Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
Whoever tries to hide her is like trying to hide the wind, and like perfume in his right hand that gives itself away.
The writer is saying that some people (particularly referring to a contentious woman from the previous verse) are impossible to conceal or control, just like you can't hide wind or keep perfume from being noticed.
📚 Historical Context
This verse continues the thought from Proverbs 27:15 about a quarrelsome wife being like a constant dripping rain. In ancient Middle Eastern culture, family honor was closely tied to how household members behaved, so a contentious spouse would bring public shame that couldn't be hidden. The imagery of wind and perfume reflects things that are impossible to contain or conceal.
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