Song of Solomon 1:12 — Word Study
WLCעַד־ שֶׁ֤הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ בִּמְסִבּ֔וֹ נִרְדִּ֖י נָתַ֥ן רֵיחֽוֹ׃
BSAWhileʻad the kingmelek [sitting, reigning] was at his tablemêçab [surrounds, divan] my perfumenêrd [nard, spikenard] spreadnâthan■ its fragrancerêyach [aroma, pleasant scent, giving off, sending forth]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| עַד־ | until | Preposition |
| שֶׁ֤הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ | that the king | Particle, particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| בִּמְסִבּ֔וֹ | [was] at table his | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| נִרְדִּ֖י | nard my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| נָתַ֥ן | it gave forth | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| רֵיחֽוֹ׃ | odor its | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance. |
| KJV | ¶ While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. |
| ASV | While the king sat at his table, My spikenard sent forth its fragrance. |
| YLT | While the king [is] in his circle, My spikenard hath given its fragrance. |
| WEB | While the king sat at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance. |
| BBE | While the king is seated at his table, my spices send out their perfume. |
Where they part company is נִרְדִּי — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause with a subject and a predicate, creating a clear and intimate scene.
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Song of Solomon 1:12
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Beauty of Lovegenerated
Song of Solomon 1:12 describes a moment of intimacy where the beloved expresses how her perfume spreads its fragrance while the king is at his table. This imagery evokes a sense of closeness and affection, highlighting the beauty of their relationship. The surrounding verses emphasize the adornments and gifts exchanged, enhancing the theme of love and admiration.
The Key Word — נִרְדִּי, nir.Digenerated
The word נִרְדִּי (nard) refers to a fragrant plant known as spikenard, which is valued for its aromatic oil. It is a masculine singular noun that signifies the beloved's perfume, suggesting richness and depth in the sensory experience of love.
This particular perfume is associated with luxury and intimacy, as it was often used in ancient times for anointing and rituals. The use of nard in this context emphasizes the beloved's desire to create a beautiful and memorable atmosphere in the presence of the king.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses perfume for נִרְדִּי.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is נָתַ֥ן, it gave forth, which governs the subject and predicate of the sentence. The structure emphasizes the action of the perfume spreading its fragrance while the king is present.
The phrase בִּמְסִבּ֔וֹ indicates the setting, describing the king's table as a place of gathering, enhancing the intimate atmosphere of the scene.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates נִרְדִּי as μου, meaning my, which personalizes the fragrance and emphasizes the connection between the beloved and her perfume.
The Greek word βασιλεὺς for מֶלֶךְ indicates royalty, aligning with the Hebrew context of the king, but the translation may reflect a broader understanding of kingship.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Song of Solomon 1:12 describes how the beloved's perfume spreads its fragrance while the king is at his table. This moment captures the essence of intimacy and beauty in their relationship, highlighting the significance of love and admiration.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The perfume symbolizes love, beauty, and intimacy, enhancing the atmosphere of the scene between the beloved and the king.
Nard is a luxurious and fragrant plant, often associated with anointing and rituals, emphasizing the richness of the beloved's affection.
The setting at the king's table signifies a place of honor and intimacy, where the beloved can express her feelings freely.
This verse connects to the overall theme of love and desire, illustrating the beauty of romantic relationships and the joy found in intimate moments.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some ways I can express love and admiration to those I care about?
- How does the imagery of fragrance enhance my understanding of intimacy in relationships?
- In what ways can I create a beautiful atmosphere for those I love?
- How does the concept of royalty influence my view of love and relationships?
The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
While the king sat at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
While the king was at his banqueting table, my nard gave forth its fragrance.
Tyndale line
¶ While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
While the king sat at his table, My spikenard sent forth its fragrance.
While the king sat at his table, my spikenard sent forth its fragrance.
While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth its smell.
My welbeloued is as a bundle of myrrhe vnto me: he shall lie betweene my breasts.
Strictly literal
While the king is at his table, My spikenard sendeth forth its fragrance.
While the king [is] in his circle, My spikenard hath given its fragrance.
While the king [is] in his circle, || My spikenard has given its fragrance.
While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth its [pleasant] smell.
While the king lay on his couch, my nard emitted its fragrance.
From the Latin
A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, he shall abide between my breasts.
Simplified
As the king lay on his couch, my nard perfume gave off its fragrance.
While the king is seated at his table, my spices send out their perfume.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text of Song of Solomon 1:12 reads, 'While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance,' which in Hebrew is 'עַד־ שֶׁ֤הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ בִּמְסִבּ֔וֹ נִרְדִּ֖י נָתַ֥ן רֵיחֽוֹ׃'. The Septuagint agrees with this verse, matching all six words in a word-by-word correspondence, although it presents them in its own word order and structure. There are no significant differences between these witnesses regarding this verse, indicating a strong consistency in the text across these ancient sources.
עַד־ שֶׁ֤הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ בִּמְסִבּ֔וֹ נִרְדִּ֖י נָתַ֥ן רֵיחֽוֹ׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Song of Solomon 1:12
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while
prep.
of space
Of time
Of degree
conj.
until
While
Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)
עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus
of space
Of time
Of degree
base
H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space
. Of time
. Of degree
. conj. . until
. While
. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)
. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space
. Of time
. Of degree
5704 `ad ad
properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or
conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,
or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,
while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,
at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),
(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,
till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.
see HEBREW for 05703
עַד (ad) — till.
prep
1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as
1a) of space
1a1) as far as, up to, even to
1b) in combination
1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)
1c) of time
1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end
1d) of degree
1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like
conj
2) until, while, to the point that, so that even
Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)
Prep — PrepositionHR
The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.
מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king
base
H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king
4428 melek meh'-lek
from 4427; a king:--king, royal.
see HEBREW for 04427
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.
1) king
Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)
הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.
'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.
Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Rel | Art | N-ms — Particle · particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTr/Td/Ncmsa
King
Is in Scripture very generally used to denote one invested with authority, whether extensive or limited. There were thirty-one kings in Canaan (Josh. 12:9, 24), whom Joshua subdued. Adonibezek subdued seventy kings (Judg. 1:7). In the New Testament the Roman emperor is spoken of as a king (1 Pet. 2:13, 17); and Herod Antipas, who was only a tetrarch, is also called a king (Matt. 14:9; Mark 6:22).
This title is applied to God (1 Tim. 1:17), and to Christ, the Son of God (1 Tim. 6:15, 16;
"a chief ruler, one invested with supreme authority over a nation, tribe or country." --Webster. In the Bible the word does not necessarily imply great power or great extent of country. Many persons are called kings whom we should rather call chiefs or leaders. The word is applied in the Bible to God as the sovereign and ruler of the universe, and to Christ the Son of God as the head and governor of the Church. The Hebrews were ruled by a king during a period of about 500 years previous to the destruction of Jerusalem, B.C. 586. The immediate occasion of the substitution of a regal form of government for that of judges seems to have been the siege of Jabesh-gilead by Nahash king of the Ammonites. (1 Samuel 11:1; 12:12) The conviction seems to have forced itself on the Israelites that they could not resist their formidable neighbor…
מֵסַב (mecab) refers to something that surrounds or is round, such as a divan or a round table. It can denote surroundings or places that encircle an area. The word is derived from the root meaning to encompass, and it appears in various contexts related to being around or about something.
מֵסַב n.[m.] that which surrounds, or is round
base
H4524 מֵסַב, מְסִבִּיב, מְסִבּוֹת
4524 mecab may-sab'
plural masculine mcibbiym {mes-ib-beem'}; or feminine
mcibbowth {mes-ib-bohth'}; from 5437; a divan (as enclosing
the room); abstractly (adverbial) around:--that compass
about, (place) round about, at table.
see HEBREW for 05437
מֵסַב (me.sav) — surrounds.
1) round thing, surroundings, round about, that which surrounds, that which is round
1a) environs
1a1) surrounding places
1a2) round about (adv)
1b) round table
Prep | N-cs | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
נֵרְדְּ (nerd) refers to nard, specifically spikenard, which is an aromatic plant known for its fragrance and originates from India. The entries consistently describe it as an odoriferous plant, highlighting its use in ancient contexts.
נֵרְדְּ n.m. nard, an odorif. plant fr. India (via Persia)
base
H5373 נֵרְדְּ
5373 nerd nayrd
of foreign origin; nard, an aromatic:--spikenard.
נֵרְדְּ (ne.red) — nard.
1) spikenard, nard
1a) an odoriferous aromatic plant from India
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.
נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set
Qal 1917
give
Put, set
Make, constitute
Niph.
82be given
Be put, set
Hoph.
be given, bestowed
= be given to one for wife
be put upon
base
H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give
. Put, set
. Make, constitute
. . be given
. Be put, set
. . . be given, bestowed
. = be given to one for wife
. be put upon
5414 nathan naw-than'
a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of
application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,
assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,
hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +
cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X
without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),
grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),
(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,
occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X
pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send
(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,
strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,
turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)
God, yield.
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.
: give/deliver/send/produce
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend
1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate
1a3) to make, constitute
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
1c2) to be put upon
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.
: put/set/apppoint
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
forth: "Forth," adverb (from "for"), signifies movement
(1) forward,
(2) out of,
(3) beyond a certain boundary.
In a few instances in the Old Testament it is the translation of the preposition `al, properly "above," "upon" (2Ki 11:15; 2Ch 23:14; Am 7:17 the King James Version), and of chuts, "without" (Ge 39:13; Jud 19:25). "Forth" is often used as an expletive of various verbs, as "break (forth)," "bring (forth)," "call (forth)," etc. In the Gospel of John it is the translation of exo, "without," as "Lazarus, come forth" (11:43; so 15:6; 19:4 the King James Version…
רֵיחַ (reyach) refers to scent or odor, derived from the root meaning breath. It encompasses general fragrances and specifically the odor associated with sacrifices to God. The term appears in various contexts, highlighting its significance in both everyday and ritualistic settings.
רֵיחַ 58 n.m. scent, odour (prop. breath)
base
H7381 רֵיחַ scent, odour (prop. breath)
7381 reyach ray'-akh
from 7306; odor (as if blown):--savour, scent, smell.
see HEBREW for 07306
רֵיחַ (re.ach) — aroma.
1) scent, fragrance, aroma, odour
1a) scent, odour
1b) odour of soothing (technical term for sacrifice to God)
Aramaic equivalent: re.ach (רֵיחַ "smell" H7382)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms