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Song of Solomon 1:3 — Word Study

Depth

WLCלְרֵ֙יחַ֙ שְׁמָנֶ֣יךָ טוֹבִ֔ים שֶׁ֖מֶן תּוּרַ֣ק שְׁמֶ֑ךָ עַל־ כֵּ֖ן עֲלָמ֥וֹת אֲהֵבֽוּךָ׃

BSAThe fragrancerêyach [sweet aroma, pleasant smell] of your perfumeshemen [special oil, cologne] is pleasingṭôwb [good, beneficial] your nameshêm [reputation, character] is like perfumeshemen [oil, ointment] poured outrûwq [emptied, spread forth] No wonderʻal [it is so, therefore] the maidensʻalmâh [young women, virgins] adore youʼâhab [love, have affection for]

Word
Listen & take awaySong of Solomon 1
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration ('a.he.Vu.kha) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Song of Solomon 1:3quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse describes the delightful fragrance of perfume and the admiration it inspires.
Who is speakingThe beloved, expressing affection and admiration.
Where we areIn a poetic exchange celebrating love and beauty.
The hard wordשְׁמָנֶ֣יךָ
Take awayThe beloved's name and fragrance are deeply cherished.
clause subjectעַלְמָה verbרִיק The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

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 1:3

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 Celebration of Lovegenerated

2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine.
3The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens adore you.
4Take me away with you—let us hurry! May the king bring me to his chambers. The Friends We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. The Bride It is only right that they adore you.
5I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.

Song of Solomon 1:3 captures a moment of admiration where the beloved's fragrance is compared to perfume, suggesting allure and beauty. This verse is part of a larger poetic dialogue that explores themes of love, attraction, and desire, as seen in the preceding and following verses, which emphasize the beloved's qualities and the joy they bring.


The Key Word שְׁמָנֶ֣יךָ, she.ma.Nei.khagenerated

The word שֶׁ֫מֶן (shemen) refers to oil, particularly olive oil, which was highly valued in ancient cultures. It symbolizes richness and anointing, often used in rituals and medicinal practices. In this context, it highlights the pleasantness and richness of the beloved's fragrance, enhancing the overall imagery of beauty and attraction.

The parsing of this word as a noun common masculine plural construct with a suffix indicates possession, suggesting that the oils belong to the beloved. This personal connection amplifies the sense of intimacy and affection conveyed in the verse.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the sentence is implicit, with the structure focusing on the subject and the predicate. The phrase שְׁמָנֶ֣יךָ טוֹבִ֔ים serves as the subject, describing the pleasantness of the oils, while the subsequent clauses elaborate on the beloved's name and the reaction of the maidens.

The arrangement of the phrases emphasizes the subject's qualities first, followed by the effects those qualities have on others, illustrating a cause-and-effect relationship in the admiration expressed.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שְׁמָנֶ֣יךָ as μύρον (myron), which refers to a fragrant ointment or perfume. This choice narrows the focus to the aromatic quality of the beloved's fragrance, aligning with the overall theme of beauty and allure in the text.

The use of ὀσμὴ for רֵיחַ emphasizes the sensory experience of scent, reinforcing the idea that the beloved's fragrance is not just pleasant but captivating.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Song of Solomon 1:3 describes the pleasing fragrance of the beloved's perfume and compares their name to perfume that has been poured out. This evokes admiration from young women, highlighting the beloved's charm and desirability.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the fragrance symbolize in this verse?

The fragrance represents beauty, allure, and the qualities that attract admiration, emphasizing the beloved's charm.

Why is the name compared to perfume?

The comparison suggests that the beloved's name carries a delightful quality, much like a pleasant scent that captivates those around them.

Who are the maidens mentioned in the verse?

The maidens refer to young women who admire the beloved, indicating a sense of attraction and affection towards them.

What does it mean that the maidens adore the beloved?

To adore means to love or have deep affection for someone, indicating the beloved's significant impact on those around them.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What qualities do I admire in others that draw me to them, similar to the admiration expressed in this verse?
  2. How can I express appreciation for the people in my life who have a positive influence on me?
  3. In what ways can I cultivate a pleasant presence that inspires admiration in others?
  4. What does it mean to have a name that carries a good reputation, and how can I work towards that in my own life?

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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens adore you.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured out, therefore the virgins love you.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens adore you.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The fragrance of your colognes is delightful; your name is like the finest perfume. No wonder the young women adore you!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Thine oils have a goodly fragrance; Thy name is as oil poured forth; Therefore do the virgins love thee.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Thine ointments have a goodly fragrance; thy name is as ointment poured forth; therefore do the virgins love thee.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Because of the savor of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Drawe me: we will runne after thee: the King hath brought me into his chabers: we will reioyce and be glad in thee: we will remember thy loue more then wine: the righteous do loue thee.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Thine ointments savour sweetly; Thy name is an ointment poured forth: Therefore do the virgins love thee.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For fragrance [are] thy perfumes good. Perfume emptied out — thy name, Therefore have virgins loved thee!

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For fragrance [are] your good perfumes. Perfume emptied out—your name, || Therefore have virgins loved you!

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

To the smell are thy fragrant oils pleasant, [like] precious oil poured forth is thy name [famous afar]: therefore do maidens love thee.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Your anointing oils have a delightful fragrance; your name is like flowing perfume, so the young women love you.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Draw me: we will run after thee to the odour of thy ointments. The king hath brought me into his storerooms: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, remembering thy breasts more than wine: the righteous love thee.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I love the way you smell from the perfumed oils you use. You have quite a reputation —it spreads like spilled perfumed oil. It's not surprising that all the young women adore you!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Sweet is the smell of your perfumes; your name is as perfume running out; so the young girls give you their love.

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.

clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtoרֵ֨יחַ֙odornoun phrase · subjectשְׁמָנֶ֣יoilsךָyourpredicateטוֹבִ֔ים[are].goodclausenoun phrase · predicateשֶׁ֖מֶן[is].oilclauseverbתּוּרַ֣ק[which].it.is.poured.outnoun phrase · subjectשְׁמֶ֑nameךָyourconjunction phraseprepositional phraseעַלthereforeכֵּ֖ןclausesubjectעֲלָמ֥וֹתyoung.womenverbאֲהֵבֽוּtheyobjectךָlove.you

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 1:3 reads: 'לְרֵ֙יחַ֙ שְׁמָנֶ֣יךָ טוֹבִ֔ים שֶׁ֖מֶן תּוּרַ֣ק שְׁמֶ֑ךָ עַל־ כֵּ֖ן עֲלָמ֥וֹת אֲהֵבֽוּךָ׃' The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, though its word order and articles differ. The Dead Sea Scrolls (6Q6) contain a partially restored version, with some words supplied by an editor, but also align closely with the Masoretic Text, indicating that the core message about the fragrance and the adoration of maidens is consistent across these ancient witnesses.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

לְרֵ֙יחַ֙ שְׁמָנֶ֣יךָ טוֹבִ֔ים שֶׁ֖מֶן תּוּרַ֣ק שְׁמֶ֑ךָ עַל־ כֵּ֖ן עֲלָמ֥וֹת אֲהֵבֽוּךָ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
לְרֵ֙יחַ֙ὀσμὴשְׁמָנֶ֣יךָσουשֶׁ֖מֶןμύρονתּוּרַ֣קἐκκενωθὲνשְׁמֶ֑ךָσουעַל־διὰכֵּ֖ןτοῦτοעֲלָמ֥וֹתνεάνιδεςאֲהֵבֽוּךָ׃σε

9 of the 10 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 6Q6a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[לריח] שמנים טובים מרקחת [מורקה] שמ׳ך על [כן] עלמות אהבו׳ך

5 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 3 supplied entire by an editor.

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.

Song of Solomon 1:3רֵיחַto odorto odorרֵיחַשֶׁ֫מֶןoils youroils yourשֶׁ֫מֶןטוֹב[are] good[are] goodטוֹבשֶׁ֫מֶן[is] oil[is] oilשֶׁ֫מֶןרִיק[which] it [which] it is pרִיקשֵׁםname yourname yourשֵׁםעַלthere-there-עַלכֵּן-fore-foreכֵּןעַלְמָהyoung womenyoung womenעַלְמָהאָהֵבthey love ythey love youאָהֵבשָׁמֵןto grow fato grow fatשָׁמֵןרִיחַto smellto smellרִיחַטוֹבbe pleasinbe pleasingטוֹבשׂוּםto set: mato set: makeשׂוּםכּוּןto establito establish: pכּוּןעַלheightheightעַלעֶ֫לֶםyouthyouthעֶ֫לֶםבָּלַלto mixto mixבָּלַלמִשְׁחָהanointinganointingמִשְׁחָהנִיחֹחַsoothingsoothingנִיחֹחַאִשֶּׁהfood offerfood offeringאִשֶּׁהיָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁרמַרְאֶהappearanceappearanceמַרְאֶהצָעָהto marchto marchצָעָהזָרָהto scatterto scatterזָרָהקָרָאto call: cto call: call tקָרָאיָדָהto give thto give thanksיָדָהכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּר
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Song of Solomon 1:3

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.

to odor oils your [are] good [is] oil [which] it is poured out name your there- -fore young women they love you
לְרֵ֙יחַ֙le.Rei.ach to odor H7381 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
58× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to a pleasant aroma or fragrance, often associated with sacrifices to God. It is used in books like Leviticus and Numbers to describe the soothing smell of offerings, and appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
sweet aroma, pleasant smell
Tyndale gloss
aroma
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֵיחַ 58 n.m. scent, odour (prop. breath)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7381 רֵיחַ scent, odour (prop. breath)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7381 reyach ray'-akh

from 7306; odor (as if blown):--savour, scent, smell.

see HEBREW for 07306

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

o'-der: In the Old Testament the rendering of besem, "fragrance" (2Ch 16:14; Es 2:12; Jer 34:5, the Revised Version (British and American) "burnings"), and of one or two other words; in the New Testament of osme (Joh 12:3; Php 4:18; Eph 5:2 the Revised Version (British and American)); in Re 5:8; 18:13, of thumiama, where the Revised Version (British and American) (with the King James Version margin in former passage) has "incense."

See also SAVOR.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ See INCENSE

→ See PERFUME

to odor oils your [are] good [is] oil [which] it is poured out name your there- -fore young women they love you
שְׁמָנֶ֣יךָshe.ma.Nei.kha oils your H8081 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
193× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for oil, often referring to olive oil, which was highly valued in ancient times. It symbolizes richness, anointing, and healing, and is used in various biblical contexts, including rituals and medicinal practices.
Amplified meaning
special oil, cologne
Tyndale gloss
oil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫מֶן (shemen) refers to fat or oil, particularly olive oil, and includes meanings related to richness and anointing. It is derived from the root word for grease and can also metaphorically describe fertile land. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts like medicinal applications and anointing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫מֶן 192 n.m. fat, oil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8081 שֶׁ֫מֶן fat, oil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8081 shemen sheh'-men

from 8080; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive,

often perfumed); figuratively, richness:--anointing, X fat

(things), X fruitful, oil((-ed)), ointment, olive, + pine.

see HEBREW for 08080

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫מֶן (she.men) — oil.

1) fat, oil

1a) fat, fatness

1b) oil, olive oil

1b1) as staple, medicament or unguent

1b2) for anointing

1c) fat (of fruitful land, valleys) (metaph)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp2ms
to odor oils your [are] good [is] oil [which] it is poured out name your there- -fore young women they love you
טוֹבִ֔יםto.Vim [are] good H2896 Adj
538× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means good or welfare, describing something that is beneficial or pleasing, like a good deed or a happy time. It is used in many contexts, including Genesis and Psalms. This word is often translated as 'good' or 'beautiful'.
Amplified meaning
good, beneficial
Tyndale gloss
pleasant
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טוֹב (tov) is a Hebrew word meaning good or pleasant, encompassing a wide range of meanings from agreeable to the senses to ethical goodness. It can function as an adjective, noun, or adverb, referring to things like welfare, happiness, and prosperity. The feminine form, טוֹבָה (tovah), specifically denotes welfare or good things.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טוֹב adj. pleasant, agreeable, good

pleasant, agreeable to the senses

pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well

good, excellent, of its kind

good, rich, valuable in estimation

good, appropriate, becoming

c. מִן compar. = better

of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous

of man's intellectual nature, good understanding

good, kind, benign

good (ethical), right

base

טוֹב n.m. a good thing, benefit, welfare

welfare, prosperity, happiness

good things

good = benefit

moral good

base

טוֹבָה n.f. welfare, benefit, good things, good

welfare, prosperity, happiness

good things

bounty, good

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2896a טוֹב pleasant, agreeable, good . pleasant, agreeable to the senses

. pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well

. good, excellent, of its kind

. good, rich, valuable in estimation

. good, appropriate, becoming

. c. מִן compar. =better

. of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous

. of man's intellectual nature, good understanding

. good, kind, benign

. good (ethical), right

H2896b טוֹב a good thing, benefit, welfare H2896c טוֹבָה welfare, benefit, good things, good

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2896 towb tobe

from 2895; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used

likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine,

the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a

good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or

women), also as an adverb (well):--beautiful, best, better,

bountiful, cheerful, at ease, X fair (word), (be in) favour,

fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s),

graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving,

merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure, precious,

prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well

((-favoured)).

see HEBREW for 02895

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טוֹב (tov) — pleasant.

adj

1) good, pleasant, agreeable

1a) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses)

1b) pleasant (to the higher nature)

1c) good, excellent (of its kind)

1d) good, rich, valuable in estimation

1e) good, appropriate, becoming

1f) better (comparative)

1g) glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature)

1h) good understanding (of man's intellectual nature)

1i) good, kind, benign

1j) good, right (ethical)

Aramaic equivalent: tav (טָב "fine" H2869)

טוֹב (tov) — good.

1) a good thing, benefit, welfare

1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness

1b) good things (collective)

1c) good, benefit

1d) moral good

טוֹבָה (to.vah) — welfare.

1) welfare, benefit, good things

1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness

1b) good things (collective)

1c) bounty

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

good (Tobh, Tubh, yaTabh; agathos, agathon, kalos, kalon): In English "good" is used in various senses, most of which are represented in the Bible.

(1) In the Old Testament the commonest word is Tobh, occurring very frequently and translated in a great variety of ways. Of the different shades of meaning, which frequently run into each other, the following may be distinguished:

(a) Possessing desirable qualities, beneficial, agreeable, e.g. "good for food" (Ge 2:9); "We will do thee good" (Nu 10:29); Who will show us any good?" (Ps 4:6); "good tidings of good" (Isa 52:7).

to odor oils your [are] good [is] oil [which] it is poured out name your there- -fore young women they love you
שֶׁ֖מֶןShe.men [is] oil H8081 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
193× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for oil, often referring to olive oil, which was highly valued in ancient times. It symbolizes richness, anointing, and healing, and is used in various biblical contexts, including rituals and medicinal practices.
Amplified meaning
oil, ointment
Tyndale gloss
oil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫מֶן (shemen) refers to fat or oil, particularly olive oil, and includes meanings related to richness and anointing. It is derived from the root word for grease and can also metaphorically describe fertile land. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts like medicinal applications and anointing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫מֶן 192 n.m. fat, oil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8081 שֶׁ֫מֶן fat, oil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8081 shemen sheh'-men

from 8080; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive,

often perfumed); figuratively, richness:--anointing, X fat

(things), X fruitful, oil((-ed)), ointment, olive, + pine.

see HEBREW for 08080

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫מֶן (she.men) — oil.

1) fat, oil

1a) fat, fatness

1b) oil, olive oil

1b1) as staple, medicament or unguent

1b2) for anointing

1c) fat (of fruitful land, valleys) (metaph)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

oil (shemen; elaion):

1. Terms

2. Production and Storage

3. Uses

(1) As a Commodity of Exchange

(2) As a Cosmetic

(3) As a Medicine

(4) As a Food

(5) As an Illuminant

(6) In Religious Rites

(a) Consecration

(b) Offerings

(c) Burials

4. Figurative Uses

Shemen, literally, "fat," corresponds to the common Arabic senin of similar meaning, although now applied to boiled butter fat.

1. Terms:

Another Hebrew word, zayith (zeth), "olive," occurs with shemen in several passages (Ex 27:20; 30:24; Le 24:2). The corresponding Arabic zeit, a contraction of zeitun, which is the name for the olive tree as well as the fruit, is now applied to oils in general, to distinguish them from solid fats. Zeit usually means olive oil, unless some qualifying name indicates another oil. A corresponding use was made of…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Oil

Only olive oil seems to have been used among the Hebrews. It was used for many purposes: for anointing the body or the hair (Ex. 29:7; 2 Sam. 14:2; Ps. 23:5; 92:10; 104:15; Luke 7:46); in some of the offerings (Ex. 29:40; Lev. 7:12; Num. 6:15; 15:4), but was excluded from the sin-offering (Lev. 5:11) and the jealousy-offering (Num. 5:15); for burning in lamps (

Was employed from the earliest periods in the east, not only for the purpose of consecration, but to anoint the head, the beard, and the whole person in daily life, Ge 28:18. See ANOINTING. It was also universally used for food, Eze 16:13. Fresh and sweet olive oil was greatly preferred to butter and animal fat as a seasoning for food, and to this day in Syria almost every kind of food is cooked with oil. It had a place also among the meat-offerings in the temple, being usually mixed with the meal of the oblation, Le 5:11 6:21. For lamps, also, pure olive oil was regarded as the best, and was used in illuminating the tabernacle. These many uses for oil made the culture of the olive-tree an extensive and lucrative business,

to odor oils your [are] good [is] oil [which] it is poured out name your there- -fore young women they love you
תּוּרַ֣קtu.Rak [which] it is poured out H7324 Verb · Hophal · imperfect third person feminine singular
19× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To empty or pour out, whether physically or figuratively, as in the pouring out of one's heart to God in Psalm 62:8. This verb can also mean to keep something empty or to cast something out. It is often used to describe a sense of abandonment or rejection.
Amplified meaning
emptied, spread forth
Tyndale gloss
to empty
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רִיק (ruq) is a Hebrew verb meaning to empty or pour out. It includes actions such as making something empty, pouring down, or drawing a sword. The Hiphil form indicates causing something to be emptied, while the Hophal form refers to being emptied out. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including empty vessels and rain.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רִיק] vb. Hiph. make empty, empty out

empty vessels

pour out or down, rain

empty out (i.e. draw) sword

Hoph. be emptied out from vessel

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7324 רִיק Hiph. make empty, empty out . empty vessels

. pour out or down, rain

. empty out (i.e. draw) sword

. be emptied out from vessel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7324 ruwq rook

a primitive root; to pour out (literally or figuratively),

i.e. empty:--X arm, cast out, draw (out), (make) empty, pour

forth (out).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רִיק (ruq) — to empty.

1) to make empty, empty out

1a) (Hiphil)

1a1) to empty, keep empty or hungry

1a2) to pour out or down

1a3) to empty out

1b) (Hophal) to be emptied out

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hophal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Hophal · imperfect third person feminine singular
HVHi3fs
to odor oils your [are] good [is] oil [which] it is poured out name your there- -fore young women they love you
שְׁמֶ֑ךָshe.Me.kha name your H8034 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
864× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a name represents a person's identity, honor, and character, like God's name symbolizing His power and authority. It appears in Genesis and other books, often referring to God's name or a person's reputation. This concept is central to understanding biblical identity.
Amplified meaning
reputation, character
Tyndale gloss
name
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׁם (shem) means 'name' and encompasses various meanings such as reputation, fame, and glory. It can refer to the designation of God and is often associated with memorials or monuments. The word is built from a primitive root and highlights individuality and honor. There is a mention of its use in relation to false gods, which is forbidden.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁם 864 n.m. name (√ unknown)

of river, beasts, city, i.e. exact designation of it

usu. of pers.

= reputation

esp. as giving a man a kind of posthumous life, esp. in his sons

name, as designation of God

of false gods, use forbidden

= memorial, monument

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8034 שֵׁם name (√ unknown)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8034 shem shame

a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea

of definite and conspicuous position; compare 8064); an

appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by

implication honor, authority, character:--+ base,

(in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.

see HEBREW for 07760

see HEBREW for 08064

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁם (shem) — name.

1) name

1a) name

1b) reputation, fame, glory

1c) the Name (as designation of God)

1d) memorial, monument

Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp2ms
to odor oils your [are] good [is] oil [which] it is poured out name your there- -fore young women they love you
עַל־'al- there- H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Amplified meaning
it is so, therefore
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
to odor oils your [are] good [is] oil [which] it is poured out name your there- -fore young women they love you
כֵּ֖ןken -fore H3651 Adverb
771× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means 'so' or 'thus', often used to show agreement or confirmation, like in the book of Genesis. It can also mean 'rightly' or 'justly', as in doing something the correct way. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
right
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כֵּן (*ken*) is built from the root meaning 'set upright.' It functions as an adjective meaning 'right,' 'veritable,' or 'honest,' and as an adverb meaning 'so,' 'therefore,' or 'thus.' It appears in various contexts, often indicating manner or relation, and is used in phrases like 'forasmuch as.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest

right

veritable, true

pl. concr. honest (men)

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

כֵּן adv. so

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3651a כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest H3651b כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as H3651c כֵּן so

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3651 ken kane

from 3559; properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as

adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction)

rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and

relation; often with other particles):--+ after that

(this, -ward, -wards), as ... as, + (for-)asmuch as yet, + be

(for which) cause, + following, howbeit, in (the) like

(manner, -wise), X the more, right, (even) so, state,

straightway, such (thing), surely, + there (where)-fore, this,

thus, true, well, X you.

see HEBREW for 03559

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֵּן (ken) — right.

adv

adj

1) right, just, honest, true, veritable

1a) right, just, honest

1b) correct

1c) true, veritable

[כִּי עַל] כֵּן ([ki al] ken) — as.

adv

forasmuch as, since

כֵּן (ken) — so.

adv

1) so, therefore, thus

1a) thus, so

1b) just so

1c) therefore

1d) so...as (paired with adv)

1e) then

1f) forasmuch as (in phrase)

1g) (with prep)

1g1) therefore, this being so (specific)

1g2) hitherto

1g3) therefore, on this ground (general)

1g4) afterwards

1g5) in such case

Aramaic equivalent: ken (כֵּן "thus" H3652)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HD — Adverb
HD
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
to odor oils your [are] good [is] oil [which] it is poured out name your there- -fore young women they love you
עֲלָמ֥וֹתa.la.Mot young women H5959 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means a young, unmarried woman, often a virgin. It describes someone who is pure and innocent. In the Bible, it is used to describe women like Mary and Rebekah.
Amplified meaning
young women, virgins
Tyndale gloss
maiden
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַלְמָה (almah) refers to a young woman, specifically one who is a virgin or of marriageable age. The term suggests a sense of privacy or modesty, often associated with a maid or newly married woman. Both Brown-Driver-Briggs and Strong's highlight its sexual maturity, while the Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon emphasizes its meaning as 'maiden'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַלְמָה n.f. young woman (ripe sexually; maid or newly married)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5959 עַלְמָה young woman (ripe sexually; maid or newly married)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5959 `almah al-maw'

feminine of 5958; a lass (as veiled or private):--damsel,

maid, virgin.

see HEBREW for 05958

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַלְמָה (al.mah) — maiden.

1) virgin, young woman

1a) of marriageable age

1b) maid or newly married

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Smith's Bible Dictionary

The position of women in the Hebrew commonwealth contrasts favorably with that which in the present day is assigned to them generally in eastern countries. The most salient point of contrast in the usages of ancient as compared with modern Oriental society was the large amount of liberty enjoyed by women. Instead of being immured in a harem, or appearing in public with the face covered. The wives and maidens of ancient times mingled freely and openly with the other sex in the duties and amenities of ordinary life. Rebekah travelled on a camel with her face unveiled until she came into the presence of her affianced. (Genesis 24:64,65) Jacob saluted Rachel with a kiss in the presence of the shepherds. (Genesis 29:11) Women played no inconsiderable part in public celebrations (

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Creation of Ge 1:27; 2:21,22

→ Named Ge 2:23

→ Fall of, and curse upon Ge 3:1-16; 2Co 11:3; 1Ti 2:14

→ Promise to Ge 3:15

→ Had separate apartments in dwellings Ge 24:67; 31:33; Es 2:9,11

→ Veiled the face Ge 24:65

→ See VAIL

→ Vows of Nu 30:3-16

Thompson Chain Reference topics

(A) MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS relating to (Select Reading Prov. 31)

Pr 31:1-31

(1) Creation and Temptation of

Ge 1:27; 2:22; 3:1,6,13; 2Co 11:3; 1Ti 2:14

(2) Rights of

Nu 27:1-8

(3) The Subjection of

Ge 3:16; 1Co 11:3; 14:34; Eph 5:22; 1Ti 2:11; 1Pe 3:1,5

(4) As Wives

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
to odor oils your [are] good [is] oil [which] it is poured out name your there- -fore young women they love you
אֲהֵבֽוּךָ׃'a.he.Vu.kha they love you H157 Verb qal perfect third person common plural · suffix
211× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To love means to have affection for someone or something, including family, romance, or God. It can also describe being a friend or having appetite for things like food or wisdom.
Amplified meaning
love, have affection for
Tyndale gloss
to love: lover
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אָהֵב (*'ahab*) means 'to love' and encompasses various forms of affection, including human love for others, love for God, and even appetites for things like food and wisdom. It can also refer to friendship and divine love towards humanity, particularly Israel. The entries indicate that it can function in different grammatical forms, such as participles for 'lovely' or 'loveable'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָהֵב 216 vb. love

Qal

human love to human object

less oft. of appetite

love to God

esp. Pt.

of divine love

Niph. Pt. pl. lovely, loveable

Pi.

friends

lovers

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H157 אָהֵב love

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

157 'ahab aw-hab'

or raheb {aw-habe'}; a primitive root; to have affection for

(sexually or otherwise):--(be-)love(-d, -ly, -r), like,

friend.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָהֵב (a.hav) — to love: lover.

: lover

1) to love

1a) (Qal)

1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual

1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom

1a3) human love for or to God

1a4) act of being a friend

1a4a) lover (participle)

1a4b) friend (participle)

1a5) God's love toward man

1a5a) to individual men

1a5b) to people Israel

1a5c) to righteousness

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) lovely (participle)

1b2) loveable (participle)

1c) (Piel)

1c1) friends

1c2) lovers (fig. of adulterers)

2) to like

Also means: a.hav (אָהֵב ": friend" H0157H)

אָהֵב (a.hav) — to love: friend.

: friend

1) to love

1a) (Qal)

1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual

1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom

1a3) human love for or to God

1a4) act of being a friend

1a4a) lover (participle)

1a4b) friend (participle)

1a5) God's love toward man

1a5a) to individual men

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3cp | Suff — Verb qal perfect third person common plural · suffix
HVqp3cp/Sp2ms
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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