Song of Solomon 4

1 How beautiful [lovely, fair] you are, my darling [female companion, beloved]— how very beautiful [pleasant, delightful]! Your eyes [the windows of the soul] are like doves [gentle, peaceful birds] behind your veil [a covering for the head]. Your hair is like a flock [a group, a multitude] of goats [she-goats, kids] streaming [capering, moving swiftly] down Mount Gilead [a mountainous region, a place of abundance]. word study 2 Your teeth [like ivory] are like a flock [a group of sheep, a herd] of newly shorn [cut off, sheared] sheep coming up [ascending, rising] from the washing [a bathing place, ritual cleansing]; each has its twin [is double, paired], and not one of them is lost [childless, bereaved]. word study 3 Your lips are like a scarlet [like a thread of scarlet, deep red] ribbon, and your mouth [speech, words] is lovely [beautiful, pleasant]. Your brow [temple area, upper cheek] behind your veil [head covering, modesty] is like a slice [piece, segment] of pomegranate [fruit]. word study 4 Your neck [like a beautiful necklace] is like the tower [a tall structure or elevated stage] of David, built [established, constructed] with rows of stones; on it hang [are displayed, suspended] a thousand [a large number, a company of] shields [protective devices], all [everything, the entirety] of them shields [protective armor] of warriors [mighty men, strong and brave fighters]. word study 5 Your breasts [two young roes, twin] are like two fawns [young deer], twins [born at the same time] of a gazelle [female deer, tsᵉbîyâh, known for speed and agility] grazing [feeding, caring for] among the lilies [shoshannim]. word study 6 Before [till, until] the day [a 24-hour period, a figurative space of time] breaks [be cool, breathe] and the shadows [protection, fleeting nature of life] flee [quickly leave, disappear], I will make my way [walk, go, move] to the mountain [a real mountain] of myrrh [a bitter resin, perfume] and to the hill [a small hill] of frankincense [a white resin, incense]. word study 7 You are altogether [completely, perfectly] beautiful [fair, lovely], my darling [female companion, loved one]; in you there is [exists, can be found] no [not a single] flaw [blemish, spot, imperfection]. word study 8 Come with me [to be near, in close relationship] from Lebanon [a mountain range in Israel], my bride [daughter-in-law, beloved], come with me from Lebanon! Descend [come down, look out] from the peak [head, chief] of Amana [a mountain near Damascus], from the summits [top, highest points] of Senir [Shenir, another name for Mount Hermon] and Hermon [a snow-capped mountain, a sanctuary], from the dens [habitations, dwelling places] of the lions, from the mountains [hills, elevated areas] of the leopards [wild, ferocious animals]. word study 9 You have [ravished, taken away] captured my heart, my [biological or spiritual] sister, my bride [daughter-in-law]; you have stolen [wounded] my heart with [one glance, a single look] one glance of your eyes [sources of insight], with [one jewel, a chain] one jewel of your neck. word study 10 How delightful [wonderful, fair] is your love [beloved, affection], my sister [close relative], my bride [daughter-in-law]! Your love [strong affection] is much better [more pleasing] than wine [fermented wine, intoxicating drink], and the fragrance [aroma, sweet smell] of your perfume [oil, anointing oil] than all [everything, the sum of all] spices [pleasant smells, sweet fragrances]. word study 11 Your lips [dropping as the honeycomb], my bride [daughter-in-law, beloved], drip sweetness [like nectar] like the honeycomb; honey [a sweet and valuable food] and milk are under your tongue [the instrument of speech], and the fragrance [a pleasant aroma] of your garments [outer clothing] is like the aroma [smell] of Lebanon [a mountain range in Israel, known for its cedar trees]. word study 12 My sister [beloved, dear one], my bride [daughter-in-law, wife], you are a garden [enclosed area] locked up [shut up, enclosed], a spring [source of water, fountain] enclosed [shut up, sealed], a fountain [source of satisfaction] sealed [locked, closed]. word study 13 Your branches [shoots, sprouts] are an orchard [park, paradise] of pomegranates [a fruit or tree] with the choicest [most excellent, precious] of fruits [the produce of the ground, results of our actions], with henna [a fragrant plant, used for its aromatic oil] and nard [spikenard, a fragrant plant from India], word study 14 with nard [a fragrant plant from India] and saffron [used for flavor and medicine], with calamus [a type of reed] and cinnamon [a fragrant bark], with every kind of frankincense [white resin used for incense] tree, with myrrh [a bitter resin] and aloes [a perfume or medicinal plant], with all [everything] the finest [chief] spices [pleasant smells]. word study 15 You are a garden [fountain of gardens, a source of delight] spring [a well of living waters, a source of refreshment], a well [a fountain, a source of satisfaction] of fresh [living, life-giving] water [a spring or watercourse] flowing [to flow, like a stream or flood] down from [originating in, coming from the mountains of] Lebanon [a mountain range in Israel, known for its beauty and majesty]. word study 16 Awake [rouse, stir into action], O north wind [Zaphon, the northern direction], and come [approach, enter], O south wind [the southern direction]. Breathe [blow, fan] on my garden [enclosed area] and spread the fragrance [sweet perfume, aroma] of its spices [balsam, pleasant smells]. Let my beloved [loved one, dear uncle] come into his garden [private, intimate area] and taste [eat, devour] its choicest [most excellent, precious] fruits [products, results]. word study