Proverbs 6:13-15 Meaning: The Secret Gestures That Bring Disaster
13who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers,
14in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord.
15Therefore his calamity will come suddenly. He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy.
13He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
14Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
15Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
13That winketh with his eyes, that speaketh with his feet, That maketh signs with his fingers;
14In whose heart is perverseness, Who deviseth evil continually, Who soweth discord.
15Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; On a sudden shall he be broken, and that without remedy.
13Winking with his eyes, speaking with his feet, Directing with his fingers,
14Frowardness is in his heart, devising evil at all times, Contentions he sendeth forth.
15Therefore suddenly cometh his calamity, Instantly he is broken--and no healing.
13he winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
14deceits are in his heart; he deviseth mischief at all times, he soweth discords.
15Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly: in a moment shall he be broken, and without remedy.
Meaning in one sentence
Learn what the winks, foot signals, and finger pointing mean in Proverbs 6:13-15 and why sudden calamity follows this kind of hidden evil.
Context
These verses are part of a longer collection of wise sayings often attributed to Solomon. Chapter six moves quickly through several warnings: first about cosigning a loan, then about laziness with the example of the ant, and then to this sharp portrait of a worthless person. Verses 12 through 15 describe a man who cannot be trusted, using secret body language to carry out plans that harm others. The next few verses list six things the Lord hates, including a heart that devises wicked schemes and feet that run to mischief, showing just how seriously God views these hidden actions. The whole chapter calls readers away from foolishness toward honest living.
Key Words
The Hebrew word behind ‘winks’ (qarats) means to pinch or narrow the eyes. It is not an innocent blink. It is a deliberate secret signal between people who share a harmful plan. That same word appears in Proverbs 10:10, where winking brings sorrow. So this is a visible clue to a hidden heart.
The word for ‘perverseness’ (tahpukhah) describes things that are twisted and crooked. It is not a single wrong thought. It is the settled condition of a heart that has turned from what is straight. This person does not stumble into evil; they live there.
And the final word for ‘remedy’ (marpe) usually means healing or cure. To say there is no remedy is to say the breaking will be total. No one can fix it. The ruin is not a temporary setback. It is the end of the road for that way of living.
How Christians Read This Verse
Early commentators often read these verses as a warning against secret scheming of all kinds. Adam Clarke connected the gestures to the seductive signals of an adulterer, citing ancient Roman poetry. Matthew Henry described this person as a ‘man of Belial,’ deliberate in his wickedness. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown noted that such signs are still used in the East to carry on intrigues. The Cambridge Bible connects this passage directly to the seven things the Lord hates in the verses that follow. Across traditions, Christians agree that these verses expose a heart that has chosen evil and the certainty of its downfall, though they differ on whether the primary target is the adulterer or any scheming person in general.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume these gestures refer to harmless flirting or playful teasing. In fact, the context makes clear they are deliberate tools of deception. The winking, foot signals, and finger motions are the outward expression of a heart that ‘devises evil continually’ and ‘sows discord.’ This is not a light matter. It is the covert language of someone set on harming others.
Living This Out
Think about the small signals you use when no one else is watching. A glance across a table. A quiet nudge under the desk. Words that seem innocent but carry a hidden jab. This passage asks you to stop and consider what those gestures really say about your heart. If you are using covert moves to hurt, manipulate, or exclude someone, you are walking the path this verse describes. But there is a better way. You can speak openly, act honestly, and let your yes be yes. And if you have been on the receiving end of someone’s secret scheming, take comfort. God sees what is hidden, and He will not let it stand forever.
Main takeaway: The person who uses secret signals to harm others will face sudden ruin from which there is no recovery.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Some people try to be sneaky. They wink and use secret signs to be mean to others. But God sees everything, and He says bad plans will end badly. So always tell the truth and be kind.
For ages 9, 12
This passage describes someone who uses secret body language to hurt other people. They wink and signal with their feet and fingers so nobody catches on to what they are doing. But God is not fooled. He sees the hidden schemes, and the verse promises that such a person will be destroyed suddenly with no way to fix it. It is a strong warning to examine your own heart: are you ever sneaky about getting what you want? And it is also a comfort: if someone is secretly plotting against you, God knows and will act.
Questions People Ask
What do the winks and foot signals mean in this passage?
They refer to secret body language used to communicate with an accomplice without being noticed. In ancient Near Eastern culture, these gestures were part of a covert system for plotting harm, such as an adulterer signaling to a partner or a liar scheming against an innocent person.
Does this verse mean every schemer will be destroyed immediately?
Not necessarily in a temporal sense. The verse uses the language of wisdom literature, which often describes the typical outcome of a life of wickedness. Sudden calamity can come in many forms, and the point is that such a person has no lasting security. The destruction may be physical or relational, and it arrives when least expected.
What does it mean that there is 'no remedy'?
The Hebrew word marpe usually means healing or cure. Saying there is no remedy means the breaking is final and beyond repair. It emphasizes the severity of the judgment: a life of secret evil leads to a point of no return, in this life or the next.
How does this passage connect to the seven things the Lord hates?
Verses 16-19 immediately follow and list seven abominations, several of which match the worthless person: a lying tongue, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run to mischief, and one who sows discord. The Cambridge Bible and other commentators see the two sections as a unified description, with the first part describing the person and the second naming what God hates about him.
Is Proverbs 6:13-15 only about adulterers?
Adam Clarke and some older commentators read it primarily as describing an adulterer based on ancient Roman poetry about secret signs. But most modern commentators see it as describing any worthless person who uses covert methods to harm others, including gossip, slander, deception, and plotting. The wider context of the chapter supports this broader application.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study