Proverbs 27:16

Proverbs 27:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
• New International Version (NIV)restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.
• English Standard Version (ESV)to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one's right hand.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind or trying to hold something with greased hands.

Context of Proverbs 27:16

14He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him. 15A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike; Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand. 17As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. 18Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit; So he who waits on his master will be honored.

Proverbs 27:16 word by word

צֹפְנֶ֥יהָ צָֽפַן־ר֑וּחַ וְשֶׁ֖מֶן יְמִינ֣וֹ יִקְרָֽא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whosoever hidethצָפַןtsâphan · to treasureH6845
• the windרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307
• and the ointmentשֶׁ֫מֶןshemen · oilH8081
• of his right handיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
• bewrayethקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121

Cross-references for Proverbs 27:16

• John 12:3Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

Commentaries on Proverbs 27:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind - You may as well attempt to repress the blowing of the wind, as the tongue of a scold; and to conceal this unfortunate propensity of a wife is as impossible as to hush the storm, and prevent its sound from being heard. The ointment of his right hand - You can no more conceal such a woman's conduct, than you can the smell of the aromatic oil with which your hand has been anointed. The Hebrew is very obscure, and is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16The point is the impossibility of concealment or restraint. A person cannot hide the wind, or clasp it in his hands. If he takes an unguent in his right hand, the odor betrays him, or it slips out. So, in like manner, the “contentious woman” is one whose faults it is impossible either to hide or check. The difficulty of the proverb led to a different reading, adopted by the versions, “The north wind is rough, and yet it is called propitious”; it clears…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-16Verses 15-16 The contentions of a neighbour may be like a sharp shower, troublesome for a time; the contentions of a wife are like constant rain.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. hideth--or, "restrains" (that is, tries to do it); is as fruitless an effort, as that of holding the wind. the ointment of his right hand--the organ of power (Psa 17:7; 18:35). His right hand endeavors to repress perfume, but vainly. Some prefer: "His right hand comes on oil," that is, "cannot take hold." Such a woman cannot be tamed.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 27:16

• Anointing
• Family
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Answer
• Bewray
• Boast
• Bray
• Contentious
• Look
• Soul
• Wrath
• Hezekiah (2)
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 27

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings