Song Of Solomon 4:3 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Song Of Solomon 4:3 kjv
Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.
Song Of Solomon 4:3 nkjv
Your lips are like a strand of scarlet, And your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil Are like a piece of pomegranate.
Song Of Solomon 4:3 niv
Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate.
Song Of Solomon 4:3 esv
Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is lovely. Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil.
Song Of Solomon 4:3 nlt
Your lips are like scarlet ribbon;
your mouth is inviting.
Your cheeks are like rosy pomegranates
behind your veil.
Song Of Solomon 4 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Beauty & Adornment | ||
| Song 1:9 | To me, my love, you are like my mare... | Admiration of beloved's beauty |
| Song 2:10 | Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away. | Expressing desire for beloved's presence |
| Ps 45:11 | the king will desire your beauty. | Royal desire for beauty, parallel to Groom |
| Is 61:10 | He has clothed me with the garments of salvation...bride adorns herself with her jewels. | Spiritual beauty & adornment |
| Ezek 16:13 | I clothed you in embroidered cloth...and arrayed you with ornaments. | Divine adornment of Jerusalem (Israel) |
| 1 Pet 3:3-4 | ...adorning...of a gentle and quiet spirit... | Emphasis on inner beauty (contrasting) |
| Eph 5:27 | that he might present the church to himself in splendor...holy and blameless. | Christ's desire for the Church's pure beauty |
| Sweet & Gracious Speech | ||
| Song 1:2 | Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth... | Desiring intimate words & affection |
| Song 5:16 | His mouth is most sweet... | General praise for beloved's speech |
| Pro 16:24 | Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul... | Value of pleasant words |
| Pro 31:26 | She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. | Virtuous woman's words |
| Ps 19:14 | Let the words of my mouth...be acceptable in your sight... | Desire for pleasing speech before God |
| Eph 4:29 | Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good... | Importance of edifying speech |
| Symbolism of Scarlet | ||
| Lev 14:4 | two living clean birds and cedarwood and scarlet yarn and hyssop. | Cultic use in cleansing, distinct for its color |
| Jos 2:18 | ...you must tie this scarlet cord in the window... | Rahab's sign of redemption/protection |
| Is 1:18 | Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow... | Symbol of deep sin, and divine cleansing |
| Heb 9:19 | For when every commandment...blood...with scarlet wool and hyssop. | Sacrificial and purification contexts |
| Pomegranate Symbolism (Fertility/Blessing) | ||
| Num 13:23 | a branch with a single cluster of grapes...and pomegranates... | Fruitfulness of the Promised Land |
| Deut 8:8 | a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates... | Description of a blessed, fruitful land |
| Hag 2:19 | Is the seed still in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate... | Promise of future blessing & fertility |
| Joel 1:12 | The vine dries up...pomegranate tree, palm tree, all the trees of the field are withered. | Loss of joy and blessing (reversal of fruitfulness) |
Song Of Solomon 4 verses
Song Of Solomon 4 3 meaning
Song of Solomon 4:3 is a poetic affirmation of the bride's exquisite beauty, specifically focusing on her lips and temples. The groom, in an intimate description, compares her lips to a scarlet thread, emphasizing their rich color and defined shape, and praises her speech as lovely. Her temples are likened to the flush of a pomegranate's flesh, subtly revealed beneath her veil, conveying a vibrant yet demure beauty that stirs affection.
Song Of Solomon 4 3 Context
Chapter 4 of Song of Solomon marks a pinnacle of the groom's praise for his bride, the Shulamite, on their wedding night. The preceding verses (4:1-2) describe her eyes, hair, teeth, and lips using vivid, natural imagery, focusing on her radiant beauty. Verse 3 continues this "wasf" or descriptive love poem, detailing her lips, speech, and temples, thereby building an ever-more intimate portrait of her physical charm and the delightful essence of her person. This praise sets the stage for the groom's declaration of his complete devotion and desire for her. Historically and culturally, such detailed praise was a customary expression of affection and honor in the ancient Near East, celebrating the beloved's appearance within the sacred context of marriage.
Song Of Solomon 4 3 Word analysis
- Your lips (שִׂפְתֹתַיִךְ - śiph·ṯō·ṯayikh): Refers to the physical lips, the organ for kissing and speaking. In Hebrew poetry, "lips" often extend to represent the character or quality of one's speech (e.g., Ps 120:2, "lying lips"). The focus is both aesthetic and functional.
- are like (כְּ - kə): A particle introducing a simile, a common poetic device throughout Song of Solomon, vividly drawing comparisons to elements of nature or valuable objects.
- a scarlet thread (חוּט שָׁנִי - ḥūṭ šā·nî):
Scarlet(šānî) denotes a brilliant red hue, often associated with luxurious dye obtained from the cochineal insect. This color was precious and potent, used in priestly garments (Ex 28:6), temple hangings (Ex 26:1), and even in purification rites (Lev 14:4).Thread(ḥūṭ) suggests a thin, delicate line.- Combined, the image portrays lips that are finely contoured, distinctly shaped, and vibrantly colored, reminiscent of a beautiful, strong, and highly valued thread. It signifies purity and intensity of color.
- and your mouth is lovely (וּמִדְבָּרֵךְ נָאוֶה - ū·miḏ·bā·rêkh nā·weh):
Mouth(miḏbārêkh) more literally means "your speech" or "your utterance." The word implies both the opening for speech and the words that come forth.Lovely(nā·weh) signifies beauty, comeliness, pleasantness, or appropriateness.- This phrase emphasizes that her words and the way she speaks are not only beautiful but also delightful and pleasing, aligning the aesthetic beauty of her lips with the graciousness of her verbal expression. It hints at the deeper connection between external charm and inner character.
- Your temples (רַקָּתֵךְ - raqqāṯêḵ): Refers to the sides of the head, above the cheekbones, extending to the ear and behind it. This area is typically delicate and can show a healthy flush.
- are like (כְּ - kə): Again, a simile, drawing comparison.
- a piece of a pomegranate (פֶּלַח הָרִמּוֹן - pelaḥ hā·rimmōwn):
Pomegranate(rimmōwn) is a highly symbolic fruit in the ancient Near East, representing fertility, abundance, prosperity, and beauty. Its deep red arils and inner juiciness were highly prized.Pieceor "half" (pelaḥ) suggests the rich red color and delicate roundness of the exposed fruit, particularly its glistening, juicy seeds.- The comparison implies a tender, glowing, reddish-pink complexion on her temples, signifying health, vitality, and luscious beauty.
- behind your veil (מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ - mib·ba‘aḏ lə·ṣammāṯêḵ):
- `Behind