Song of Solomon 1

Song of Solomon · Chapter 1

Song of Solomon 1:7

1The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.3Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.4Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.5I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.6Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.7Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?8If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.9I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.10Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.11We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.12While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.13A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.14My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.15Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.16Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.17The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
7Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?Tell me, O one I love, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest them at midday? Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your companions?Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, Where thou feedest thy flock, Where thou makest it to rest at noon: For why should I be as one that is veiled Beside the flocks of thy companions?

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
tell !הַגִּ֣ידָהha-GI-dahH5046
to tell

נָגַד (na.gad) 1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known 1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare 1a1) to tell, announce, report 1a2) to declare, make known, expound 1a3) to inform of 1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim 1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess 1a5a) messenger (participle) 1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported

[O] whom it lovesשֶׁ֤אָהֲבָה֙she-'a-ha-vahH0157G
to love: lover

אָהֵב (a.hav) : lover 1) to love 1a) (Qal) 1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual 1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom 1a3) human love for or to God 1a4) act of being a friend 1a4a) lover (participle) 1a4b) friend (participle) 1a5) God's love toward man 1a5a) to individual men 1a5b) to people Israel 1a5c) to righteousness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) lovely (participle) 1b2) loveable (participle) 1c) (Piel) 1c1) friends 1c2) lovers (fig. of adulterers) 2) to like Also means: a.hav (אָהֵב ": friend" H0157H)

self myנַפְשִׁ֔יnaf-SHIH5315G
soul

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) 1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion 1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man 1b) living being 1c) living being (with life in the blood) 1d) the man himself, self, person or individual 1e) seat of the appetites 1f) seat of emotions and passions 1g) activity of mind 1g1) uncertain 1h) activity of the will 1h1) uncertain 1i) activity of the character 1i1) uncertain

where?אֵיכָ֣ה'ei-KHAHH0349B
how?

אֵיכָה (e.khah) interrog adv 1) how? interj 2) how! (in lamentation) 3) expression of satisfaction

will you grazeתִרְעֶ֔הtir-'EHH7462B
to pasture

רָעָה (ra.ah) 1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to tend, pasture 1a1a) to shepherd 1a1b) of ruler, teacher (fig) 1a1c) of people as flock (fig) 1a1d) shepherd, herdsman (subst) 1a2) to feed, graze 1a2a) of cows, sheep etc (literal) 1a2b) of idolater, Israel as flock (fig) 1b) (Hiphil) shepherd, shepherdess Also means: ro.i (רֹעִי "to shepherd" H7473)

where?אֵיכָ֖ה'ei-KHAHH0349B
how?

אֵיכָה (e.khah) interrog adv 1) how? interj 2) how! (in lamentation) 3) expression of satisfaction

will you make [them] lie downתַּרְבִּ֣יץtar-BITZH7257
to stretch

רָבַץ (ra.vats) 1) to stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out 1a) (Qal) to lie down, lie 1b)(Hiphil) to cause to lie down 1b1) laying (stones)

at the noonsבַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִםba-tzo-ho-RA-yimH6672A
midday

צֹ֫הַר (tso.har) 1) noon, midday 1a) noon (as specific time of day) 1b) noon (in simile as bright of happiness, blessing)

which to why?שַׁלָּמָ֤הsha-la-MAHH4100
what

מָא (ma) 1) what, whatever 1a) what? 1b) whatever, what, whatsoever 1c) how?, why?, wherefore? (with prefixes)

will I beאֶֽהְיֶה֙'eh-YEHH1961
to be

הָיָה (ha.yah) 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) …

like a veiled [woman]כְּעֹ֣טְיָ֔הke-'O-te-YAHH5844A
to enwrap

עָטָה (a.tah) 1) to cover, enwrap, wrap oneself, envelop oneself 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to wrap, envelop oneself 1a2) to cover (the beard in mourning) 1a3) mourner, one who covers (participle) 1b) (Hiphil) to cover, enwrap, envelop

withעַ֖ל'alH5921A
upon

עַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) …

[the] flocks ofעֶדְרֵ֥י'ed-REIH5739
flock

עֵ֫דֶר (e.der) 1) flock, herd 1a) flock 1b) herds, flocks and herds

companions yourחֲבֵרֶֽיךָ׃cha-ve-REI-khaH2270
fellow

חֲבַר (cha.var) associate, companion, friend, comrade, fellow Aramaic of cha.ver (חָבֵר "companion" H2270)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.