Song of Songs 6:9

9 but my dove, my perfect one, is unique, the only daughter of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines praised her.

Song of Solomon 6:9 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
9 My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
English Standard Version (ESV)
9 My dove, my perfect one, is the only one, the only one of her mother, pure to her who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines also, and they praised her.
New Living Translation (NLT)
9 I would still choose my dove, my perfect one— the favorite of her mother, dearly loved by the one who bore her. The young women see her and praise her; even queens and royal concubines sing her praises:
The Message Bible (MSG)
9 She's a woman beyond compare. My dove is perfection, Pure and innocent as the day she was born, and cradled in joy by her mother. Everyone who came by to see her exclaimed and admired her - All the fathers and mothers, the neighbors and friends, blessed and praised her:
American Standard Version (ASV)
9 My dove, my undefiled, is [but] one; She is the only one of her mother; She is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed; [Yea], the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
9 but she is unique, my dove, my perfect one. Her mother thinks she is unique. She is pure to the one who gave birth to her. Her sisters saw her and blessed her. Queens and concubines saw her and praised her.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
9 But you are my perfect dove. There isn't anyone like you. You are your mother's favorite daughter. The young women see you and call you blessed. The queens and concubines praise you." The other women say,

Song of Songs 6:9 Meaning and Commentary

Song of Solomon 6:9

My dove, my undefiled, is [but] one
Of these titles, see ( Song of Solomon 2:14 ) ( 5:2 ) . Christ's church is called one, in distinction from the many before mentioned; and either designs her small number, in comparison of the nations of the world, and of false churches, like one to sixty or eighty, and even to an innumerable company; see ( Ecclesiastes 9:14 ) ( Luke 12:32 ) ( Revelation 13:3 ) ( 17:15 ) ; or else her unity in herself, being but one general assembly and church of the firstborn, made up of various particular congregated churches; and "one body", consisting of various members, united together in affection, and partakers of the same grace, blessings, and privileges; actuated by "one Spirit", the Spirit of God, ( Ephesians 4:4 ) ; and having but "one Head", Christ Jesus, ( Ephesians 4:15 ) : and it may signify that the church is the spouse of Christ; that though other princes may have sixty queens, and eighty concubines, and virgins without number, to wait on them, ( Song of Solomon 6:8 ) ; Christ had but one, and was well pleased with her, and desired no other; she [is] the [only] one of her mother;
the Jerusalem above, the mother of us all: or the sense is, she was to Christ as a mother's only child, most tenderly beloved by him; she [is] the choice one of her that bare her;
esteemed and loved best of all her mother's children. The word may be rendered, "the pure" or "clean one" F12; so the church is, as clothed in "clean" linen, the righteousness of Christ; cleansed from sin in his blood; sprinkled with the clean water of the covenant, and of an unspotted conversation. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; [yea], the queens and the
concubines, and they praised her:
it may seem strange that concubines should praise a queen; but it was not unusual in the eastern countries; with the Persians, as the queen admitted of many concubines by the order of her lord the king, so the queen was had in great veneration, and even adored by the concubines F13: which may respect either the great esteem the church had, or should have, in the world, even from the great men of it, as she will have in the latter day, ( Isaiah 49:23 ) ( Isaiah 60:3 Isaiah 60:10 Isaiah 60:11 ) ; or which young converts have for her; who may more especially be meant by the "daughters" and "virgins", who, in ( Song of Solomon 6:1 ) , call the church the "fairest among women": these blessed her, and pronounced her happy, and wished all happiness to her; they "praised her", spoke well of her, and commended her for her beauty; which was pleasing to Christ, and therefore observed by him.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 (hrb) "munda", Montanus, Mercerus; "pura", Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Marckius, Michaelis.
F13 Dinon in Persicis apud Athenaei Deipnosoph. l. 13. c. 1. p. 556.

Song of Songs 6:9 In-Context

7 Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate.
8 Sixty queens there may be, and eighty concubines, and virgins beyond number;
9 but my dove, my perfect one, is unique, the only daughter of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines praised her.
10 Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession?
11 I went down to the grove of nut trees to look at the new growth in the valley, to see if the vines had budded or the pomegranates were in bloom.

Cross References 3

  • 1. S Song of Songs 1:15
  • 2. Song of Songs 5:2
  • 3. S Song of Songs 3:4
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