Song Of Solomon 1 16

Song Of Solomon 1:16 kjv

Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.

Song Of Solomon 1:16 nkjv

Behold, you are handsome, my beloved! Yes, pleasant! Also our bed is green.

Song Of Solomon 1:16 niv

How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant.

Song Of Solomon 1:16 esv

Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly delightful. Our couch is green;

Song Of Solomon 1:16 nlt

You are so handsome, my love,
pleasing beyond words!
The soft grass is our bed;

Song Of Solomon 1 verses

Song Of Solomon 1 16 Meaning

Song of Solomon 1:16 depicts the Shulamite woman's adoring affirmation of her beloved. She declares his beauty and pleasantness, mirroring his previous praises of her. The "green couch" symbolizes their vibrant intimacy, set within a flourishing, natural environment, reflecting their deep affection and the vitality of their union.

Song Of Solomon 1 16 Context

Song of Solomon 1:16 falls within the opening section of the book, immediately following the Beloved's detailed praises of the Shulamite (1:9-11). It signifies a reciprocation, where she returns his declarations of affection and beauty. The dialogue takes place within the royal palace setting or metaphorical rural environments. This chapter establishes the deep mutual affection, desire, and admiration between the lovers, often set against the backdrop of vibrant natural imagery, such as vineyards, pastures, and trees. Historically, the Song reflects ancient Near Eastern love poetry, celebrating marital love and its physical expression within pure bounds. Allegorically, it is seen as the intense, intimate love between Christ and His Church, or God and His people Israel.

Song Of Solomon 1 16 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנָּךְ, hinnaḵ): An exclamation, drawing attention. It signifies wonder, delight, and a sudden realization, highlighting the profound admiration.
• you are (אַתָּה, ’atta): Second person masculine singular pronoun, directly addressing her Beloved. Reinforces the personal, direct, and intimate nature of her address.
• handsome (יָפֶה, yapheh): Describes physical beauty, fairness, or attractiveness. It’s used for both male and female beauty in Hebrew scripture (e.g., King David in 1 Sam 16:18, Abigail in 1 Sam 25:3). Here, the Shulamite affirms his physical attractiveness, mirroring his earlier praise of her.
• my beloved (דּוֹדִי, dôdî): Term of endearment, literally "my uncle" but used metaphorically for a dear one, specifically a lover or husband in Song of Solomon. It expresses deep affection and possession in the most intimate sense.
• truly (אַף, ’aph): Meaning "indeed" or "also," emphasizes and confirms the preceding statement, adding intensity and conviction to her declaration.
• delightful (נָעִים, nā‘îm): Pleasant, agreeable, charming, gracious. It conveys more than just physical appeal, encompassing pleasantness of character, disposition, and the joy derived from his presence. It speaks to an inner and relational charm.
• Our couch (עַרְשֵׂנוּ, ‘arśēnû): Refers to a bed, couch, or resting place, often used in ancient Israel for sleeping or reclining. In this context, it symbolizes their intimate space, likely their marriage bed or a place of tender fellowship and shared comfort.
• is green (רַעֲנָן, ra‘ănān): Fresh, flourishing, vibrant, luxuriant with foliage. This term conveys vitality, new life, abundance, and well-being. It is typically used for trees or plants that are well-watered and thriving.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Behold, you are handsome, my beloved: This opening phrase is an outburst of reciprocal praise. She acknowledges his physical attractiveness (handsome) but deeply personalizes it with my beloved, signifying a proprietary, tender affection. The "Behold" (hinnaḵ) captures the moment of looking upon him with profound admiration.
• truly delightful: This adds another layer to her praise, moving beyond mere physical beauty. Truly (’aph) intensifies her conviction, and delightful (na‘im) suggests an inner charm, grace, and pleasantness that makes his presence joyful and comforting. It signifies deep contentment in him.
• Our couch is green: This speaks of their shared space of intimacy. Our couch highlights shared union and sanctuary. The imagery of green signifies fertility, life, vitality, refreshment, and a flourishing state. It contrasts with dry, barren landscapes, portraying their relationship as vibrant, continually renewed, and blessed, likely within a verdant outdoor setting, emphasizing the purity and naturalness of their love. Allegorically, it points to the refreshing and growing fellowship believers share in Christ.

Song Of Solomon 1 16 Bonus section

The term na‘im (delightful/pleasant) carries a connotation of well-being and favor in other biblical contexts, often associated with God’s pleasantness or delightful dwelling (Ps 16:11, Ps 27:4). When the Shulamite applies it to her beloved, it elevates her description beyond just physical attractiveness to the profound sense of joy and contentment he brings. The imagery of "green" (ra‘ănān) is consistently used in scripture to denote freshness, vigor, prosperity, and a blessed state (Ps 92:14, Jer 11:16), implying a strong connection to God's life-giving presence. Therefore, the "green couch" could metaphorically refer to a state of spiritual flourishing and renewed intimacy in the context of allegorical interpretation where the Beloved is Christ and the Shulamite is the believer/Church. Their "couch" is not only physically refreshing but spiritually invigorating, reflecting the blessings and life found in His presence.

Song Of Solomon 1 16 Commentary

Song of Solomon 1:16 is a testament to the mutuality of love in a holy relationship. The Shulamite woman, having been praised for her beauty by the Beloved, confidently reciprocates his admiration, affirming his attractiveness and, more significantly, his charming and delightful nature. Her "Behold" indicates an appreciative gaze, emphasizing not only his appearance but the deep pleasure she takes in him. The imagery of "Our couch is green" is highly symbolic. It moves from mere physical space to a depiction of the state of their union. A green couch or bed implies that their intimate bond is vibrant, fertile, fresh, and thriving, reflecting a pure and growing love that finds refreshment and peace within the natural order, possibly surrounded by luxuriant growth like cedars or pines as implied in the following verse. This highlights that healthy, divinely ordained love fosters an environment of flourishing life, not barrenness or decay, a beautiful spiritual illustration of love, joy, and peace within the divine framework.