Song Of Solomon 1:6 kjv
Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
Song Of Solomon 1:6 nkjv
Do not look upon me, because I am dark, Because the sun has tanned me. My mother's sons were angry with me; They made me the keeper of the vineyards, But my own vineyard I have not kept.
Song Of Solomon 1:6 niv
Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother's sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I had to neglect.
Song Of Solomon 1:6 esv
Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has looked upon me. My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept!
Song Of Solomon 1:6 nlt
Don't stare at me because I am dark ?
the sun has darkened my skin.
My brothers were angry with me;
they forced me to care for their vineyards,
so I couldn't care for myself ? my own vineyard.
Song Of Solomon 1 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 16:7 | "For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." | God values inner character over outward appearance. |
| Prov 31:30 | "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." | True praise comes from character, not physical beauty. |
| 1 Pet 3:3-4 | "Let your adornment be… the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." | Emphasis on inner beauty and spiritual state. |
| Gen 3:19 | "By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground." | Connects labor with hardship and physical toil. |
| Eccl 2:4 | "I made myself great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself." | Contrast: some plant vineyards for themselves, she for others. |
| Isa 5:1-7 | "For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel." | God's people likened to a vineyard requiring care. |
| Matt 20:1-16 | "For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard." | Parable of workers in a vineyard, common labor metaphor. |
| Matt 21:33-41 | "There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it..." | Parable about stewardship and responsibility over what is given. |
| John 15:1-5 | "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser... Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." | Metaphor for spiritual life, bearing fruit, and Christ as source of life. |
| 1 Cor 9:7 | "Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit?" | Connection between labor, ownership, and rightful benefit. |
| Gen 37:4, 8, 11 | "His brothers hated him... hated him even more... were jealous of him." | Examples of intense sibling conflict and animosity. |
| Prov 18:19 | "A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city." | Highlights the deep wounds from sibling betrayal. |
| Matt 10:21 | "Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child." | Indicates severe familial betrayal. |
| Prov 4:23 | "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." | Metaphorical "guarding" of one's inner being, like her neglected "vineyard." |
| Prov 27:23 | "Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds." | Emphasizes diligent stewardship of one's resources and responsibilities. |
| 1 Tim 4:16 | "Pay careful attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." | Command to "keep" or attend to one's spiritual and personal life. |
| Phil 2:4 | "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." | Balancing personal needs with the needs of others. |
| Matt 16:26 | "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" | The ultimate "vineyard" to guard is one's own soul. |
| Eph 5:25-27 | "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her... that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle." | Christ caring for His "bride," analogous to the beloved being cared for. |
| Rev 21:2 | "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." | The bride (Church) being beautifully prepared for the divine bridegroom. |
| Song 1:5 | "I am black, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon." | Direct context for her statement on her dark skin. |
Song Of Solomon 1 verses
Song Of Solomon 1 6 Meaning
Song of Solomon 1:6 features the Shulamite beloved addressing others, anticipating their judgment regarding her dark complexion. She explains her tanned skin is a consequence of her being compelled by her brothers to labor extensively in the family vineyards under the sun, a task which also led to her neglect of her own personal well-being or "vineyard." It is a candid expression of self-awareness, lament, and the impact of her circumstances on her outward appearance and inner self.
Song Of Solomon 1 6 Context
Song of Solomon chapter 1 opens with the Shulamite beloved expressing her yearning for her lover and engaging with the "daughters of Jerusalem" (or the court ladies). Verse 6 specifically marks her defending her appearance to them, preempting potential societal judgment regarding her dark skin. She attributes her tanned complexion to forced outdoor labor, contrasting it with a potential societal ideal of fairer skin associated with leisure and noble status. Her "mother's children" (likely half-brothers or male guardians) imposed arduous work on her—namely, tending their vineyards. This historical and cultural context underscores the significant labor involved in viticulture in ancient Israel and the patriarchal authority structure where female family members could be pressed into such tasks. The beloved’s lament that she has "not kept" her own "vineyard" serves as an immediate backdrop, providing insight into her internal state and sense of neglect, which the arrival of her beloved is set to remedy.
Song Of Solomon 1 6 Word analysis
Look not upon me: (אַל־תִּרְאוּ, al-tir'u) An appeal, carrying a nuance of apprehension or a plea to withhold judgment. It suggests an awareness of how her appearance might be perceived in her social context.
because I am black: (שֶׁשְּׁחַרְחֹרֶת, she-sh'kharkhōret) The Hebrew word implies "darkish" or "sun-tanned," intensifying the "black" (שְׁחוֹרָה, sh'chorah) from Song 1:5. It is a description of color acquired through sun exposure, not a statement of ethnic origin, common among those working outdoors.
because the sun hath looked upon me: The sun (שֶׁמֶשׁ, shemesh) is personified, directly presenting the cause of her dark skin. It emphasizes prolonged outdoor exposure and arduous labor. This sets the stage for the narrative of her forced toil.
my mother's children: This refers to her brothers or close male relatives on her mother's side. In ancient patriarchal societies, these individuals would have significant authority over a female family member, indicating familial responsibility and, in this case, harsh imposition.
were angry with me: (חָרוּ־בִי, charu-vi) Literally "burned against me." This conveys intense anger, hostility, and perhaps abusive authority, which directly led to her being forced into labor.
they made me the keeper of the vineyards: This reveals her specific, arduous task. Vineyards required constant care, often under the intense sun, protecting against animals, diseases, and theft. This duty was imposed, not chosen, highlighting her lack of agency.
but mine own vineyard have I not kept: This is a powerful, multi-layered metaphor. Her "own vineyard" signifies her personal well-being, beauty, spiritual life, or perhaps her very essence or "self." Due to the imposed labor on others' behalf, she neglected herself, expressing a lament and perhaps a deep-seated regret over this forced sacrifice.
"Look not upon me, because I am black": This phrase combines a self-conscious plea with a defensive explanation. It highlights a potential cultural bias where lighter skin was valued, making her sun-darkened complexion a point of insecurity despite her innate loveliness (as declared in v. 5).
"because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me": This establishes a direct chain of cause and effect: her brothers' anger led to her outdoor labor, which led to her being sun-tanned. It shows a familial imposition of harsh duties.
"they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept": This climactic pairing underscores a profound sacrifice. She was forced to dedicate herself to others' property (vineyards), leading to the personal cost of neglecting her own "vineyard," a symbol of her intrinsic value, self-care, or private domain. This juxtaposition vividly portrays the consequence of external demands overriding personal needs.
Song Of Solomon 1 6 Bonus section
The Shulamite’s opening declaration about her appearance and past labor sets a foundational tone for the Song. It immediately challenges idealized portrayals of lovers in ancient poetry, inserting a raw, relatable element. This self-description subtly affirms that true beauty, as seen by her lover later, lies beyond societal norms and visible imperfections. Her sun-darkened skin becomes a mark of diligence and resilience rather than a flaw. Furthermore, the brothers’ harshness could symbolize common obstacles and burdens (both internal and external) that prevent individuals from flourishing or focusing on their own spiritual and personal growth. This sets up the redemptive journey with her beloved, who will offer an alternative to a life of coerced labor and neglect, leading to a space of affirmed identity and restored self-worth.
Song Of Solomon 1 6 Commentary
Song of Solomon 1:6 profoundly enriches the beloved’s character, revealing her vulnerability, her backstory, and the practical realities influencing her life. Her frankness about her sun-darkened skin is not just a physical description but an admission of her working-class status and past hardship, driven by the oppressive will of her brothers. The forced labor in the vineyards, a strenuous and exposed task, not only explains her complexion but also sets up the poignant confession that she has "not kept" her "own vineyard." This "vineyard" represents more than just physical appearance; it encompasses her self-care, personal development, emotional well-being, and potentially her innermost purity or identity. This verse is crucial as it grounds the idealized romance in real-life struggles, demonstrating that the beloved enters the narrative with burdens and insecurities stemming from her past. It foreshadows the lover’s subsequent affirmation of her inherent worth, suggesting that true love transcends superficial judgments and acknowledges the individual's full story. Practically, it reminds us that outward appearance often hides internal stories of sacrifice and that self-neglect, even when imposed, carries a cost.