Wink (Hastings' Dictionary)
In Ac 11^ the verb to • wink at' is used fig;uratively of God's longsuHering, ' The times of this ignorance God winked at' (uirep^Sui', KV 'over- looked'). The same use (also of God) occurs in Wis 1123 <Xhou . . winkest at the sins of men' (ffapopys, RV 'overlookest') ; and (of parents) in Sir 3U" ' Wink not at his follies ' (mi; vapiorj!)
So Golding, Calvin's Job, 559— 'Some times (iud spareth the wicked and wincketh at their mis- dedes, and that is to their sorer damnation ' ; and Udall, Era.'mus' Paraph, ii. 284, ' Suche maner of faultes of children, those that be gentil parentes doe for the most part winke at, which would not sufl're greater ofl'ences.' J. Hastings.
This topic also has an entry in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Both articles offer independent scholarly perspectives.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Wink
Wink wink (razam, literally, "to roll the eyes"): The act or habit of winking was evidently considered to be evil both in its motives and in its results. The idea of its facetiousness, prevalent in our day, is nowhere apparent in the Scriptures. It is mentioned frequently, but is always associated with sin, in the Old Testament especially in the sense of conceit, pride, and rebellion against God: "Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at, that thou turnest thy spirit against God" (Job 15:12-13 the King James Version). So also Ps 35:19: "Neither let them wink with the eye that hate roe without a cause." "A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes," etc. (Pr 6:12-13 the King James Version). "He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow" (Pr 10:10). See Watkinson, Education of the Heart, "Ethics of Gesture," 194 ff. ⇒See the definition of wink in the KJV Dictionary In the New Testament the word is used to express the longsuffering patience and forgiveness of God toward erring Israel: "And the times of this ignorance God…
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia