Song of Solomon 4:13 — Word Study
WLCשְׁלָחַ֙יִךְ֙ פַּרְדֵּ֣ס רִמּוֹנִ֔ים עִ֖ם פְּרִ֣י מְגָדִ֑ים כְּפָרִ֖ים עִם־ נְרָדִֽים׃
BSAYour branchesshelach [shoots, sprouts] [are] an orchardpardêç [park, paradise] of pomegranatesrimmôwn [a fruit or tree] withʻim the choicestmeged [most excellent, precious] of fruitspᵉrîy [the produce of the ground, results of our actions] with hennakôpher [a fragrant plant, used for its aromatic oil] [and]ʻim nardnêrd [spikenard, a fragrant plant from India]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שְׁלָחַ֙יִךְ֙ | shoots your | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| פַּרְדֵּ֣ס | [are] a garden of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| רִמּוֹנִ֔ים | pomegranates | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| עִ֖ם | with | Preposition |
| פְּרִ֣י | fruit of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| מְגָדִ֑ים | choice | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| כְּפָרִ֖ים | henna plants | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| עִם־ | with | Preposition |
| נְרָדִֽים׃ | nard plants | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates with the choicest of fruits, with henna and nard, |
| KJV | Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, |
| ASV | Thy shoots are an orchard of pomegranates, with precious fruits; Henna with spikenard plants, |
| YLT | Thy shoots a paradise of pomegranates, With precious fruits, |
| WEB | Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates, with precious fruits, henna with spikenard plants, |
| BBE | The produce of the garden is pomegranates; with all the best fruits, henna and spikenard, |
Where they part company is שְׁלָחַ֙יִךְ֙ — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause presents the subject and its description, with additional phrases providing detail about the orchard and its contents.
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 4:13
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 Beloved's Beautygenerated
Song of Solomon 4:13 is a vivid illustration of the beloved's beauty, where the speaker uses rich imagery to convey the lushness and fragrance of their beloved's branches. This metaphorical language creates a sense of intimacy and admiration, emphasizing the beloved's allure and the abundance of their qualities, akin to a garden filled with precious fruits and aromatic plants.
The Key Word — שְׁלָחַ֙יִךְ֙, she.la.Cha.yikhgenerated
The word שְׁלָחַ֙יִךְ֙ (she.la.Cha.yikh) is a noun in the plural form, meaning 'your shoots' or 'your branches.' It derives from a root that conveys the idea of sending forth or sprouting. In this context, it represents the beloved's branches as flourishing and vibrant, contributing to the imagery of a garden.
This word has a dual meaning, referring to both botanical growth and weaponry, which adds depth to the metaphor. Here, it emphasizes the beauty and vitality of the beloved, likening them to flourishing branches in a garden.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the phrase are an orchard.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb is implied in the predicate, indicating that the subject שְׁלָחַ֙יִךְ֙ is being described as a garden. The structure emphasizes the beauty of the branches as the focal point of the verse.
The noun phrases are connected through prepositional phrases, creating a rich description of the beloved's branches, which are likened to an orchard filled with delightful fruits and aromatic plants.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שְׁלָחַ֙יִךְ֙ as σου (sou), meaning 'your.' This choice maintains the personal address of the original Hebrew, emphasizing the intimate relationship between the speaker and the beloved.
The use of παράδεισος for פַּרְדֵּ֣ס reflects a broader connotation of paradise, enhancing the imagery of a lush and divine garden.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Song of Solomon 4:13 describes the beloved's branches as an orchard filled with pomegranates and other fragrant plants. This imagery conveys beauty and richness, emphasizing the beloved's allure and the abundance of their qualities.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The orchard symbolizes beauty, abundance, and the richness of the beloved's qualities.
Pomegranates are often associated with fertility and abundance, enhancing the imagery of the beloved's allure.
Henna and nard are fragrant plants, symbolizing the beloved's aromatic qualities and adding to the richness of the metaphor.
This verse contributes to the theme of love and beauty, using vivid imagery to express admiration and desire for the beloved.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does the imagery in this verse reflect the qualities you admire in others?
- What are some ways you can cultivate beauty and richness in your own life?
