Proverbs 27 · Verse 16

Proverbs 27:16

Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
Proverbs 27:16, King James Version

Proverbs 27:16 in other translations

BSBrestraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
WEBrestraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.
ASVHe that would restrain her restraineth the wind; And his right hand encountereth oil.
YLTWhoso is hiding her hath hidden the wind, And the ointment of his right hand calleth out.
DARBYwhosoever will restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.
BBEHe who keeps secret the secret of his friend, will get himself a name for good faith.
WebsterWhoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand which bewrayeth itself.

What does Proverbs 27:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. 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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 Whosoever 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 variously translated. Coverdale thus: "He that refrayneth her, refrayneth the wynde; and holdith oyle fast in his honde." That is, he attempts to do what is impossible to be done.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 27:15-16

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 full comment on Proverbs 27:15-16 →

Proverbs 27:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

צֹפְנֶ֥יהָtzo.fe.Nei.ha[those who] hide herH6845
צָֽפַן\־tza.fan-he hidesH6845
ר֑וּחַRu.ach[the] windH7307
וְשֶׁ֖מֶןve.She.menand oilH8081
יְמִינ֣וֹye.mi.Noright [hand] hisH3225
יִקְרָֽא\׃yik.Ra'it meetsH7122

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 27:16

  • John 12:3

    Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the ointment.
Joh 12:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 27:15

    A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

  • Proverbs 27:16

    Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

  • Proverbs 27:17

    Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Read all of Proverbs 27

Proverbs 27:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El que pretende contenerla, arresta el viento: ó el aceite en su mano derecha.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Qui l’arrête, arrête le vent, et sa droite trouve de l’huile.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer dieses zurückhält, hält den Wind zurück und seine Rechte greift in Öl.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui retinet eam quasi qui ventum teneat, et oleum dexteræ suæ vocabit.