Song Of Solomon 4:2 kjv
Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.
Song Of Solomon 4:2 nkjv
Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep Which have come up from the washing, Every one of which bears twins, And none is barren among them.
Song Of Solomon 4:2 niv
Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing. Each has its twin; not one of them is alone.
Song Of Solomon 4:2 esv
Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes that have come up from the washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost its young.
Song Of Solomon 4:2 nlt
Your teeth are as white as sheep,
recently shorn and freshly washed.
Your smile is flawless,
each tooth matched with its twin.
Song Of Solomon 4 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Song 4:2 | Your teeth are like a flock of sheep | Comparison of beauty |
| Psalm 119:103 | How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! | Words like sweetness |
| Proverbs 16:24 | Pleasant words are like honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. | Pleasant words healing |
| Matthew 12:37 | For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. | Words revealing character |
| John 6:63 | The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. | Words imparting life |
| 1 Corinthians 15:2 | By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed for nothing. | Words of salvation |
| 1 Peter 1:23 | For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. | Enduring Word of God |
| Revelation 19:13 | He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. | Christ as the Word |
| Song 7:14 | that all the berries, both new and old, I have kept for you, my beloved. | Cherishing delights |
| 1 Samuel 1:18 | When she had weaned him, she took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a jar of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. | Offering perfection |
| Exodus 12:5 | Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. | Perfect sacrifice |
| Leviticus 1:3 | If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. | Male without blemish |
| Numbers 28:3 | and say to them, ‘This is the offering made by fire that you shall present to the Lord: two male lambs a year old without blemish, daily, as a regular burnt offering. | Daily perfection |
| Psalm 33:5 | He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his steadfast love. | God's love for justice |
| Isaiah 53:7 | He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. | Silence like a sheep |
| Matthew 7:20 | So you will recognize them by their fruits. | Recognizing by fruit |
| John 10:11 | I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. | Shepherd laying down life |
| 1 Peter 2:25 | For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. | Sheep returning |
| Revelation 7:17 | For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. | Lamb as Shepherd |
| Hebrews 4:12 | For the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and inner workings; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. | Word penetrating soul |
| Revelation 21:4 | He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. | God wiping away tears |
Song Of Solomon 4 verses
Song Of Solomon 4 2 Meaning
Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep, gleaming as they emerge from the washing. They are uniformly perfect, with no ewe missing her twin.
Song Of Solomon 4 2 Context
This verse is found within the Song of Solomon, a book celebrated for its poetic expressions of love. Specifically, chapter 4 shifts to the lover's praise of his beloved, detailing her physical attributes as signs of her inner beauty and worth. The Beloved’s purity, whiteness, and perfection are highlighted through the imagery of sheep. This mirrors the ideal qualities sought in sacrificial animals within the Old Testament. The emphasis on the flock's uniformity and completeness also evokes a sense of perfection and belonging.
Song Of Solomon 4 2 Word Analysis
- Shesh (שֵׁשׁ): This Hebrew word means "six." While seemingly precise, in this context, it contributes to the overall sense of perfect proportion and completion rather than a literal count. It suggests an abundance and a completeness beyond simple enumeration.
- Yerekem (רֵיקִים): This word translates to "empties" or "vacated ones." In relation to the sheep, it emphasizes that they have been shorn and therefore appear less full. However, when paired with the description of them emerging from washing, it highlights the pure and clean state of their being, stripped of externals to reveal inherent beauty.
- Keretz (קְרַצּוֹת): This term refers to a "piece" or a "joint." It is often translated as "ribs" in some contexts. Here, used in relation to teeth, it suggests an orderly arrangement and perfect alignment.
- Shaqa`a (שָׁקְעָה): This word means "to sink" or "to submerge." It speaks of the sheep being washed thoroughly. The imagery is vivid, showing the complete immersion and cleansing of the sheep.
- Tza’en (צאֹן): This refers to "flock," specifically of sheep and goats, but more generally to a flock. It evokes gentleness, purity, and innocence.
- Gaza (גָּזְזוּ): This is the Qal perfect 3rd person feminine plural form of the verb "to shear." It directly indicates the action of shearing the sheep.
- ‘Ula (עֻלּוּ): This verb form, Qal perfect 3rd person feminine plural of 'alah, means "they ascended" or "they came up." This implies the sheep are emerging, newly shorn and washed.
- Mimma’ayan (מִמַּעְיָן): This means "from the spring" or "from the fountain." It suggests a pure source of water, reinforcing the purity of the cleansing.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep, gleaming as they emerge from the washing: This phrase uses a powerful simile. The teeth, vital for speaking and consuming, are compared to sheep that have been shorn and washed. Sheep shearing symbolizes cleansing and a new beginning. The washing in a spring ("mimma'ayan") emphasizes purity from an untainted source. The gleaming ("shaqa'a") highlights their brightness and healthy appearance after this process. This imagery connects oral presentation with divine cleansing and beauty.
- They are uniformly perfect, with no ewe missing her twin: This second part of the verse intensifies the perfection. "Uniformly perfect" suggests a complete, faultless appearance. The image of "no ewe missing her twin" conveys absolute symmetry and wholeness. Each tooth is perfectly in place and matches its counterpart, a visual representation of absolute regularity and flawless creation.
Song Of Solomon 4 2 Bonus Section
The number "six" in the Hebrew text can also carry symbolic weight, often associated with divine completeness and perfection, mirroring the six days of creation before God rested. The specific imagery of teeth here also links to speech and nourishment. Beautiful, perfectly aligned, and clean teeth are often associated with articulate speech and the ability to properly nourish. In the spiritual sense, this can represent the clear, unblemished articulation of divine truth and the spiritual nourishment that comes from pure, incorruptible doctrine. The comparison of teeth to sheep connects the beloved to the sacrificial lambs of Israel, prefiguring Christ, the perfect Lamb of God. His followers are also described metaphorically as sheep. The complete flock, perfectly formed and cleansed, speaks to the totality of God's redeemed people, perfectly presented before Him.
Song Of Solomon 4 2 Commentary
The lover's admiration for his beloved's teeth uses potent imagery from the pastoral world. Her teeth are not merely beautiful but are a reflection of a profound purity and perfection. The simile of the newly shorn and washed sheep suggests a radiant cleanliness and order. The addition of "gleaming as they emerge from the washing" implies a brilliance and vitality. The detail "uniformly perfect, with no ewe missing her twin" elevates this to an extraordinary level of flawlessness, presenting an ideal of complete symmetry and divine artistry. This imagery serves to illustrate not only physical beauty but also an inner purity that is wholly pleasing.