Song of Solomon 1:13 — Word Study
WLCצְר֨וֹר הַמֹּ֤ר׀ דּוֹדִי֙ לִ֔י בֵּ֥ין שָׁדַ֖י יָלִֽין׃
BSAMy beloveddôwd [dearly loved one, my wellbeloved] a sachettsᵉrôwr [bundle, cluster] of myrrhmôr [a bitter resin, perfume] restinglûwn▸ [lying, lodging] betweenbêyn [in the midst of] my breastsshad [the seat of affection, love]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| צְר֨וֹר | [is] [the] bag of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| הַמֹּ֤ר׀ | myrrh | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| דּוֹדִי֙ | lover my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| לִ֔י | to me | Preposition, suffix |
| בֵּ֥ין | between | Prep |
| שָׁדַ֖י | breasts my | Noun common masculine dual construct, suffix |
| יָלִֽין׃ | it lodges | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts. |
| KJV | A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. |
| ASV | My beloved is unto me as a bundle of myrrh, That lieth betwixt my breasts. |
| YLT | A bundle of myrrh [is] my beloved to me, Between my breasts it lodgeth. |
| WEB | My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh, that lies between my breasts. |
| BBE | As a bag of myrrh is my well-loved one to me, when he is at rest all night between my breasts. |
Translations agree on the metaphor of the beloved as a sachet of myrrh — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has one main clause and a prepositional phrase that specifies the location, emphasizing intimacy.
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 1:13
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 Love Poem of Solomongenerated
Song of Solomon 1:13 presents a vivid metaphor where the speaker's beloved is compared to a sachet of myrrh, emphasizing both intimacy and the sweetness of love. This verse is part of a larger poetic expression celebrating romantic love, where physical closeness is intertwined with emotional connection. The imagery of myrrh suggests not only fragrance but also value, as myrrh was used in perfumes and sacred anointments, enhancing the depth of affection conveyed.
The Key Word — צְרֹר, tze.Rorgenerated
The word צְרֹר (tze.Ror) is a masculine singular noun meaning 'bundle' or 'sachet'. It implies something that is tightly packed or gathered together, often used to denote a bag or container. In this context, it suggests that the beloved is a cherished possession, held close.
The construct form indicates a relationship, showing that the sachet of myrrh is specifically for the speaker, enhancing the personal nature of the metaphor. This word evokes a sense of intimacy and value, as the beloved is compared to something precious and fragrant.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations generally agree on the imagery of the beloved as a sachet of myrrh.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb יָלִֽין (ya.Lin), meaning 'it lodges', governs the entire sentence. The structure consists of a subject noun phrase ('my beloved'), a predicate noun phrase ('a sachet of myrrh'), and a prepositional phrase indicating location ('between my breasts').
The order of the Hebrew words emphasizes the beloved's closeness to the speaker, with the verb placed at the end, highlighting the action of resting or lodging.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates צְרֹר as ἀπόδεσμος, which means 'a bundle' or 'a package', maintaining the idea of something precious and contained. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning but also reflects the Greek understanding of value and intimacy.
The translation of מֹר as στακτῆς indicates a focus on the aromatic quality of myrrh, emphasizing its use in perfumes, which is consistent with its portrayal in the Hebrew text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Song of Solomon 1:13 expresses a woman's affection for her beloved, comparing him to a sachet of myrrh resting between her breasts. This metaphor highlights both intimacy and the cherished nature of their relationship, as myrrh was valued for its fragrance and use in perfumes.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The sachet of myrrh symbolizes intimacy, value, and the cherished nature of the beloved, highlighting the deep affection the speaker feels.
Myrrh was a valuable resin used in perfumes and sacred oils, representing beauty and worth, thus enhancing the metaphor of love.
This phrase suggests closeness and intimacy, indicating that the beloved holds a special place in the speaker's heart.
This verse contributes to the overarching theme of romantic love and desire, using rich imagery to express the beauty and depth of love between the speaker and her beloved.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do metaphors in love poetry enhance our understanding of relationships?
- What other symbols of affection can you think of that convey intimacy?
- In what ways can we express our love for others in meaningful and creative ways?
- How does the imagery of fragrance relate to the memories we associate with loved ones?
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
My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.
My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh, that lies between my breasts.
My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.
My beloved is like a fragrant pouch of myrrh spending the night between my breasts.
Tyndale line
A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
My beloved is unto me as a bundle of myrrh, That lieth betwixt my breasts.
My beloved is unto me as a bundle of myrrh, that lieth betwixt my breasts.
A bundle of myrrh is my well beloved to me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
My welbeloued is as a cluster of camphire vnto me in the vines of Engedi.
Strictly literal
A bundle of myrrh is my beloved unto me; He shall pass the night between my breasts.
