The Meaning of Proverbs 27:16 Explained

Proverbs 27:16

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

YLT: Whoso is hiding her hath hidden the wind, And the ointment of his right hand calleth out.

Darby: whosoever will restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.

ASV: He that would restrain her restraineth the wind; And his right hand encountereth oil.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Proverbs 27:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 27:1-22 - "hearty Counsel"
The keyword in this paragraph is friends, Proverbs 27:6; Proverbs 27:9-10; Proverbs 27:14; Proverbs 27:17; Proverbs 19:1-29. Friends, according to the original sense of the Hebrew word, are those who delight in each other's companionship. Either they are useful to each other because the one possesses gifts that the other lacks, or they have certain tastes in common.
It is in friendship that we get to know ourselves, as a man sees his face in the mirror of calm water, Proverbs 27:19. We unfold to each other; our friend elicits traits of which we were hardly aware. Our sympathy and tenderness are drawn forth by our friend's troubles, as our laughter flashes out to awaken or to answer his high spirits. We shudder to think what cold and undeveloped beings we should be without the sharpening of friendship, Proverbs 27:17. How sweet human friendships are! Proverbs 27:9. Why not find equal confidence and sweetness in the greatest Friend of all? Of course, there is a friendship "which is wholly hypocritical and worthless." Such a friendship is marked by loud and ostentatious demonstration. See Proverbs 27:14. Ponder Christ's offer, John 15:14-15. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 27

1  observations of self love
5  of true love
11  of care to avoid offenses
23  and of the household care

What do the individual words in Proverbs 27:16 mean?

Whoever restrains her restrains the wind and oil with his right hand grasps
צֹפְנֶ֥יהָ צָֽפַן־ ר֑וּחַ וְשֶׁ֖מֶן יְמִינ֣וֹ יִקְרָֽא

צֹפְנֶ֥יהָ  Whoever  restrains  her 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: צָפַן 
Sense: to hide, treasure, treasure or store up.
צָֽפַן־  restrains 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָפַן 
Sense: to hide, treasure, treasure or store up.
ר֑וּחַ  the  wind 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
וְשֶׁ֖מֶן  and  oil  with 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֶׁמֶן  
Sense: fat, oil.
יְמִינ֣וֹ  his  right  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָמִין  
Sense: right, right hand, right side.
יִקְרָֽא  grasps 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.

What are the major concepts related to Proverbs 27:16?

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