Song Of Solomon 6:7 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Song Of Solomon 6:7 kjv
As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks.
Song Of Solomon 6:7 nkjv
Like a piece of pomegranate Are your temples behind your veil.
Song Of Solomon 6:7 niv
Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate.
Song Of Solomon 6:7 esv
Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil.
Song Of Solomon 6:7 nlt
Your cheeks are like rosy pomegranates
behind your veil.
Song Of Solomon 6 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text (Shortened) | Reference (Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Praise of Beauty | ||
| Song 1:15 | Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful... | Beloved's recurring praise of her beauty. |
| Song 4:1 | Behold, you are beautiful, my love...your eyes are doves behind your veil... | Similar praise for veiled beauty (eyes). |
| Song 4:7 | You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. | The comprehensive and unblemished beauty. |
| Song 5:9 | What is your beloved more than another beloved...that you thus adjure us? | Other's wonder at the source of her captivating beauty. |
| Song 5:16 | ...He is altogether desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend... | Ultimate commendation, mirroring her praise. |
| Ps 45:11 | ...the King will desire your beauty. | Royal desire for the beauty of the queen. |
| Ezek 16:13 | ...Your beauty was perfect. | God's adorning of Israel's beauty. |
| Hidden/Inner Beauty | ||
| 1 Pet 3:3-4 | ...Let your adornment be the hidden person of the heart... | Emphasis on inner, rather than external, showy beauty. |
| Prov 31:30 | Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. | Contrasting external superficial beauty with inner virtue. |
| Ps 45:13 | The King’s daughter is all glorious within... | Beauty and splendor are inherent and internal. |
| Pomegranate Symbolism | ||
| Song 4:13 | ...pomegranate with precious fruits... | Pomegranates among the choice fruits in her garden, symbolizing fertility. |
| Song 4:3 | ...Your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your veil. | Previous praise of her beauty with similar pomegranate imagery. |
| Num 13:23 | ...they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes; and they carried pomegranates... | Pomegranates as symbols of the promised land's fruitfulness. |
| Deut 8:8 | ...a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates... | Pomegranates listed as blessings of the land, symbolizing abundance. |
| Exo 28:33-34 | ...pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, all around the hem... | Ornaments on priestly garments, symbolizing spiritual richness and glory. |
| Hag 2:19 | Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate...have yielded nothing. | Pomegranates signify natural blessing and yield. |
| Church as Bride (Allegorical) | ||
| Eph 5:25-27 | ...Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her... | Christ's love for His church, desiring her pure beauty. |
| Rev 19:7-8 | ...for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; | The Church as the prepared, adorned Bride of Christ. |
| Rev 21:2 | ...new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. | The celestial city, a metaphor for the perfected Bride. |
| Captivating Beauty/Attraction | ||
| Song 6:5 | Turn your eyes away from me, for they overwhelm me. | The beloved is overcome by her beauty. |
| Prov 6:25 | Do not desire her beauty in your heart, nor let her capture you with her eyelids. | The power of a woman's captivating beauty (warning context, but showing impact). |
Song Of Solomon 6 verses
Song Of Solomon 6 7 meaning
The Beloved, the King, continues his effusive praise for the Shulamite's beauty. Here, he describes her temples – a delicate and often subtly observed part of the face – as resembling a luscious, crimson slice of a pomegranate. This beauty is not overtly displayed but is captivatingly glimpsed and hinted at, seen "behind her veil" or through her protective covering of hair, adding an element of mystery and allure. The imagery suggests a vibrant, healthy, and inviting beauty that is both pure and alluring, promising the sweet richness of the pomegranate without full exposure.
Song Of Solomon 6 7 Context
Song of Solomon 6:7 is a continuation of the Beloved's profound declarations of love and admiration for the Shulamite. The chapter opens with the daughters of Jerusalem asking about her beloved, and she responds, confirming her love. Immediately, the Beloved appears, expressing his immense delight in her, declaring her more beautiful than queens and concubines (6:4, 8-9). Verse 7 is part of an unbroken flow of physical praise (6:5-7), describing specific features: her eyes (doves), hair (flock of goats), teeth (flock of sheep), and here, her temples and the blushing hint of beauty behind a veil. Historically and culturally, the poem operates within ancient Near Eastern wedding customs and courtly love poetry, where lavish descriptions of the beloved's physical attributes were common. Pomegranates held rich symbolic significance, representing fertility, abundance, love, and life, and their reddish hue often evoked passion and vitality. The mention of a "veil" not only indicates modesty but also adds an element of intriguing concealment, making the partially glimpsed beauty more alluring, reflecting a common appreciation for veiled beauty that enhances rather than hides attraction in that cultural milieu.
