Song Of Solomon 5:11 kjv
His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
Song Of Solomon 5:11 nkjv
His head is like the finest gold; His locks are wavy, And black as a raven.
Song Of Solomon 5:11 niv
His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven.
Song Of Solomon 5:11 esv
His head is the finest gold; his locks are wavy, black as a raven.
Song Of Solomon 5:11 nlt
His head is finest gold,
his wavy hair is black as a raven.
Song Of Solomon 5 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Song 4:1 | How beautiful you are, my darling! How beautiful! | Emphasizes the beloved's captivating beauty |
| Psalm 147:4 | He counts the stars and calls them by name. | God's attention to details, mirroring love |
| Isaiah 40:26 | Look up and know: who created these? | God's sovereign power over creation |
| Jeremiah 9:1 | Oh, that my head were waters and my eyes a fountain of tears! | Expresses profound grief |
| Ezekiel 1:10 | As for the form of their faces: the face of a human, and the face of a lion on the right for all four, and the face of an ox on the left for all four, and the face of an eagle for all four. | Heavenly beings' diverse yet ordered beauty |
| Matthew 5:8 | Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. | Purity of heart connected to divine vision |
| 1 Peter 3:3-4 | Let your adornment not be merely outward—braiding the hair and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on fine clothes; but let it be the hidden person of the heart with the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. | Inner beauty and its preciousness |
| Song 1:15 | Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves. | Direct parallel in the song |
| Song 2:14 | O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret place of the stair, let me see your lovely face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. | The beloved seeking sight of her beauty |
| Psalm 65:9 | You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it. | Divine care and provision for the earth |
| Psalm 23:2 | He makes me lie down in green pastures. | Pastures as a symbol of divine care |
| Genesis 14:18 | And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. | Gilead known for its balm/substance |
| Hebrews 7:2 | first, by translation of the name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. | Salem's connection to peace and righteousness |
| Exodus 30:34 | The Lord said to Moses, "Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense, of each shall be an equal weight," | Fragrance and precious spices |
| Revelation 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. | Heavenly beauty and adornment |
| 1 Corinthians 12:12 | For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. | Unity in diversity of members |
| Ephesians 4:15-16 | ...but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. | Body analogy for interconnected growth |
| Song 5:12 | His eyes are like doves by the rivers of water, washed with milk, and fittingly set. | Further description of his eyes |
| Song 6:4 | You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my love, as lovely as Jerusalem, majestic as an army with banners. | Jerusalem as a place of beauty and strength |
| Psalm 133:1 | Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell in unity! | Unity brings blessing and divine favor |
Song Of Solomon 5 verses
Song Of Solomon 5 11 Meaning
The beloved describes his beloved's beloved's beauty, specifically her hair, comparing it to a flock of goats descending from Gilead. Her eyes, like doves' eyes, are seen beside the streams of water, washed clean and beautifully placed. The comparison suggests abundance, grace, and purity.
Song Of Solomon 5 11 Context
This verse appears in Song of Solomon chapter 5, immediately following the beloved's hesitant response to her lover's knock. She, having overslept, is filled with regret and searches for him, her hands dripping with myrrh. When she finally finds him, he is the one to speak first, admiring her immense beauty in a vision. The verse itself is the lover's first spoken words to her after a period of absence and longing. It reflects the deep affection and admiration between the two, highlighting a pastoral and naturalistic aesthetic often found in the Song.
Song Of Solomon 5 11 Word Analysis
- His (Hebrew: לוֹ lo): Possessive pronoun, indicating the beloved's lover.
- beloved's (Hebrew: דּוֹדִי dodiy): My beloved; indicates possession.
- beloved (Hebrew: דּוֹד dod): Lover, cousin, dear one; often translated as "my beloved." Refers to the male lover.
- beloved (Hebrew: רַעְיָה ra`yah): Companion, friend, darling, beloved; refers to the female beloved.
- is (Hebrew: כֹּה koh): Thus, so, in this way; indicating manner or degree.
- fair (Hebrew: יָפֶה yafeh): Beautiful, fair, good-looking; describing appearance.
- my love (Hebrew: אֲהָבָה ahavah): Love; can refer to the feeling or the object of affection. Here, it emphasizes the lover's endearment.
- hair (Hebrew: רֹאשׁ rosh): Head; often used to describe the hair on the head due to cultural practices of beauty and adornment.
- a flock (Hebrew: עֵדֶר `eder): Flock (of sheep or goats); suggesting a multitude and organic mass.
- descending (Hebrew: יוֹרֵד yored): Descending, going down.
- from (Hebrew: מִן min): From; indicating origin.
- Gilead (Hebrew: גִּלְעָד Gil`ad): Gilead; a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, known for its balm and pastures.
- eyes (Hebrew: עַיִן `ayin): Eye; here in plural form, referring to her eyes.
- as (Hebrew: כְּמוֹ kemow): Like, as; for comparison.
- doves' (Hebrew: יוֹנִים yonim): Doves; a bird symbolizing gentleness, innocence, and beauty.
- eyes (Hebrew: עַיִן `ayin): Eyes.
- by (Hebrew: עַל־`al-): By, beside, upon; indicating proximity or location.
- rivers (Hebrew: אֲפִיקֵי־*afiqey-): Streams, rivulets, channels (of water).
- of (Hebrew: מָיִם mayim): Water.
- water (Hebrew: מַיִם mayim): Water.
Word Groups Analysis
- "His beloved's beloved": The repetition of "beloved" signifies an overwhelming depth of affection and possessiveness in their relationship, from the speaker's perspective of his beloved, and acknowledging her lover.
- "Hair as a flock of goats descending from Gilead": This vivid simile portrays her hair as abundant, dark, flowing, and lustrous, akin to a well-kept herd moving down a fertile hillside. Gilead's association with precious balm might subtly suggest a fragrant quality or richness to her hair.
- "Your eyes are as doves' eyes by rivers of water, washed with milk, and set finely": This intricate simile highlights several qualities of her eyes:
- "as doves' eyes": Implies gentleness, innocence, purity, and perhaps a gentle cooing sound metaphorically connected to her voice.
- "by rivers of water": Suggests clarity and a reflective quality, seeing things clearly like water beside a stream.
- "washed with milk": This is a unique detail. It could imply purity, fairness, brightness, and a soft, creamy tone. The milk also hints at nourishment and life-giving qualities.
- "set finely": Indicates that her eyes are beautifully placed within her face, symmetrically and harmoniously, adding to her overall attractiveness.
Song Of Solomon 5 11 Bonus Section
The imagery of flocks of animals descending from Gilead in the Song of Songs echoes a pastoral setting. Gilead was known for its fertile pastures and valuable products like balm, symbolizing richness and goodness. This reinforces the theme of abundant blessing and desirability. The comparison of eyes to doves by water sources is a recurring motif for feminine beauty and purity throughout ancient Near Eastern literature, including Egyptian love poetry. The "washed with milk" detail specifically enhances the sense of radiant purity and gentle allure, drawing attention to the whites of her eyes for added emphasis on their clarity and depth.
Song Of Solomon 5 11 Commentary
The lover's poetic appraisal of his beloved’s features expresses profound admiration and tenderness. Her hair, described as a cascading flock of goats from Gilead, evokes images of natural beauty, abundance, and healthy vitality. This comparison likely reflects the desirable qualities of dark, perhaps curly, and lustrous hair, seen as a sign of health and beauty in ancient Near Eastern cultures. The specific mention of Gilead may further allude to the famed balm originating from that region, suggesting her hair possesses a precious, perhaps fragrant, quality.
Her eyes are compared to doves' eyes found by clear streams. This evokes a sense of pure, gentle innocence and deep affection, mirroring the gentle nature associated with doves. The imagery of water suggests transparency and purity. The phrase "washed with milk" is particularly striking, likely indicating exceptional fairness of the sclera (the white part of the eye), making the pupil stand out with clarity and beauty. The final phrase, "set finely," speaks to the perfect symmetry and proportion of her eyes in relation to her face, completing the picture of exquisite, natural beauty. This verse is a testament to the lover’s keen observation and deep appreciation for his beloved’s physical and perhaps even spiritual qualities, viewing them through the lens of pure, untainted love.