Wink
The Wink as a Gesture of Deceit and Malice
Throughout the biblical text, winking is portrayed as a sinister non-verbal cue. It is the body language of the wicked, a secret signal between conspirators or a smug expression of contempt. The book of Proverbs provides the clearest picture: "A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger" (Proverbs 6:12-13). Here, the wink is part of a coordinated repertoire of deceptive gestures used by a person of "perverted heart" to plot evil. Similarly, "Whoever winks the eye causes trouble" (Proverbs 10:10), and "He who winks his eyes plans perverse things" (Proverbs 16:30). The gesture implies hidden intentions and the planning of harm away from public scrutiny.
The Wink as an Expression of Arrogance and Mockery
Beyond conspiracy, the biblical wink can express prideful scorn or mockery, particularly toward God or the righteous. In the dialogue of Job, Eliphaz accuses Job: "Why does your heart carry you away, and why do your eyes flash, that you turn your spirit against God and bring such words out of your mouth?" (Job 15:12-13). The phrase "eyes flash" in many translations (KJV: "wink") suggests a defiant, haughty rolling of the eyes against divine authority. The psalmist also links the gesture to hatred, pleading with God, "Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause" (Psalm 35:19). The wink here is a gesture of malicious triumph and derision.
God's Forbearance: "Winking At" Ignorance
The New Testament contains a singular and theologically significant use of the term. In his speech at the Areopagus, the Apostle Paul tells the Athenian philosophers, "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). The King James Version famously translates the Greek verb hupereidon (to overlook, disregard, or pass over) as "winked at." This is an example of early 17th-century English idiom, meaning to deliberately choose not to see or to tolerate for a time. It does not imply God was frivolous or conspiratorial. Instead, it powerfully communicates the concept of divine patience and forbearance during the eras before the clear revelation of the gospel in Christ. God mercifully did not bring immediate judgment for idolatry and spiritual ignorance but allowed history to unfold until the coming of Jesus and the proclamation of repentance.
Cultural and Historical Context
In the ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean world, gestures like winking carried specific cultural meanings that were generally negative. Extra-biblical wisdom literature from Egypt and Mesopotamia also warns against the deceitful person who communicates with sly gestures. The biblical authors' consistent negative view aligns with this broader cultural understanding. The gesture likely signaled confidential plotting, mockery, or arrogant disdain—actions that directly contradicted the biblical values of integrity, humility, and straightforward speech. Understanding this context helps modern readers avoid importing contemporary, often benign or humorous, connotations of winking into the biblical text.
Biblical Context
The term appears primarily in the Old Testament wisdom and poetic books: Proverbs (6:13, 10:10, 16:30), Psalms (35:19), and Job (15:12-13). In these contexts, it is a physical action performed by wicked or arrogant individuals, symbolizing deceit, conspiracy, pride, or mockery. The sole New Testament occurrence is in Acts 17:30, where it translates a Greek verb meaning "to overlook" and is used metaphorically to describe God's past patience with human idolatry and ignorance before the call to repentance in Christ.
Theological Significance
The biblical treatment of winking teaches important themes about human nature and God's character. It underscores the biblical idea that outward actions flow from the inner heart (Matthew 15:18-19); a deceitful wink reveals a corrupt interior. It highlights God's value on truthfulness and integrity in communication. Theologically, the unique use in Acts 17:30 is profound, illustrating the doctrine of God's forbearance—His patient withholding of judgment in earlier periods of history (Romans 3:25). This patience culminates in the gospel era, where ignorance is no longer overlooked but met with a universal call to repentance through Jesus Christ.
Historical Background
Archaeological and literary evidence from ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Israel confirms that gestures were rich with meaning in communication. While specific depictions of winking are rare in art (as it is a subtle gesture), texts from these cultures describe sly or secretive eye movements as markers of untrustworthiness. The biblical authors operated within this semantic field, where a wink was not a joke but a serious social signal of malice or conspiracy. The Greek word used in Acts 17:30 (hupereidon) was a common term in Hellenistic Greek for "overlooking" or "disregarding," often in a legal or relational context of tolerating a fault.