetical) or say:--say,
speak, utter.
מָלַל (ma.lal) — to speak.
1) to speak, utter, say
1a) (Qal) to speak
1b) (Piel) to say, utter
Aramaic equivalent: me.lal (מְלַל "to speak" H4449)
מָלַל (ma.lal) — to rub.
rub, scrape
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularHVqrmsa
רֶ֫גֶל (regel) means 'foot' and can refer to a foot or leg in various contexts, including anthropomorphic references to God and other beings. It also implies steps or paces. The word is derived from a root meaning related to walking, and it appears in multiple forms, such as feet and paces.
רֶ֫גֶל 247 n.f. foot
foot
three times (feet, paces)
base
H7272 רֶ֫גֶל foot . foot
. three times (feet, paces)
7272 regel reh'-gel
from 7270; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a
step; by euphem. the pudenda:--X be able to endure, X
according as, X after, X coming, X follow,
((broken-))foot((-ed, -stool)), X great toe, X haunt, X
journey, leg, + piss, + possession, time.
see HEBREW for 07270
רֶ֫גֶל (re.gel) — foot.
1) foot
1a) foot, leg
1b) of God (anthropomorphic)
1c) of seraphim, cherubim, idols, animals, table
1d) according to the pace of (with prep)
1e) three times (feet, paces)
Aramaic equivalent: re.gal (רְגַל "foot" H7271)
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffixHR/Ncfdc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word יָרָא (*yarah*) encompasses meanings related to shooting, pouring, and throwing. It can refer to actions like shooting arrows or casting water, as well as figurative uses such as teaching or directing. The entries indicate that it has both a literal and a figurative range, with roots in the idea of flowing or pointing out.
[יָרָא] vb. shoot, pour
Qal shoot with arrows
Hiph. and they shot at; Pt. pl. the shooters, archers
Hoph. he that watereth shall himself also be watered
base
יָרָה vb. throw, shoot
Qal
throw, cast
cast (= lay, set), corner-stone; pillar
shoot arrows
throw water, rain
Niph. shot through (with arrows)
Hiph.
throw, cast
shoot (arrows)
throw water, rain
point out, shew
direct, teach, instruct
base
H3384a יָרָא shoot, pour H3384b יָרָה throw, shoot .. throw, cast
. cast (= lay, set), corner-stone; pillar
. shoot arrows
. throw water, rain
. shot through (with arrows)
. . throw, cast
. shoot (arrows)
. throw water, rain
. point out, shew
. direct, teach, instruct
3384 yarah yaw-raw'
or (2 Chr. 26:15) yara; {yaw-raw'}; a primitive root;
properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to
lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e. to shoot);
figuratively, to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to
teach:--(+) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew,
shoot, teach(-er,-ing), through.
יָרָא (ya.ra) — to shoot.
1) to shoot, pour
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to shoot arrows
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to shoot at
1b2) part. shooter, archer
1c) to throw water, rain
יָרָה (ya.rah) — to show.
1) to point out, show
1b) to direct, teach, instruct
V-Hiphil — Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singularHVhrmsa
אֶצְבַּע (etsba) means 'finger' and can also refer to a 'toe.' It derives from a root meaning to grasp. The entries consistently emphasize its use in both Hebrew and Aramaic contexts, with no significant disagreements noted among the lexicons.
אֶצְבַּע 31 n.f. finger
base
H676 אֶצְבַּע finger
676 'etsba` ets-bah'
from the same as 6648 (in the sense of grasping); something
to sieze with, i.e. a finger; by analogy, a toe:--finger,
toe.
see HEBREW for 06648
אֶצְבַּע (ets.ba) — finger.
finger, toe
Aramaic equivalent: ets.ba (אֶצְבַּע "digit" H0677)
Prep | N-fp | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms