Song Of Solomon 1:7 kjv
Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
Song Of Solomon 1:7 nkjv
Tell me, O you whom I love, Where you feed your flock, Where you make it rest at noon. For why should I be as one who veils herself By the flocks of your companions?
Song Of Solomon 1:7 niv
Tell me, you whom I love, where you graze your flock and where you rest your sheep at midday. Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your friends?
Song Of Solomon 1:7 esv
Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon; for why should I be like one who veils herself beside the flocks of your companions?
Song Of Solomon 1:7 nlt
Tell me, my love, where are you leading your flock today?
Where will you rest your sheep at noon?
For why should I wander like a prostitute
among your friends and their flocks?
Song Of Solomon 1 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 23:1-2 | The Lord is my shepherd... He makes me lie down in green pastures... | God as Shepherd, providing rest and provision. |
| Ps 42:1-2 | As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You... | Deep yearning and longing for God. |
| Is 26:9 | With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I seek You earnestly | Earnest seeking of God with the whole being. |
| Jer 6:16 | Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. | Finding rest and direction in God's ways. |
| Hos 4:14 | I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry, Nor your brides when they commit adultery; For the men themselves go apart with harlots... | Avoiding the appearance or practice of unfaithfulness or spiritual prostitution. |
| Matt 11:28-29 | Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me... | Jesus as the ultimate provider of rest and burden-bearer. |
| Jn 10:3-4 | To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out... And the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. | Knowing and following the True Shepherd's voice. |
| Gen 38:14-15 | Then she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil... When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. | The danger of being mistaken due to a veil, specifically as a harlot. |
| Is 40:11 | He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young. | God's gentle, caring leadership and provision for His people. |
| Is 28:12 | This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing”... | God providing true refreshing rest. |
| Ps 63:1 | O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You... | Soul's deep thirst and longing for God. |
| Ps 143:6 | I stretch out my hands to You; My soul longs for You as a thirsty land. | Another expression of desperate spiritual thirst. |
| Jer 3:19 | I said: ‘How I would like to treat you as sons, And give you a pleasant land, A beautiful heritage among the nations!’ | God desires a unique, intimate relationship with His people as His heritage. |
| Jn 15:4 | Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. | Importance of remaining intimately connected to the Beloved. |
| Eph 5:25-27 | Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her... that He might present her to Himself a glorious church... | Christ's profound love for His church, mirroring the Bride's love for the Beloved. |
| Rev 19:7 | Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. | The ultimate union of Christ and the Church. |
| 2 Cor 6:14 | Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? | Warns against association that could obscure one's identity or lead astray. |
| Heb 4:1 | Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. | Emphasizes the promise and importance of entering God's rest. |
| 1 Pet 2:25 | For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. | Recognition of straying and returning to the true Shepherd. |
| Jn 21:15-17 | "Feed My lambs"; "Tend My sheep"; "Feed My sheep." | The command to shepherd and nourish God's flock. |
Song Of Solomon 1 verses
Song Of Solomon 1 7 Meaning
The Bride expresses a fervent yearning for her Beloved, whom she deeply loves. She desires to know His dwelling place and where He provides sustenance and rest for His flock. Her concern is to remain in His presence, specifically inquiring why she should appear as one who hides or is left to wander, especially amongst those who belong to other shepherds, when her sole desire is to be recognized as His own. This signifies a profound longing for guidance, intimacy, protection, and exclusive identity within their relationship.
Song Of Solomon 1 7 Context
Song of Solomon 1 opens with the Bride, the Shulamite, expressing her longing for the Beloved (who is understood as King Solomon, presented here with shepherd-like qualities) and desiring his affection. She has been brought into the King's chambers but appears to feel a distance or separation, possibly due to her pastoral background contrasting with courtly life, or a symbolic spiritual longing despite close proximity. This verse directly follows her humble admission of her dark complexion, comparing herself to the tents of Kedar and the curtains of Solomon, suggesting self-consciousness and possibly unworthiness. Her plea to know where the Beloved pastures his flock is therefore an earnest request for intimate connection, guidance, and a place of belonging and security, far from the possibility of being mistaken for a vagrant or someone belonging to another. She wants to be fully identified with Him, her True Shepherd.
Song Of Solomon 1 7 Word analysis
- Tell me (הַגִּידָה נָּא - haggidah na): An imperative that functions as an urgent, earnest request or plea. It carries a sense of tender intimacy and humble dependence, seeking clear direction.
- O you whom my soul loves (שֶׁאָהֲבָה נַפְשִׁי - she'ahavah nafshi): Nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ) denotes the entire person, the core of being, not merely emotion. This is an expression of deep, comprehensive, and life-altering love, underscoring her complete devotion and the totality of her being focused on Him.
- Where you feed your flock (אֵיכָה תִרְעֶה - ekah tir'eh - Where you pasture/tend): Points to the place of provision, leadership, and daily care. She desires to be where His protective care and spiritual nourishment are.
- Where you make it rest at noon (אֵיכָה תַּרְבִּיץ בַּצָּהֳרָיִם - ekah tarbitz batzohorayim):
- Tarbitz (תַּרְבִּיץ): "You make lie down" or "You give rest." It conveys the idea of bringing to a secure and peaceful place, a place of safety and repose.
- Batzohorayim (בַּצָּהֳרָיִם): "At noon," literally "double light" or "midday." This is the hottest and most arduous part of the day, when the sun is strongest, symbolizing periods of trial, heat, or spiritual weariness. To find rest at noon signifies supreme protection and relief during difficulty.
- For why should I be as one who veils herself (כְּעֹטְיָה - k'oteyah): This is a highly debated and significant word.
- K'oteyah derives from ʿāṭâ (עָטָה), meaning "to wrap oneself," "to cover," or "to veil." It can also carry connotations of faintness or languishing.
- The interpretation "one who veils herself" is most common. A fully veiled woman in some contexts (e.g., Gen 38:15 with Tamar) could signify a harlot or a woman seeking anonymity for illicit purposes.
- Alternatively, it could suggest one who is confused, bewildered, a wanderer with no clear path, someone "wrapped up" in doubt, or even a mourner.
- The Bride is expressing her intense desire to not be misunderstood, misplaced, or identified with those who are separated from a true shepherd. She wishes for clear identity with her Beloved, avoiding any appearance of disrepute or aimlessness.
- By the flocks of your companions (ʿal ʿederē ḥăverēkha - by the flocks of your associates/friends): She explicitly differentiates between her Beloved's flock and those of other, lesser shepherds. Her desire for exclusivity is paramount; she wants to belong uniquely and recognizably to Him alone, not just any flock among many.
Song Of Solomon 1 7 Bonus section
The reference to "noon" (צָהֳרָיִם - tzahorayim) is not merely a time marker but carries symbolic weight as the peak of day, indicating periods of intense activity, heat, or testing. The request for rest "at noon" signifies a yearning for divine peace and shelter precisely when human strength is most depleted or external pressures are greatest. The concern about being "veiled" (כְּעֹטְיָה - k'oteyah) goes beyond physical covering; it expresses a fear of appearing without direction, confused, or marginalized in the spiritual landscape, perhaps even mistaken for those involved in spiritual adultery (chasing after other "shepherds" or idols). The Bride seeks full transparency, clarity of purpose, and undeniable association with her True Beloved, the one Shepherd of her soul.
Song Of Solomon 1 7 Commentary
Song of Solomon 1:7 is a beautiful articulation of the Bride's spiritual yearning and vulnerability. She actively seeks divine guidance ("Tell me") and desires an intimate, secure place with her Beloved ("where you feed your flock, where you make it rest at noon"). This passionate quest highlights her recognition of His ultimate provision and protection. Her plea "why should I be as one who veils herself by the flocks of your companions?" reveals a profound desire for exclusive identity and belonging. She longs to be clearly identified as His, avoiding any perception of being a spiritual wanderer, unattached, or even misidentified as someone of ill repute or merely associated with secondary influences. This verse captures the believer's deep yearning for communion with Christ, desiring to dwell continually in His presence, finding spiritual sustenance and true rest in Him amidst life's struggles, and living as one wholly consecrated to Him, distinctly separated from the distractions and influences of the world. It’s a prayer for clear spiritual direction and an uncompromised relationship with the Lord.