winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse reveals a profound truth about deceit: it's not just about lying with words, but with our entire being. The "wicked man" here uses his eyes, feet, and fingers to communicate sinister intentions, showing that sin permeates every part of us, not just our speech.
winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is painting a vivid picture of a deceitful person who uses subtle, non-verbal cues to communicate their wicked intentions. Following the description of their lazy scheming and troublemaking, these verses detail how they operate when they can't speak openly, using their eyes, feet, and fingers to signal their hidden agendas and conspire with others. This isn't just about abstract evil, but about a tangible, sneaky way of working to cause harm or pursue illicit desires.
We often think of deception as something said, but what about the signals we send without a single word? This verse paints a vivid picture of communication beyond speech.
Solomon isn't just describing someone who lies; he's showing us how deeply ingrained deception can become. The 'wicked man' (v. 12) doesn't just use his tongue to cause trouble. He employs his entire body as a tool for his harmful schemes.
In a world of direct speech, why would someone rely on secret signs? This verse reveals the calculated nature of hidden malice.
The emphasis here is on how this destructive person operates. They are not acting impulsively but with a calculated, almost artistic, method of conveying their harmful intentions.
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This isn't just about telling lies; it's about building a conspiracy of silence and hidden meaning. The signals—the winks, the foot movements, the finger gestures—are all part of a coded language designed to:
This Psalm speaks of enemies who 'wink their eyes in hatred without cause,' highlighting how such non-verbal cues are often expressions of deep-seated malice and deceit, mirroring the actions described in Proverbs.
Romans 6:19Paul speaks of presenting our 'members to sin as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to lawlessness.' This connects the idea of using our physical bodies and their 'gestures' (eyes, feet, fingers) for sinful purposes, just as the wicked man does.
James 3:6James describes the tongue as a fire, a world of unrighteousness, capable of corrupting the whole person. This passage broadens the scope to how any part of our being, including unspoken signals, can be used to spread destruction and evil.
This passage from Sirach directly parallels the 'wink,' noting that 'He that winks with the eyes works mischief.' It emphasizes how such subtle actions betray an inner wickedness and lead others to depart from him.
pulpitProverbs 6:13: "He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;"
Verse 13. - He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers. He employs his other members for the same nefarious purpose. In the language of St. Paul, he yields his members to uncleanness, and to iniquity unto iniquity (Romans 6:19). "To wink with the eye (karats ayin)," as in Proverbs 10:10 and Psalm 35:19, or "with the eyes (karats b'eynayim)," is properly to c…
clarkeProverbs 6:13: "He 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 - These things seem to be spoken of debauchees, and the following quotation from Ovid, Amor. Iib. i., El. iv., ver. 15, shoots the whole process of the villany spoken of by Solomon: Cum premit ille torum, vultu comes ipsa modestoIbis, ut accumbas: clam mihi tange pedem. Me specta, nutusque meos, vultum que loquacemE…
This verse reveals a profound truth about deceit: it's not just about lying with words, but with our entire being. The "wicked man" here uses his eyes, feet, and fingers to communicate sinister intentions, showing that sin permeates every part of us, not just our speech.
This passage is painting a vivid picture of a deceitful person who uses subtle, non-verbal cues to communicate their wicked intentions. Following the description of their lazy scheming and troublemaking, these verses detail how they operate when they can't speak openly, using their eyes, feet, and fingers to signal their hidden agendas and conspire with others. This isn't just about abstract evil, but about a tangible, sneaky way of working to cause harm or pursue illicit desires.
This passage is painting a vivid picture of a deceitful person who uses subtle, non-verbal cues to communicate their wicked intentions. Following the description of their lazy scheming and troublemaking, these verses detail how they operate when they can't speak openly, using their eyes, feet, and fingers to signal their hidden agendas and conspire with others. This isn't just about abstract evil, but about a tangible, sneaky way of working to cause harm or pursue illicit desires.
"winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger," — This verse reveals a profound truth about deceit: it's not just about lying with words, but with our entire being. The "wicked man" here uses his eyes, feet, and fingers to communicate sinister inten…
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Last reviewed October 2026