About Song of Solomon

Song of Solomon celebrates romantic love and marriage, while also picturing the love between God and His people.

Author: SolomonWritten: c. 965 BCReading time: ~2 minVerses: 13
LoveBeautyDevotionMarriageDesireCovenant

King James Version

Song of Solomon 7

13 verses with commentary

Solomon Praises the Shulamite's Beauty

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.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter!</strong> The bridegroom begins an extended celebration of the bride's beauty, working from feet upward. Calling her <em>bat-nadiv</em> (בַּת־נָדִיב, prince's daughter/noble one) emphasizes her dignity and royal status—she's not common but elevated by relationship with the king. The focus on feet 'with shoes' (בַּנְּעָלִים, <em>ban...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

**VII.** (1) **How beautiful **. . .—Literally, *How beautiful are thy feet *(or *thy steps*)* in the sandals. *This description of the beauty of the bride— “From the delicate Arab arch of her feet To the grace that, bright and light as the crest Of a peacock, sits on her shining head”— is plainly connected with the dance mentioned in the last verse, and possibly proceeds in this order, instead of...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**4. shall ... beg--**literally, "ask" (in this sense, Psa 109:10).

Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies. liquor: Heb. mixture

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor</strong> (שָׁרְרֵךְ אַגַּן הַסַּהַר אַל־יֶחְסַר הַמָּזֶג)—the Hebrew <em>shorer</em> (שָׁרֵר) may refer to the navel or more broadly the midsection. The 'round goblet' (<em>aggan hassahar</em>) suggests a curved, well-formed vessel. The phrase 'wanteth not liquor' (<em>al-yechsar hammazeg</em>) means it never lacks mixed wine—sugge...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(2) **Heap of wheat set about with lilies.**—Wetstein (quoted by Delitzsch in his Appendix) remarks that in Syria the colour of wheat is regarded as the most beautiful colour the human body can have; and after remarking on the custom of decorating the heaps of winnowed corn with flowers in token of the joy of harvest, says:—“The appearance of such heaps of wheat, which one may see in long parallel...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**5. Counsel ... water--**that is, deeply hidden (Pr 18:4; Psa 13:2). The wise can discern well.

Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins</strong> (שְׁנֵי שָׁדַיִךְ כִּשְׁנֵי עֳפָרִים תָּאֳמֵי צְבִיָּה)—this exact phrase repeats from 4:5, demonstrating how covenant love returns again and again to celebrate the beloved's beauty without growing tired or bored. The Hebrew <em>opharim</em> (עֳפָרִים, young roes/fawns) and <em>to'omey tseviyah</em> (תָּאֳמֵי צְבִיָּה, twins o...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

6. Boasters are unreliable. **goodness--**or, "kind disposition."

Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Thy neck is as a tower of ivory</strong> (צַוָּארֵךְ כְּמִגְדַּל הַשֵּׁן)—the comparison emphasizes strength, elegance, and preciousness. Ivory was rare and valuable, imported from distant lands. A tower suggests dignity, uprightness, and steadfastness. The neck connects head to body, symbolizing the connection between thought and action, governance and execution. <strong>Thine eyes like t...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(4) **Fishpools in Heshbon.**—Literally, *pools. *The Authorised Version follows the Vulg. *piscinœ, *for which there is no authority. For *Heshbon, *see Note on Numbers 21:26. The ruins still remain, with the same name *Hesban, *in the Wady of that name (*Robinson, *p. 278). “There are many cisterns among the ruins; and towards the south, a few yards from the base of the hill, is a large ancient ...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

7. The conduct of good men proclaims their sound principles. God's covenant and their good example secure blessing to their children (Pr 4:26; Psa 112:1, 2).

Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries. Carmel: or, crimson held: Heb. bound

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Thine head upon thee is like Carmel</strong> (רֹאשֵׁךְ עָלַיִךְ כַּכַּרְמֶל)—Mount Carmel was famous for its beauty, fertility, and majestic prominence on Israel's coast. Carmel means 'garden land' or 'fruitful field,' symbolizing abundance and splendor. The head represents leadership, dignity, and the culmination of the body. <strong>And the hair of thine head like purple</strong> (וְדַלַ...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(5) **Carmel.**—Marg., *crimson, *from reading *charmîl, *which preserves the parallelism with the next clause better. But the whole passage deals in the author’s favourite figures from localities; and certainly the comparison of a finely-set head to a mountain is at least as apt as that in the preceding verse, of the nose to a “tower in Lebanon.” Besides, there may be a play on words, which in tu...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

8. As in Pr 14:35; 16:10, 15, this is the character of a good king, not of all kings.

How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!</strong> (מַה־יָּפִית וּמַה־נָּעַמְתְּ אַהֲבָה בַּתַּעֲנוּגִים)—the bridegroom exclaims in wonder at the bride's beauty. The Hebrew <em>mah-yafit</em> (מַה־יָּפִית, how beautiful!) and <em>mah-na'amt</em> (מַה־נָּעַמְתְּ, how pleasant!) express emphatic admiration. The word <em>ahavah</em> (אַהֲבָה, love) can be vocative (addressing...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

9. The interrogation in the affirmative strengthens the implied negation (compare Job 15:14; Ec 7:20).

This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes</strong> (זֹאת קוֹמָתֵךְ דָּמְתָה לְתָמָר וְשָׁדַיִךְ לְאַשְׁכֹּלוֹת)—the palm tree (Hebrew <em>tamar</em>, תָּמָר) was valued for height, elegance, and fruitfulness. Palms provided dates (important food), shade, and materials for construction. The comparison celebrates the bride's upright stature, graceful form...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(7) **This thy stature.**—Comp. Ecclesiasticus 24:14. Not only was the tall and graceful palm a common figure for female beauty, but its name, *tamar, *was common as a woman’s name (Genesis 38:6; 2Samuel 13:1, &c). **Clusters of grapes.**—The italics were probably added by the English Version to bring the verse into agreement with “clusters of the vine” in the next verse; but no doubt the rich clu...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

10. Various measures, implying that some are wrong (compare Pr 11:1; 16:11).

I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples;

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof</strong> (אָמַרְתִּי אֶעֱלֶה בְתָמָר אֹחֲזָה בְּסַנְסִנָּיו)—the bridegroom declares his intention to climb the palm and grasp its branches. The Hebrew <em>e'eleh</em> (אֶעֱלֶה, I will ascend) and <em>ochazah</em> (אֹחֲזָה, I will take hold) express active pursuit and passionate embrace. This is covenantal intima...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(8) **Boughs.**—Heb. *sansan; *only here. Probably a form derived from the sound, like *salsal, zalzal, *&c, denoting the waving of the long feathery branches of the palm. **Smell of thy nose**—*i.e.*, “fragrance of thy breath,” *ap = *nose being used apparently because of the resemblance of its root, *anap = *breathe, with that of *tappuach = *apple.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

11. The conduct of children even is the best test of principle (compare Mt 7:16).

And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak. sweetly: Heb. straightly of those: or, of the ancient

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved</strong> (וְחִכֵּךְ כְּיֵין הַטּוֹב)—the bridegroom continues celebrating sensory delights, comparing the bride's kisses to finest wine. Wine represented joy, celebration, and covenant blessing (Psalm 104:15). 'Best wine' (<em>yayin hattov</em>, יֵין הַטּוֹב) emphasizes quality and excellence. <strong>That goeth down sweetly, caus...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(9) **Causing the lips.**—The text in this verse has evidently undergone some change. The LXX., in stead of *siphtheî yesheynîm, *lips of sleepers, read *sephathaîm veshinnayîm, *χέιλεσί μου καὶ ὸδοῦσι. The Marg., instead of *yesheynîm, *sleepers, reads *yeshanîm, *the ancient, which Luther adopts, translating “of the previous year.” *Ledôdî, *for my beloved, is evidently either an accidental inse...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

12. Hence, of course, God will know all you do (Psa 94:9).

The Bride's Longing for Her Beloved

I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.

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KJV Study Commentary

The bride declares, 'I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.' This verse presents the third variation on the mutual belonging theme (see 2:16; 6:3), now emphasizing the beloved's desire for the bride. The phrase 'I am my beloved's' reaffirms covenant commitment and self-giving. The second clause 'his desire is toward me' (Hebrew 'teshuqato alay,' תְּשׁוּקָתוֹ עָלָי) employs the same root w...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(10) **I am my beloved’s.**—This verse ends a section, not, as in the Authorised Version, begins one.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

13. Activity and diligence contrasted with sloth (Pr 6:9; 10:11). **lest ... poverty--**literally, "be deprived of inheritance."

Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages.</strong> The bride invites her beloved to rural retreat, reversing earlier pattern where he initiated. The Hebrew <em>lekha dodi netse hasadeh nalinah bakkefarim</em> (לְכָה דוֹדִי נֵצֵא הַשָּׂדֶה נָלִינָה בַּכְּפָרִים) uses imperative mood expressing desire, invitation, and shared adventure. <em>Lekha</em> (לְ...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(11) **Forth into the field.**—Comp. Song of Solomon 2:10; Song of Solomon 6:11. The same reminiscence of the sweet courtship in the happy “woodland places.” It has been conjectured that this verse suggested to Milton the passage beginning, “To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the East,” &c. (P. *L. *4:623, &c)

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**14. when ... his way--**implying that he goes about boasting of his bargains.

Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. appear: Heb. open

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.</strong> The bride continues her invitation, specifying morning vineyard inspection and intimate promise. The Hebrew <em>nashkimah lakkeramim nir'eh im pareḥah haggofen pittaḥ hassemadar heneitsu harimonim sham etten et-dod...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(12) **Tender grape appear.**—Literally, *vine blossome open. *(See Note on Song of Solomon 2:13.) **My loves**—*i.e., *caresses. LXX., as before, read “breasts.”

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

15. The contrast denotes the greater value of knowledge (compare Pr 3:14-16).

The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.</strong> The bride concludes her invitation by describing sensory delights awaiting her beloved. The Hebrew <em>haduda'im natenu reach ve-al-petacheinu kol-megadim chadashim gam-yeshanim dodi tsafanti lakh</em> (הַדּוּדָאִים נָתְנוּ רֵיחַ וְעַל־פְּתָחֵינ...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(13) **Mandrakes.**—Heb. *dûdaîm *= love-apples. Suggested probably by the word *loves *immediately preceding, as well as the qualities ascribed to the plant, for which see Note, Genesis 30:14**.** Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**16. Take his garment--**implies severe exaction, justified by the surety's rashness. **a strange woman--**by some readings "strangers," but the former here, and in Pr 27:13, is allowable, and strengthens the sense. The debauchee is less reliable than the merely careless.

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