Proverbs 16:30

He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(30) He shutteth his eyes. . . .—By the movement of eyes and lips he gives the signal for mischief to his confederates. (Comp. Proverbs 6:13.)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

16:27,28. Ungodly men bestow more pains to do mischief than would be needful to do good. The whisperer separates friends: what a hateful, but how common a character! 29,30. Some do all the mischief they can by force and violence, and are blind to the result. 31. Old people especially should be found in the way of religion and godliness. 32. To overcome our own passions, requires more steady management, than obtaining victory over an enemy. 33. All the disposal of Providence concerning our affairs, we must look upon to be the determining what we referred to God; and we must be reconciled to them accordingly. Blessed are those that give themselves up to the will of God; for he knows what is good for them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The physiognomy of the man of Belial, the half-closed eyes that never look you straight in the face, the restlessness or cunning of which biting the lips is the surest indication. Compare Proverbs 6:13.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

30. He shutteth his eyes—denoting deep thought (Ps 64:6).

moving his lips—or, "biting his lips"—a determined purpose (Pr 6:13).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Shutteth his eyes, that his thoughts may be more free and intent to contrive mischief.

Moving his lips; which is the gesture, either,

1. Of one whose thoughts are deeply engaged. Or,

2. Of one that speaketh or maketh signs to others to assist him in executing that wickedness which he hath contrived.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things,.... Or "perverse" or "contrary things" (r); he shuts his eyes, that his thoughts might not be disturbed and distracted by visible objects, but might be more free and composed, and intent upon the things he is meditating and devising; or he shuts his eyes against light, against Scripture evidence, which he does not care to come to, lest his principles and practices should be reproved; he shuts his eyes, and will not look into the Scriptures, that he may form and devise schemes of doctrine and worship contrary to them. Some render it, he winks with his eyes, as in Proverbs 6:13; so the Targum; he gives the hint thereby to his companions, when is the proper time to circumvent an innocent person, and to put in execution the scheme he had devised;

moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass; either as persons in deep thought used to do; or as a token to others to set about the evil designed and contrived; or rather as acting a deceitful part, as a false teacher; not speaking out his mind freely, but muttering out his words, handling the word of God deceitfully, and not by manifestation of the truth commending himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God, as a faithful minister does; and by such artful methods brings his evil designs to pass. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "biting his lips"; so a wicked man does through indignation at a good man, and through desire of revenge; and when he plots against him, he gnashes at him with his teeth, Psalm 37:12. The Targum is,

"threatening with his lips;''

he gives out menaces of evil things, and performs them; which is true of the man of sin, Revelation 13:5.

(r) "perversitates", Pagninus, Montanus, Baynus, Mercerus, Gejerus; "res perversas", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "perversa", Michaelis.

Geneva Study Bible

{n} He shutteth his eyes to devise perverse things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

(n) With his whole endeavour he labours to bring his wickedness to pass.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

30. shutteth] Or, fixeth, or setteth firmly, στηρίζων, LXX. He closes or fixes his eyes, as though in deep thought, and tightens his lips, as if to keep back words which he could utter. Comp. Proverbs 6:12-14 for a further description of the same character.

It is better to regard this verse with R.V. as a separate proverb,

He that shutteth his eyes, it is to devise froward things:

He that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass,

than with A.V. as a continuation of the preceding proverb.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 30. - This verse is better taken as one sentence (so the Septuagint), and translated, as Nowack, "He that shutteth his eyes in order to contrive froward things, he that compresseth his lips, hath already brought evil to pass;" he has virtually effected it. From such a crafty, malignant man you need not expect any more open tokens of his intentions. He shutteth his eyes (comp. Isaiah 33:15); either that he may better think out his evil plans, or else he cannot look his neighbour in the face while he is plotting against him. The Vulgate has, attonitis oculis; Septuagint, "fixing (στηρίζων) his eyes." Moving his lips; rather, he who compresseth his lips, to hide the malignant smile with which he might greet his neighbour's calamity (comp. Proverbs 6:13, etc.; Proverbs 10:10), or that neither by word nor expression he may betray his thoughts. Others take the two outward expressions mentioned as signals to confederates; but this is not so suitable, as they are the man's own feelings and sentiments that are meant. One who gives these tokens bringeth evil to pass; he has perfected his designs, and deems them as good as accomplished, and you will do well to note what his bearing signifies. Some take the meaning to be, brings punishment on himself; but the warning is not given for the sinner's sake. Septuagint, "He defines (ὀρίζει) all evils with his lips; he is a furnace of evil." Proverbs 16:30

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

30 He who shutteth his eyes to devise falsehood;

     He who biteth his lips bringeth evil to pass.

A physiognomical Caveto. The ἁπ. λεγ. עצה is connected with עצם, Isaiah 33:15 (Arab. transp. ghamḍ), comprimere, formed from it. Regarding קרץ of lips or eyes, vid., p. 144; the biting of the lips is the action of the deceitful, and denotes scorn, malice, knavery. The perf. denotes that he who is seen doing this has some evil as good as accomplished, for he is inwardly ready for it; Hitzig suitably compares 1 Samuel 20:7, 1 Samuel 20:33. Our editions (also Lwenstein) have כּלּה, but the Masora (vid., Mas. finalis, p. 1) numbers the word among those which terminate in א, and always writes כּלּא.