Do you really believe ELOHIM winks?

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This has bothered me for some time and am finally getting it written up. The more one studies and compares words and their meanings in Hebrew/Aramaic to supposedly the same words/meanings in Greek and English, a pattern shows of not as much agreement as one would think. Please examine the word “winks” in the verses below from the Old and New Testaments [Covenants] and their root origins. In the Old Testament and in the English dictionary, you will see that “wink” is typically used to indicate something that is not right. A better word choice should be used by some translations to refer to the act of compassion by ELOHIM in Acts 17:30 in the New Testament, especially since most translations choose the better word “overlooked”. ELOHIM is the Hebrew word for GOD and who I believe is FATHER/SON/HOLY SPIRIT. Because of this verse in certain translations, we hear people saying “GOD winks”. We really should examine whether to use it in reference to HIM at all! 

[All verses and root meanings below are from the Blue Letter Bible unless specified otherwise]

From the Old Testament – KJV:

Job 33:6  Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed H7169 out of the clay. [the word “formed” is the English word used here out of the Hebrew root H7169 instead of the word “wink”. BTW, this was Elihu talking not Job and we know that YHWH had Job pray for his friends because Job was the righteous one and YHWH was angered at his friends – Job 42:7.]

Psalms 35:19  Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink H7169 with the eye that hate me without a cause.

Proverbs 6:13  He winketh H7169 with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

Proverbs 10:10  He that winketh H7169 with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

Proverbs 16:30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving H7169 his lips he bringeth evil to pass. [the word “shutteth” is the English word used here out of the Hebrew root H7169 instead of the word “wink”.]

Lexicon :: Strong’s H7169 – qarats [Hebrew]

  1. to narrow, form, nip, pinch, squeeze, wink, purse

    1. (Qal) to pinch

    2. (Pual) to be nipped or pinched off, be formed

Now compare to the New Testament in Greek:

[Greek – KJV] Acts 17:30 – And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

According to the information on Blue Letter Bible, this verse is the only one in the Greek New Testament that uses the word “winked” or its root: Strong’s G5237 – hyperoraō: to overlook, take no notice of, not attend to. This word came out of the 2 final roots below.

Lexicon :: Strong’s G5228 – hyper

  1. in behalf of, for the sake of

  2. over, beyond, more than

  3. more, beyond, over

Lexicon :: Strong’s G1492 – eidō

  1. to see
    1. to perceive with the eyes
    2. to perceive by any of the senses
    3. to perceive, notice, discern, discover
    4. to see
      1. i.e. to turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything
      2. to pay attention, observe
      3. to see about something
        1. i.e. to ascertain what must be done about it
      4. to inspect, examine
      5. to look at, behold
    5. to experience any state or condition
    6. to see i.e. have an interview with, to visit
  2. to know
    1. to know of anything
    2. to know, i.e. get knowledge of, understand, perceive
      1. of any fact
      2. the force and meaning of something which has definite meaning
      3. to know how, to be skilled in
    3. to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to (1Th. 5:12)

One other interesting observation, is that the only translations that came up on the main page using Bible Hub that used the word “winked” in this verse are the Douay-Rheims, all the King James Versions, and Webster’s. Most other translations used the word “overlooked” instead.

ISR: Acts 17:30 – “Truly, then, having overlooked these times of ignorance, Elohim now commands all men everywhere to repent,

Below is the English definition of the word “wink” and its relationship to the word “wince”.

 1wink – http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wink

: to close and open one eye quickly as a signal to someone

: to close and open your eyes quickly

: to shine in an unsteady way

Origin of WINK

Middle English, from Old English wincian; akin to Old High German winchan to stagger, wink and perhaps to Latin vacillare to sway, Sanskrit vañcati he goes crookedly

It may not seem like a big issue, but what is of ELOHIM should always be Set-Apart from HIS enemy. HE will never allow one spot of the enemy. It may seem tiny to us but I believe from reading HIS Word it is not tiny to HIM when HIS own words, translated or transliterated, mock HIM!