Song Of Solomon 5 9

Song Of Solomon 5:9 kjv

What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?

Song Of Solomon 5:9 nkjv

What is your beloved More than another beloved, O fairest among women? What is your beloved More than another beloved, That you so charge us?

Song Of Solomon 5:9 niv

How is your beloved better than others, most beautiful of women? How is your beloved better than others, that you so charge us?

Song Of Solomon 5:9 esv

What is your beloved more than another beloved, O most beautiful among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you thus adjure us?

Song Of Solomon 5:9 nlt

Why is your lover better than all others,
O woman of rare beauty?
What makes your lover so special
that we must promise this?

Song Of Solomon 5 verses

Song Of Solomon 5 9 Meaning

This verse describes the beloved's questioning response to the Shulamite's distressed call after she was wounded by the watchmen. It expresses a sense of confusion and mild exasperation as to how she can still be recognized and addressed, given her wounded state and her assertion that the watchmen had wounded her.

Song Of Solomon 5 9 Context

This verse appears in chapter 5 of the Song of Solomon, following the Shulamite woman's distressing account of being accosted and injured by the city watchmen. She had previously encouraged her beloved to return, describing him with passionate imagery. However, in chapter 5, she recounts a harrowing experience where, while seeking her beloved, she was mistaken for a common woman and assaulted. The beloved, upon hearing her distressed call, inquires about her condition. This verse is his initial response to her plea and description of her mistreatment, expressed as a question directed at her friends (or possibly at her directly in a gentle chiding tone) who might be present or who she addressed initially. The historical context of the Song of Solomon is ancient Israel, where love, marriage, and intimate relationships were understood within a covenantal framework, often used allegorically to represent God's relationship with His people.

Song Of Solomon 5 9 Word Analysis

• "O fairest among women"

  • Hebrew: "Yafehfiyya" (יָפָהפִּיָּה). This is an intensified superlative form of "yafeh" (יָפֶה), meaning beautiful or fair. It suggests a superlative degree of beauty, unparalleled or unique.
  • Significance: This endearing address acknowledges her exceptional beauty and loveliness, even in her current distressed state. It underscores the beloved's deep affection and focus on her essential beauty, not her superficial wounds.

• "what is thy beloved"

  • Hebrew: "Mah yedidukh" (מַה יְדִידֻךְ). "Mah" (מַה) means "what." "Yedidukh" (יְדִידֻךְ) comes from the root "yadad" (יָדַד), meaning beloved or loved one. It signifies a deep, intimate love.
  • Significance: This part of the question implies that she might be speaking of or searching for her beloved. It's a natural inquiry given her previous desperate searching for him.

• "is thy beloved more than"

  • Hebrew: "Me‘od yedidukh" (מֵעוֹד יְדִידֻךְ). "Me‘od" (מֵעוֹד) can mean "more," "exceedingly," or "beyond."
  • Significance: This introduces a comparative element. The beloved is essentially asking: "How is your beloved (my lover) different or superior to other lovers, especially in such a manner that warrants this kind of distress?"

• "another beloved"

  • Hebrew: "Hedod gadol" (הֲדֹד גָּדוֹל). "Hedod" (הֲדֹד) is another term for beloved, reinforcing the intimate connection. "Gadol" (גָּדוֹל) means great or strong.
  • Significance: The question could also be interpreted as asking, "Is your beloved's distress (that you seem to be implying caused by him indirectly, by going out to look for him) so great that he surpasses all other beloveds in that suffering, or that his love for you is so great that it explains your pain?" More broadly, it implies a challenge or query about the uniqueness and significance of their bond that might elicit such a strong response.

• "O fairest among women"

  • Hebrew: "Hashifrosh bimmisheen" (הַשִּׁפְרוֹחִית בְּמוּשִׁי). The common translation used "fairest among women," but "Hashifrosh" is obscure. Some scholars suggest it could be related to "shepherah" (שֶׁפֶר), meaning beauty or splendor, or even "shifra" (שִׁפְרָה), meaning to be fair or shine. Another interpretation suggests "Shimrim" (שִׁמְרִים), guards, are implied from context, asking "O guard of the fair?" but this is less likely. The address itself remains consistent.
  • Significance: Reiterating the affectionate and esteemed address.

• "whither is thy beloved gone"

  • Hebrew: "Le'an hilad yedidukh" (לְאָן הָלַךְ יְדִידֻךְ). "Le'an" (לְאָן) means "where" or "whither." "Halach" (הָלַךְ) means "to go."
  • Significance: This is the core of the question. He's asking where her beloved (himself) has gone. This indicates that he perhaps moved away while she was being attacked or is trying to gauge her awareness of his presence or absence. It could also be interpreted as "Where has your beloved led you?" implying he was the cause of her distress by leaving her unprotected.

• "is thy beloved turned aside"

  • Hebrew: "Pa-naf yedidukh" (פָּנָה יְדִידֻךְ). "Panah" (פָּנָה) means to turn, turn aside, or turn away.
  • Significance: This further probes the beloved's (his own) actions or presence. Has he withdrawn? Has he abandoned her? It expresses a degree of disbelief that he would simply turn aside or neglect her, given their presumed strong connection.

• "that we may seek him"

  • Hebrew: "She-nelezma na." (שֶׁנִּזְרֶה נָא). "She-nelezma" (שֶׁנִּזְרֶה) is a very obscure word. Some connect it to "zara" (זָרָה), meaning to sow, scatter, or drift. The sense is to go in search, perhaps scattered in the search. Others connect it to the verb "na'ash" (נָעַשׁ), to rush about. It implies a purposeful searching. "Na" (נָא) is an imperative particle, "please" or "let us."
  • Significance: This offers a cooperative solution. If the beloved is missing, they (the Shulamite and possibly her companions or friends, whom the beloved is addressing) should collectively go and look for him. This suggests a willingness to help or to reassure her by joining the search.

Song Of Solomon 5 9 Bonus Section

The very obscure Hebrew word translated as "turned aside" (לְאָן הָלַךְ יְדִידֻךְ, פָּנָה יְדִידֻךְ - "Whither is thy beloved gone? is thy beloved turned aside?") is central to understanding the beloved's questioning. It conveys a sense of disorientation and uncertainty about his own presence or status in relation to her. Some commentators suggest "turned aside" could imply he was "led astray" or distracted, further deepening the sense of loss and separation she might be experiencing. The insistence on asking "what is thy beloved more than another beloved" highlights the absolute exclusivity of their love. It asserts that their union and mutual devotion transcend ordinary affection, justifying her deep sorrow and desperate search. This exclusiveness is a key characteristic of biblical love, especially in the allegorical sense of God’s love for His people, which is a jealous love, demanding exclusive devotion.

Song Of Solomon 5 9 Commentary

The beloved’s question, “O fairest among women, what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?” is a poignant moment of gentle inquiry born from concern and perhaps a touch of perplexity. He addresses her with the highest compliment, "fairest among women," affirming her beauty and worth even amidst her suffering. His questions are not accusatory but are rather a probing for understanding. He is essentially asking why she places such emphasis on him, her specific beloved, to the point of bringing such a serious charge (implicitly against himself or the situation he represents).

The wording implies a contrast: "What makes your beloved so special that you lay this charge upon us, more than another beloved would warrant?" It challenges her to articulate the unique nature of their bond. Following her distress and the assault, her earlier desperate cry for her beloved implies he is absent or unreachable. His question also implies his own disorientation and a request for clarity: "Where has your beloved gone, and has he turned aside?" He is seeking direction and confirmation of his own role and presence.

The offer, "that we may seek him," shows a willingness to actively participate in finding him, emphasizing their unity of purpose in seeking him. This can be understood on multiple levels. For the bride and groom, it's about shared longing and active pursuit of union. Allegorically, for Israel and God, it speaks to the people's responsibility to seek God, and God’s desire to be found when sincerely sought. In the New Testament, it mirrors Christ seeking the lost sheep and His call for us to seek His kingdom, with the assurance that when we seek Him, we will find Him. The underlying theme is the preeminence of a unique and powerful love that justifies the searching, the distress, and the profound connection.