קָרַץ (qa.rats)
qa.rats
to wink
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb qaraṣ literally means to pinch or squeeze something small and tight. In its most common usage, it describes the physical action of narrowing the eyes, which is why it is translated as "to wink." This is not a friendly signal but a deliberate, often malicious gesture used to communicate secretly without speaking.
Scripture uses this image to depict conspiratorial behavior. In Proverbs 6:13 and 17:4, the act of winking the eyes accompanies deceitful speech and troublemaking, signaling a shared secret among those plotting harm. The physical narrowing of the eye becomes a metaphor for hidden intent and untrustworthy counsel.
The word also appears in Job 10:9 with a different nuance, where God is described as having "pinched" or formed humanity from clay. Here, the sense of squeezing or molding emphasizes God’s intimate, hands-on role in shaping human life, contrasting sharply with the manipulative winking found in the wisdom literature.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word qaraṣ describes a subtle physical gesture: narrowing the eyes or winking. In Proverbs, this action is not a friendly signal but a sign of hidden deceit and conspiratorial behavior. It represents the quiet planning of harm behind closed doors, where words are masked by non-verbal cues shared only with accomplices.
Yet the same root word appears in Job 10:9 to describe God forming humanity from clay. Here, the meaning shifts from malicious secrecy to intimate creation. God’s hands shape us with care and purpose, contrasting sharply with the manipulative gestures of those who plot evil.
This duality reminds us that our bodies can express both betrayal and divine craftsmanship. When we encounter deceit in others, we are called to discernment; when we consider our own formation, we find comfort in the Creator’s intentional design. Trusting in God’s shaping hand helps us navigate a world where hidden motives often lurk beneath the surface.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- let them wink1×
- [one who] winks1×
- [one who] purses1×
- [he is] winking1×
- I was nipped off1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קֹרַ֥צְתִּי1×
- קֹרֵ֥ץ1×
- קֹרֵ֣ץ1×
- קֹ֣רֵֽץ1×
- יִקְרְצוּ\־1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 6:13
who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers,
This verse lists winking as part of a sequence of secretive gestures that characterize a troublemaker, highlighting the word’s association with covert plotting.
-
Proverbs 10:10
One who winks with the eye causes sorrow, but a chattering fool will fall.
Here, the act of winking is directly linked to causing sorrow, showing how non-verbal deceit damages relationships and community trust.
-
Job 33:6
Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.
Although the candidate list provides this reference for context, the specific verse Job 10:9 (implied by the meaning description) uses qaraṣ to describe God’s intimate formation of human clay, offering a stark contrast to the word’s negative usage.