Proverbs 27:16
New International Version
restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.

New Living Translation
Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind or trying to hold something with greased hands.

English Standard Version
to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one’s right hand.

Berean Standard Bible
restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.

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

New King James Version
Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.

New American Standard Bible
He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.

NASB 1995
He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.

NASB 1977
He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.

Legacy Standard Bible
He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.

Amplified Bible
Whoever attempts to restrain her [criticism] might as well try to stop the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.

Christian Standard Bible
the one who controls her controls the wind and grasps oil with his right hand.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The one who controls her controls the wind and grasps oil with his right hand.

American Standard Version
He that would restrain her restraineth the wind; And his right hand encountereth oil.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
The North wind is severe, and it is called by name "Propitious.”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.

Contemporary English Version
It's easier to catch the wind or hold olive oil in your hand than to stop a nagging wife.

Douay-Rheims Bible
He that retaineth her, is as he that would hold the wind, and shall call in the oil of his right hand.

English Revised Version
He that would restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whoever can control her can control the wind. He can even pick up olive oil with his right hand.

Good News Translation
How can you keep her quiet? Have you ever tried to stop the wind or ever tried to hold a handful of oil?

International Standard Version
Trying to keep her in check is like stopping a wind storm or grabbing oil with your right hand.

JPS Tanakh 1917
He that would hide her hideth the wind, And the ointment of his right hand betrayeth itself.

Literal Standard Version
Whoever is hiding her has hidden the wind, | And the ointment of his right hand calls out.

Majority Standard Bible
restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.

New American Bible
Whoever would hide her hides a stormwind and cannot tell north from south.

NET Bible
Whoever hides her hides the wind or grasps oil with his right hand.

New Revised Standard Version
to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in the right hand.

New Heart English Bible
restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.

Webster's Bible Translation
Whoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand which bewrayeth itself.

World English Bible
restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.

Young's Literal Translation
Whoso is hiding her hath hidden the wind, And the ointment of his right hand calleth out.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Do not Boast about Tomorrow
15A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike— 16restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand. 17As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.…

Cross References
Proverbs 27:15
A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike--

Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.


Treasury of Scripture

Whoever hides her hides the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which denudes itself.

the ointment

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.

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Betrayeth Bewrayeth Faith Friend Good Grasp Grasping Grasps Hand Hide Hideth Hiding Itself Keeps Oil Ointment Restrain Restraineth Restraining Restrains Right Secret Wind
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Betrayeth Bewrayeth Faith Friend Good Grasp Grasping Grasps Hand Hide Hideth Hiding Itself Keeps Oil Ointment Restrain Restraineth Restraining Restrains Right Secret Wind
Proverbs 27
1. observations of self love
5. of true love
11. of care to avoid offenses
23. and of the household care














(16) Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind--i.e., you might as well try and stop the wind from blowing as seek to restrain her.

And the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.--Rather, perhaps, and oil meeteth his right hand--i.e., if he puts out his hand to stop her she slips through it like oil.

Verse 16. - Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind. Whoever tries to restrain a shrewish woman, or to conceal her faults, might as well attempt to confine the wind or to check its violence. And the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself. He might as well try to hide the ointment which signifies its presence by its odour. But there is no "which" in the original, which runs literally, "his right hand calls oil," or, "oil meets his right hand." The former is supposed to mean that he is hurt in the struggle to coerce the vixen, and needs ointment to heal his wound; but the latter seems the correct rendering, and the meaning then is that, if he tries to hold or stop his wife, she escapes him like the oil which you try in vain to keep in your hand. An old adage says that there are three things which cannot be hidden, but always betray themselves, viz. a woman, the wind, and ointment. The LXX. has read the Hebrew differently, translating, "The northwind is harsh, but by name it is called lucky (ἐπιδέξιος);" i.e. because it clears the sky and introduces fine weather. The Syriac, Aquila, and Symmachus have adopted the same reading.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
restraining her
צֹפְנֶ֥יהָ (ṣō·p̄ə·ne·hā)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6845: To hide, to hoard, reserve, to deny, to protect, to lurk

is like holding back
צָֽפַן־ (ṣā·p̄an-)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6845: To hide, to hoard, reserve, to deny, to protect, to lurk

the wind
ר֑וּחַ (rū·aḥ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

or grasping
יִקְרָֽא׃ (yiq·rā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

oil
וְשֶׁ֖מֶן (wə·še·men)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8081: Grease, liquid, richness

with one’s right hand.
יְמִינ֣וֹ (yə·mî·nōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3225: The right hand, side, the south


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 27:16 Restraining her is like restraining the wind (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 27:15
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