A bundle of myrrh [is] my beloved to me, Between my breasts it lodgeth.
A bundle of myrrh [is] my beloved to me, || Between my breasts it lodges.
A bundle of myrrh is my friend unto me, that resteth on my bosom.
My beloved is to me like a bag of myrrh that spends the night lying between my breasts.
From the Latin
A cluster of cypress my love is to me, in the vineyards of Engaddi.
Simplified
My love is like a pouch of myrrh, lying all night between my breasts.
As a bag of myrrh is my well-loved one to me, when he is at rest all night between my breasts.
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 and the Septuagint agree closely in their wording for this verse, with all seven Hebrew words matched in the Greek translation. This indicates a consistent understanding of the text across these traditions.
צְר֨וֹר הַמֹּ֤ר׀ דּוֹדִי֙ לִ֔י בֵּ֥ין שָׁדַ֖י יָלִֽין׃
7 of the 7 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 1:13
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.
צְרוֹר (tsrowr) primarily means a bundle or parcel, often referring to something packed up, like a bag. It can also denote a pebble or small stone. Additionally, it is the name of a person, specifically the grandfather of Kish, mentioned in 1 Samuel 9:1.
צְרוֹר n.m. bundle, parcel, pouch, bag (prop. a binding, i.e sthg. bound up)
base
צְרוֹר n.m. pebble
base
צְרוֹר n.pr.m. grandfather of Ḳish 1 S 9:1
ref
H6872a צְרוֹר bundle, parcel, pouch, bag H6872b צְרוֹר pebble H6872c צְרוֹר grandfather of Kish
6872 tsrowr tser-ore'
or (shorter) tsror {tser-ore'}; from 6887; a parcel (as
packed up); also a kernel or particle (as if a
package):--bag, X bendeth, bundle, least grain, small stone.
see HEBREW for 06887
צְרוֹר (tse.ror) — bundle.
bundle, parcel, pouch, bag (as packed)
צְרוֹר (tse.ror) — pebble.
pebble
צְרוֹר (tse.ror) — Zeror.
A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;
son of: Becorath (H1064);
father of: Abiel (H0022)
§ Zeror = "bundle"
grandfather of Ḳish
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
מֹר (mor) refers to myrrh, a gum from a tree's bark, known for its bitter taste and used in sacred oil and perfume. The entries indicate that it is associated with distillation and has a connection to the Hebrew root for bitterness. It appears in contexts such as Song of Solomon 6:5.
מֹר, מוֹר n.m. Ct 6:5 myrrh (fr. bitter taste)
base
H4753 מֹר, מוֹר
4753 more mor
or mowr {more}; from 4843; myrrh (as distilling in drops, and
also as bitter):--myrrh.
see HEBREW for 04843
מֹר (mor) — myrrh.
1) myrrh
1a) an Arabian gum from the bark of a tree, used in sacred oil and in perfume
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
mur:
(1) (mor or mowr; Arabic murr]): This substance is mentioned as valuable for its perfume (Ps 45:8; Pr 7:17; So 3:6; 4:14), and as one of the constituents of the holy incense (Ex 30:23; see also So 4:6; 5:1,5,13). Mor is generally identified with the "myrrh" of commerce, the dried gum of a species of balsam (Balsamodendron myrrha). This is a stunted tree growing in Arabia, having a light-gray bark; the gum resin exudes in small tear-like drops which dry to a rich brown or reddish-yellow, brittle substance, with a faint though agreeable smell and a warm, bitter taste. It is still used as medicine (
Myrrh
Heb. mor. (1.) First mentioned as a principal ingredient in the holy anointing oil (Ex. 30:23). It formed part of the gifts brought by the wise men from the east, who came to worship the infant Jesus (Matt. 2:11). It was used in embalming (John 19:39), also as a perfume (Esther 2:12; Ps. 45:8; Prov. 7:17). It was a custom of the Jews to give those who were condemned to death by crucifixion “wine mingled with myrrh” to produce insensibility. This drugged wine was probably partaken of by the two malefactors, but when the Roman soldiers pressed it upon Jesus “he…
This substance is mentioned in (Exodus 30:23) as one of the ingredients of the "oil of holy ointment:" in (Esther 2:12) as one of the substances used in the purification of women; in (Psalms 45:8; Proverbs 7:17) and in several passages in Canticles, as a perfume. The Greek occurs in (Matthew 2:11) among the gifts brought by the wise men to the infant Jesus and in (Mark 15:23) it is said that "wine mingled with myrrh" was offered to but refused by, our Lord on the cross. Myrrh was also used for embalming. See John 19;39 and Herod. ii. 86. The Balsamodendron myrrha…
A precious gum yielded by a tree common in Africa and Arabia, which is about eight or nine feet high; its wood hard, and its trunk thorny. It was of several kinds, and various degrees of excellence. The best was an ingredient in the holy ointment, Ex 30:23. It was also employed in perfumes, Es 2:12 Ps 45:8 So 4:6 5:5,13; and in embalming, to preserve the body from corruption, Joh 19:39. The magi, who came from the East to worship Christ, offered him myrrh, Mt 2:11.