Song Of Solomon 6 7 Word analysis
- Your temples:
לִצְמָּתֵךְ(litsmatēkh) – The Hebrew termצַמָּה(tsammah), from which this is derived, is somewhat ambiguous. While "temples" (the sides of the head) is a common translation, it can also refer to "locks," "tresses," or a "veil/head-covering" that frames the face. In this context, it often refers to the delicate area of the head adorned or framed by hair, potentially blushing or having a reddish hue. It signifies a point of intimate focus and tender beauty. - are like a piece:
כְּפֶלַח(kəp̄elaḥ) –כְּ(ke) means "like" or "as," a direct simile.פֶלַח(pelaḥ) means "slice," "segment," or "piece," specifically implying a portion of fruit cut lengthwise. It suggests a perfect, symmetrical, and inviting portion, implying freshness and vibrancy. - of a pomegranate:
הָרִמּוֹן(hārimmon) – The pomegranate fruit. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the pomegranate was highly symbolic. Its numerous seeds represented fertility and abundance; its deep red color signified passion, vitality, health, and sometimes modesty (a blush); its sweetness represented pleasure and love. It was also considered a symbol of divine blessing and a common motif in art and architecture. The comparison highlights the Shulamite's alluring beauty, perhaps suggesting a hint of her inner richness and vibrant life, as well as her pure, blush-like complexion. - Behind:
מִבַּעַד(mibbaʿaḏ) – This preposition means "through," "behind," or "beyond." It denotes a partial concealment, an indirect view. This detail adds an element of mystery, intrigue, and modesty to the beloved's beauty. The beauty is not fully exposed but hinted at, increasing its captivation and intimacy. - your veil:
לְצַמָּתֵךְ(lətzammatēkh) – This is the second occurrence ofצַמָּתֵךְin the same verse. Given the firstצַמָּתֵךְbeing interpreted as "temples" (framed by hair/covering), this second usage is commonly translated as "veil" or "tresses" or "locks" that create the covering. This repetition strongly emphasizes the veiled, obscured, or partially glimpsed nature of her beauty. The same word being used twice can highlight that it is precisely through or behind these tresses/veil that her temple's beauty (perhaps a blush) becomes so compelling.
Song Of Solomon 6 7 Bonus section
The poetic use of the word צַמָּתֵךְ (tzammatēkh) twice within the same verse is a significant stylistic feature. It's an example of poetic intensification, where the repetition (often with slightly varied function, as here "temples" vs. "veil/locks") serves to heighten emphasis and create a rich, multi-layered image. It specifically emphasizes the interaction between the physical feature (temples) and its covering (veil/tresses), highlighting how one frames and enhances the other. The "temples" are an area of blushing, a sign of modest affection and vibrancy, which, when subtly seen through the tzammah (veil/tresses), becomes especially attractive. This detail suggests the Shulamite’s vibrant, blushing skin is hinted at or accentuated by the covering, making her beauty exceptionally alluring and full of life, rather than being completely obscured.
Song Of Solomon 6 7 Commentary
Song of Solomon 6:7 portrays the Shulamite's beauty through an intimate, delicate lens. The Beloved’s description of her temples, visible behind her veil like a slice of pomegranate, underscores a captivating charm that is not ostentatious but subtly revealed. The pomegranate evokes richness, vibrant color (a healthy, alluring blush), and fruitfulness, suggesting inner vitality along with outward attractiveness. The veil, rather than diminishing her appeal, enhances it by creating an air of mystery and modesty, making the partially revealed beauty more intensely desirable and precious. This verse illustrates that true attraction is often found not in full display, but in glimpses, purity, and the promise of a deeper, inner sweetness. It speaks to a love that observes and cherishes the nuanced, hidden aspects of a person's loveliness.