Bewray
- Dr. John M. Asquith
- Mar 25
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 31
Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself, Proverbs 27:16.
To bewray: To reveal, divulge, disclose, declare, make known, show.
Bewray is similar to betray. To betray someone is to break a trust. People betray their countries or betray their families. In order to betray someone or something there must be an implied trust that is broken. Bewray is a milder word which is most often used when something is revealed that someone did not necessarily want revealed.
Our opening verse when seen in context makes that plain.
Proverbs 27:15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
Proverbs 27:16 Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
What is Solomon saying? He is saying that if a woman is a contentious woman, it can't be hid. Can you hide the wind? No, you cannot. If you have ointment on your hand, can you hide that from those around you? No, the ointment gives itself away by its odor. Even if people aren't looking for it, they can't help smelling the ointment. It bewrays itself. Can you hide the fact that a particular woman is contentious? No, she will give herself away.
When Peter tried to lie and say that he did not know Jesus Christ and that he was not one of the Galileans, those who heard him speak knew he was lying. They told him, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee, Matthew 26:73.
To bewray is not always treachery. Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not, Proverbs 29:24. To know of a theft, and to not report it makes a person a partner with a thief. He should have bewrayed it. He should have revealed what was hidden.
Yes bewray has a meaning other that betrayel. It doesn't make the translation superior though because people don't use the word anymore and I would suspect neither do you! Using that word today would just cause confusion. The definition of betray includes "To reveal something—often unintentionally—that was meant to be hidden". which includes the same thing that bewray means. No need to further confuse people with English from over 400 years ago. We don't talk like that and neither did Jesus or the apostles. they spoke in current speech.
I only point this out because you mentioned that you plan to publish a book using some of the old columns. After you ask, "What is Solomon saying?", your answer might want to include "is", as in, "He is saying". Additionally, the Matthew reference should be from chapter 26, not 27. If you do not welcome this kind of comment, please let me know.