דּוֹד (dod) means 'beloved' and can refer to love in a general sense, as well as specifically to an uncle. It is derived from a root meaning 'to boil,' figuratively relating to love. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to affection and familial ties.
דּוֹד n.m. beloved, love (pl.), uncle
base
H1730 דּוֹד beloved, love (pl.), uncle
1730 dowd dode
or (shortened) dod {dode}; from an unused root meaning
properly, to boil, i.e. (figuratively) to love; by
implication, a love- token, lover, friend; specifically an
uncle:--(well-)beloved, father's brother, love, uncle.
דּוֹד (dod) — beloved.
: beloved
1) beloved, love, uncle
1a) loved one, beloved
1b) uncle
1c) love (pl. abstract)
דּוֹד (dod) — beloved: love.
: love
1) beloved, love, uncle
1a) loved one, beloved
1b) uncle
1c) love (pl. abstract)
דּוֹד (dod) — beloved: male relative.
: male_relative
1) beloved, love, uncle
1a) loved one, beloved
1b) uncle
1c) love (pl. abstract)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
נִי (ni) — me.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bs
בַּ֫יִן (beyn) is a noun meaning 'interval' or 'space between.' It primarily functions as a preposition meaning 'between' or 'among,' and can also indicate distinctions or choices. The dual form בֵּנַ֫יִם refers specifically to the space between two entities, such as armies. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement.
בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between
always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between
Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies
base
H996 בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between . always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between
. Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies
996 beyn bane
(sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly,
the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from 995; a
distinction; but used only as a prep, between (repeated before
each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction,
either...or:--among, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), +
from (the widest), X in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.
see HEBREW for 0995
בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between.
: between
between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between
בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between: among.
: among
between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between
A sub-meaning of ben (בַּ֫יִן ": between" H0996)
Prep — PrepHAcmsc
שַׁד (shad) refers to the female breast, applicable to both humans and animals. The term can also be associated with the variant שֹׁד (shod), which carries the same meaning. The entries indicate that the word is likely derived from another root, but they do not provide further detail on its usage in specific verses.
[שַׁד] n.m. female breast
base
שֹׁד n.m. id. [v.bh.ab]
base
H7699a שַׁד female breast H7699b שֹׁד id. [7699a]
7699 shad shad
or shod {shode}; probably from 7736 (in its original sense)
contracted; the breast of a woman or animal (as
bulging):--breast, pap, teat.
see HEBREW for 07736
שַׁד (shad) — breast.
1) breast, bosom, (female) breast
1a) breast (of woman)
1b) breast (of animal)
1c) breast (of both human and animal)
Also means: shod (שֹׁד "breast" H7699B)
שֹׁד (shod) — breast.
1) breast, bosom, (female) breast
1a) breast (of woman)
1b) breast (of animal)
1c) breast (of both human and animal)
N-md | Suff — Noun common masculine dual construct · suffixHNcmdc/Sp1bs
לוּן (luwn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to lodge or pass the night, and it can also imply abiding or remaining. It has a negative connotation when referring to murmuring or complaining. The word can be used in various forms, including Qal, Hiphil, and Hithpalpel, indicating different nuances of lodging and grumbling.
לוּן, לִין vb. lodge, pass the night, fig. abide
Qal
lodge, pass the night
fig. abide, remain
Hiph. cause to rest, lodge
Hithpalp. dwell, abide, of eagle
base
[לוּן] vb. murmur
Niph. murmur against
Hiph. murmur; cause to murmur
base
H3885a לוּן, לִין lodge, pass the night, fig. abide H3885b לוּן murmur
3885 luwn loon
or liyn {leen}; a primitive root; to stop (usually over
night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad
sense) to be obstinate (especially in words, to
complain):--abide (all night), continue, dwell, endure,
grudge, be left, lie all night, (cause to) lodge (all night,
in, -ing, this night), (make to) murmur, remain, tarry (all
night, that night).
לוּן (lun) — to lodge.
1) to lodge, stop over, pass the night, abide
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to lodge, pass the night
1a2) to abide, remain (fig.)
1b) (Hiphil) to cause to rest, lodge
1c) (Hithpalpel) to dwell, abide
לוּן (lun) — to grumble.
1) to grumble, complain, murmur
1a) (Niphal) to grumble, murmur
1b) (Hiphil) to complain, cause to grumble
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms