Song of Solomon 5:9-16

Maiden’s Praise of Her Beloved

9 {How is your beloved better than another lover}, O most beautiful among women? {How is your beloved better than another lover}, that you adjure us thus?

10 My beloved [is] radiant and {ruddy}, distinguished {among} ten thousand.

11 His head [is] gold, refined gold; his locks [are] wavy, black as a raven.

12 His eyes [are] like doves beside springs of water, bathed in milk, {set like mounted jewels}.

13 His cheeks [are] like beds of spice, a tower of fragrances; his lips [are] lilies dripping liquid myrrh.

14 His arms [are] {rods} of gold {engraved with} jewels; his belly [is] polished ivory covered with sapphires.

15 His legs [are] columns of alabaster, set on bases of gold; his appearance [is] like Lebanon, choice as {its cedars}.

16 {His mouth} [is] sweet, and he is altogether desirable. This [is] my beloved; this [is] my friend, {O young women of Jerusalem}.

Song of Solomon 5:9-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 5

This chapter begins with Christ's answer to the church's request; in which he informs her, that he was come into his garden, as she desired, and gives an account of what he had done there; and kindly invites his dear friends to feast with him there, So 5:1; Then she relates her case and circumstances, which followed upon this, her sleepy frame, and ungrateful carriage to her beloved; which he resenting, withdrew from her, and this gave her sensible pain, So 5:2-6; what treatment she met with from the watchmen; her charge to the daughters of Jerusalem; and the questions they asked about her beloved, So 5:7-9; which put her upon giving a large description of him, by each of his parts, head, hair So 5:10-15; And the chapter is concluded with a general commendation of him and his loveliness, and a claim of interest in So 5:16.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "What [is] your beloved more than [another] beloved ...?"
• [b]. Literally "What [is] your beloved more than [another] beloved ...?"
• [c]. Literally "red"
• [d]. Literally "more than"
• [e]. Or "streams"
• [f]. Literally "dwelling in a setting"
• [g]. Or "seated at a [suitable] mounting"
• [h]. Literally "cylinders"
• [i]. Or "rings"
• [j]. Literally "filled with"
• [k]. Or "body"
• [l]. Or "works of ivory set with sapphire"
• [m]. Or "marble"
• [n]. Literally "the cedars"
• [o]. Or "his palate"
• [p]. Literally "O daughters of Jerusalem"