Song Of Solomon 7:1 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Song Of Solomon 7:1 kjv
How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.
Song Of Solomon 7:1 nkjv
How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O prince's daughter! The curves of your thighs are like jewels, The work of the hands of a skillful workman.
Song Of Solomon 7:1 niv
How beautiful your sandaled feet, O prince's daughter! Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work of an artist's hands.
Song Of Solomon 7:1 esv
How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O noble daughter! Your rounded thighs are like jewels, the work of a master hand.
Song Of Solomon 7:1 nlt
How beautiful are your sandaled feet,
O queenly maiden.
Your rounded thighs are like jewels,
the work of a skilled craftsman.
Song Of Solomon 7 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Short note) |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 45:13 | The king's daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is of gold embroidery. | Royal bride, inner and outer glory. |
| Psa 45:14 | She shall be led to the king in robes of many colors; the virgins, her companions, shall follow her... | The bride's glorious presentation to the King. |
| Eph 5:27 | ...that He might present to Himself the church in splendor... holy and blameless. | Christ's presentation of His glorious Bride. |
| 1 Pet 3:3-4 | Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry... but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart... | Balanced view of external adornment with inner beauty. |
| Gen 1:27 | So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. | Human body as divinely created, inherent dignity. |
| Gen 2:24 | Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. | The sacred union of husband and wife, bodily intimacy. |
| Heb 13:4 | Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. | Marriage and its physical intimacy are honorable. |
| 1 Cor 7:5 | Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time... | Legitimate enjoyment of physical intimacy in marriage. |
| Psa 139:13-14 | For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. | God as the ultimate skillful craftsman of the human body. |
| Ex 31:3-5 | And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship... to work in all crafts. | Divine gift of skill and craftsmanship. |
| Isa 60:13 | The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane tree, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary... | Beautification and glorious adornment of God's dwelling/people. |
| Eze 16:13 | Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was fine linen, and silk, and embroidered cloth... | God's adornment of Israel as His chosen bride. |
| Isa 52:7 | How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news... | Beautiful feet, though metaphorical for proclamation. |
| Rom 10:15 | And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" | The beauty of feet that carry a blessed message. |
| Prov 4:26 | Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. | The importance of a well-ordered walk/steps. |
| Psa 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | Guiding one's feet by God's truth. |
| Song 6:11-12 | I went down to the garden of nuts, to see the blossoming in the valley, to see whether the vine budded... My soul set me among the chariots of Amminadib. | References to vineyards, gardens and the bride's mysterious royal elevation. |
| Prov 5:18-19 | Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth... may her breasts satisfy you at all times... | Celebrating the physical attributes of one's spouse. |
| 2 Sam 1:24 | O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel! | Valued adornment in Israelite culture. |
| Isa 61:10 | For he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. | Spiritual adornment, likened to bridal splendor. |
Song Of Solomon 7 verses
Song Of Solomon 7 1 meaning
This verse is a heartfelt declaration of admiration from the beloved King to the Shulammite woman, celebrating her physical beauty from her adorned feet upwards. He sees her elegant movement and the graceful form of her thighs as not merely flesh, but as precious ornaments and a masterfully crafted work of art, elevating her status to that of a "prince's daughter" in his eyes. It underscores the beauty and holiness of physical intimacy and attractiveness within the boundaries of marital love, valuing the human body as a divine creation.
Song Of Solomon 7 1 Context
Song of Solomon chapter 7 opens with a continuation of the King's ardent description of his beloved, the Shulammite woman. This verse initiates a "wasf" or descriptive poem, focusing on her physical features in an upward progression, a common poetic device in ancient Near Eastern love poetry. It immediately follows the Shulammite's expression of desire to "go to the fields" with her beloved in 6:11. The historical context reflects a celebration of intimate marital love in ancient Israelite culture, where such beauty and physical attraction within marriage were considered God-given and good. This book, including this verse, portrays the delight and admiration between husband and wife, implicitly affirming the goodness of God's creation, including the human body, and counters any tendency towards asceticism that might devalue physical form or marital intimacy.
Song Of Solomon 7 1 Word analysis
- מַה (mah): "How" – An exclamation denoting intensity or admiration, rather than a question. It introduces an awe-struck statement about her beauty.
- יָּאפוּ (ya'phu): "beautiful are" – Derived from the root yapheh, meaning to be beautiful, handsome, or fair. It implies an aesthetic pleasingness. Here, it is used as a strong affirmation of her attractiveness.
- פְעָמַיִךְ (pe'a'ma'yich): "your feet" (or "your steps/gait") – While often meaning "steps" or "strides" (as in one's walk or path), the mention of "sandals" strongly suggests the feet themselves are being admired. It could also encompass the grace of her movement. The focus on her lower extremities begins an ascending poetic description of her body.
- בַּנְּעָלִים (ba'na'a'leem): "in sandals" – Footwear, likely ornate, signifying status, adornment, and the deliberate care taken in her appearance. Sandals protect and ornament, highlighting her readiness for joyous activity or travel.
- בַּת-נָדִיב (bat-na'deev): "O prince's daughter!" – A term of high esteem and honor. Nadiyb signifies nobility, generosity, or one of princely birth. This is likely not a literal designation (as she is often portrayed as a country girl), but a poetic elevation, expressing the King's view of her inherent dignity, worth, and regal beauty in his eyes. It elevates her to a royal status by association.
- דַּלְיּוֹת (dal'yot): "The curves/graceful lines/swirls" – Literally "branches" or "pendulous boughs of a vine." This vivid metaphor suggests the supple, rounded, and flowing form of her thighs, likened to the beautiful, flourishing tendrils of a productive vine. It speaks of natural, organic beauty rather than rigid lines.
- יְרֵכַיִךְ (ye're'cha'yich): "your thighs" – A part of the female anatomy admired for its strength, curves, and graceful form. The ancient Near East viewed this area as a symbol of beauty and vitality.
- כְּמוֹ (k'mo): "like" – A preposition introducing a simile, comparing her thighs to the following object.
- חֲלָאִים (chala'im): "jewels/ornaments" – Specifically, expensive jewelry, often linked together or chains of gold. The image suggests intricately crafted, valuable, and shining adornments, indicating precision, worth, and brilliance. It implies her physical form itself is seen as an object of precious, refined beauty.
- מַעֲשֵׂה (ma'a'seh): "the work" – A product, creation, or deed, emphasizing the deliberate design and effort involved.
- יְדֵי (y'dey): "of the hands" – Indicates agency, that the "work" is skillfully fashioned by an artisan.
- אֹמָן (o'man): "of a skillful craftsman/artist" – A master worker, an artisan skilled in designing and creating valuable objects, particularly with metal or gems. This highlights the perceived perfection, precision, and aesthetic value of her form, attributing it to superior craftsmanship.
- "How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O prince's daughter!": This opening phrase sets a tone of intense admiration and honor. The combination of her "feet in sandals" being called beautiful highlights not just the feet themselves, but her adorned steps and the elegance of her presence. The appellation "prince's daughter" elevates her stature in the King's affectionate gaze, recognizing her innate nobility and value far beyond social status.
- "The curves of your thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a skillful craftsman.": This is a powerful double simile. Firstly, her thighs, using the organic, flourishing metaphor of "vine branches," are then likened to precious "jewels" or ornate golden chains. This layers natural beauty with the exquisite value of man-made art. The concluding phrase "the work of the hands of a skillful craftsman" elevates this beauty to the realm of high art, implying meticulous design, flawless execution, and immense value. It points to a beauty that is divinely ordained and masterfully designed.
Song Of Solomon 7 1 Bonus section
This verse initiates a detailed wasf, an ancient poetic form used to describe the beloved's physical features. Unlike some modern perspectives, which might prioritize modesty by concealing all, this book celebrates the open and joyful admiration of a spouse's body within marriage. The King's perception of her as a "prince's daughter" transcends socio-economic status, revealing how true love bestows immense value and honor upon the beloved. The description starting from her feet and moving upward (as seen in the following verses, moving to the navel, waist, breasts, neck, eyes, nose, and head) is a classical structure for such poems, demonstrating a deliberate and complete appreciation of her form. This comprehensive, almost architectural, praise for her beauty is not superficial but expresses deep affection, indicating that physical attraction is an integral, sacred component of marital love, not separate from it.
Song Of Solomon 7 1 Commentary
Song of Solomon 7:1 offers a profound glimpse into the celebration of physical beauty within a holy and committed relationship. The King's lavish praise of the Shulammite, starting from her feet and moving upward, is characteristic of ancient Near Eastern love poetry, emphasizing a comprehensive appreciation of her form. The imagery chosen is deliberate: "feet in sandals" speaks to her readiness, elegance, and perhaps her journeying toward him, while "prince's daughter" denotes an intrinsic worth and royal dignity that the King sees in her, irrespective of her actual lineage. The striking comparison of her thighs to "branches" of a vine conveys supple, natural beauty, then layered with "jewels" and the "work of a skillful craftsman," highlighting exquisite value and artistry. This verse not only revels in sensuous admiration but also implicitly underscores a crucial theological point: the human body, its beauty, and the physical intimacy between a husband and wife are God-designed and worthy of esteem, praise, and enjoyment. It is a holy testament to the Creator's art and the joy He intends within the marriage covenant.