wink the eye

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “wink(s) the eye” is translated in Chol as “signal that they have a secret with you” since a wink as a signal of a secret is not used in the Chol culture.

Translation commentary on Proverbs 16:30

“He who winks his eyes plans perverse things”: In 6.13 the wicked person is said to wink with his eyes. The verb translated “winks” occurs only here in the Old Testament, and its meaning is uncertain. However, most modern translations accept “wink”. The “wink” of the eye is a facial gesture that has different meanings in different cultures. As the Revised Standard Version footnote shows, “plans” is from the ancient versions and means here to scheme or plot. The Hebrew text has “to plan,” a form that is given an “A” rating by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends translating “He who winks his eyes is about to plan perverse things.” In other words the wink of the eye is a signal to someone that something bad is about to be done by the person who winks.

“He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass”: “Compresses” translates a word that is used in connection with the winking of the eyes in 6.13 and 10.10. Apparently the expression refers to another facial gesture involving the tightening of the lips to signal that nothing should be said. What is about to happen must not be disclosed. “Brings evil to pass” means “do something evil” or “cause misfortune or harm to someone.” Good News Translation assumes that there is a warning in the saying and therefore says “Watch out for people who grin and wink. . ..” Contemporary English Version says “When someone winks or grins behind your back, trouble is on the way.” Note that “grin” in Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version is a possible European cultural equivalent for “compresses his lips”, but this should not be taken as a basis for translation in other languages. Translators should seek an appropriate gesture in their own culture, preferably one that involves the mouth.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

complete verse (Proverbs 16:30)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 16:30:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person who winks his eyes plans evil,
    and when he compresses his mouth/lips he is planning evil.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Those who wink with the eye
    are planning something evil,
    and those who purse their lips
    have dark hearts.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “[You (plur.)] be-careful with the people who smile and wink for they might have an evil plan.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The person who stares-fixedly-at (you) or watches- you (sing.) -surreptitiously, he has an evil purpose/motive.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “People sometimes show with one of their eyes to signal to their friends that they are planning to do something to harm others;
    they smirk when they are about to do something evil.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 16:30

16:30

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

30a
He who winks his eye devises perversity ;

30b
he who purses his lips is bent on evil.

16:30a–b

He who winks his eye…he who purses his lips: The phrases winks his eye and purses his lips both refer to facial gestures that a wicked person makes. He probably makes these gestures to a fellow criminal, to indicate that he is planning to trick or harm someone. To “purse the lips” means to press the lips together. This gesture may be a signal to keep quiet. All we know for certain is that it is a gesture associated with someone who is intending to do evil.

The Good News Translation begins this verse with the phrase “Watch out for people who…” Although a warning may be implied in this and many other proverbs, the text itself does not contain a warning. It only describes the gestures of a person who is plotting an evil deed.

Different cultures may not associate these gestures with a criminal who signals his intentions to harm someone. If these gestures have the wrong meaning in your culture, you may substitute gestures with the right meaning. For example:

When someone winks or grins behind your back (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
With narrowed eyes…with a smirk (New Living Translation (2004))

devises perversity…is bent on evil: These parallel phrases function together. They indicate that the person who makes gestures intends to deceive someone and cause him harm.

General Comment on 16:30a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. See 16:30a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

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