How is a winking eye trouble (Proverbs 10:10)?

Answer

The wink of an eye is a facial gesture that conveys various meanings across different cultures. Through a wink, an individual can express fondness, prompt laughter, or share an inside joke or secret. In the Bible, a “winking eye” can signify deceit or dishonesty, as seen in Proverbs 10:10: “Whoever winks the eye causes trouble” (ESV). The act of winking is also associated with cunning, scheming, and malevolent plotting alongside other wicked associates. Even today, someone who winks frequently or avoids direct eye contact may evoke feelings of mistrust and suspicion.

In Proverbs 10:10, the term translated as “trouble” in the original text originates from a verb meaning “to harm” or “to inflict pain,” typically connoting distress, sorrow, and various forms of emotional suffering. The individual who winks brings about trouble—irritation, distress, and annoyance—due to their craftiness and secrecy. A simple interpretation could be “Concealing the truth from others will lead to their suffering.”

In Proverbs 6:12–13, the “winking eye” characterizes a deceitful individual who incites discord and conflict by sending out covert signals: “What are worthless and wicked people like? They are habitual liars, indicating their deceit with a wink of the eye, a nudge of the foot, or a gesture with their fingers” (NLT). The concept here, as in Proverbs 10:10, is that the wicked person uses a wink to alert their partners when to act or aid in executing their clandestine, malevolent scheme, which is carried out through deception and pretense. When viewed in this light, it is understandable why a winking eye is associated with trouble.

“Whoever winks their eyes is plotting deceit,” as stated in Proverbs 16:30 (ESV). This proverb cautions against trusting an individual with a winking eye, as they are likely scheming to deceive you. If you observe this ominous, unspoken “eye language,” it is wise to be cautious and vigilant.

means something terrible is about to happen, so prepare yourself for trouble.

Again, in Psalm 35:19, the term winking eye is used as a sign of insincerity and deceit: “Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause” (ESV). The New Living Translation conveys the meaning more clearly: “Don’t let my treacherous enemies rejoice over my defeat. Don’t let those who hate me without cause gloat over my sorrow.” Here the expression wink the eye means “to gloat gleefully.” Today’s English Version translates the phrase as “smirk with delight,” while the New English Bible renders it as “leer at me in triumph.”

Everywhere “a winking eye” appears in the Bible, the gesture carries a negative implication of cunning, conniving deception. The same concept lies behind the English word hoodwinked. A con artist—one who is undoubtedly up to trouble—is a fitting example of the biblical description of one who “winks the eye.”