- In what ways do you express admiration for those you love?
- How can you appreciate the beauty of creation as reflected in the metaphor of the garden?
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
Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates with the choicest of fruits, with henna and nard,
Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates, with precious fruits, henna with spikenard plants,
Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates with the choicest of fruits, with henna and nard,
Your shoots are a royal garden full of pomegranates with choice fruits: henna with nard,
Tyndale line
Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
Thy shoots are an orchard of pomegranates, with precious fruits; Henna with spikenard plants,
Thy shoots are an orchard of pomegranates, with precious fruits; henna with spikenard plants,
Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphor, with spikenard,
Thy plantes are as an orchard of pomegranates with sweete fruites, as camphire, spikenarde,
Strictly literal
Thy shoots are a paradise of pomegranates, with precious fruits; Henna with spikenard plants;
Thy shoots a paradise of pomegranates, With precious fruits,
Your shoots a paradise of pomegranates, || With precious fruits,
Thy sprouts are an orchard of pomegranates, with precious fruits, copher and spikenard;
Your branches are a grove of pomegranate trees with choice fruits, and of henna and nard plants,
From the Latin
Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates with the fruits of the orchard. Cypress with spikenard.
Simplified
Your channel is a paradise of pomegranates, full of the best fruits, with henna and nard,
The produce of the garden is pomegranates; with all the best fruits, henna and spikenard,
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 are in agreement with each other, with all words matched. This consistency highlights the preservation of the original imagery and meaning across different translations.
שְׁלָחַ֙יִךְ֙ פַּרְדֵּ֣ס רִמּוֹנִ֔ים עִ֖ם פְּרִ֣י מְגָדִ֑ים כְּפָרִ֖ים עִם־ נְרָדִֽים׃
9 of the 9 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 4:13
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.
שֶׁ֫לַח (shelach) refers to a missile or weapon, such as a spear, and can also denote a sprout or shoot. The word is derived from a root meaning to send forth. It encompasses meanings related to both physical weapons and botanical growth.
שֶׁ֫לַח n.[m.] missile, weapon, sprout (late)
base
H7973 שֶׁ֫לַח
7973 shelach sheh'-lakh
from 7971; a missile of attack, i.e. spear; also
(figuratively) a shoot of growth; i.e. branch:--dart, plant,
X put off, sword, weapon.
see HEBREW for 07971
שֶׁ֫לַח (she.lach) — missile.
1) weapon, missile, sprout
1a) missile, weapon
1b) sprout, shoot
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp2fs
פַּרְדֵּס (pardec) refers to a park or preserve, encompassing meanings like forest and orchard. It is noted to have foreign origins, indicating its adoption into Hebrew. The entries consistently highlight its association with enclosed gardens and natural spaces.
פַּרְדֵּס n.[m.] preserve, park
base
H6508 פַּרְדֵּס
6508 pardec par-dace'
of foreign origin; a park:--forest, orchard.
פַּרְדֵּס (par.des) — park.
park, preserve, enclosed garden, forest
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…
רִמּוֹן (rimmon) refers to a pomegranate, encompassing both the fruit and the tree, as well as pomegranate-shaped ornaments used in the temple. The word's origin is uncertain, and it is noted as a foreign term. It is linked to the root word in Strong's H7426.
רִמּוֹן n.m. pomegranate (foreign word of doubtful origin)
base
H7416 רִמּוֹן pomegranate (doubtful word of foreign origin)
7416 rimmown rim-mone'
or rimmon {rim-mone'}; from 7426; a pomegranate, the tree
(from its upright growth) or the fruit (also an artificial
ornament):--pomegranate.
see HEBREW for 07426
רִמּוֹן (rim.mon) — pomegranate.
1) pomegranate
1a) as tree
1b) as fruit
1c) as pomegranate shaped ornaments in temple
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.
עִם prep. with
of fellowship and companionship
of aid
Of actions done jointly with another
If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
Of a common lot together with the wicked
Of equality or resemblance generally aid
Of time, as long as
Of a locality, close to, beside
Of persons, עִם is spec.
in the house or family or service of
In possession of
In the custody or care of
Beside = except
With = friendly with
Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
base
מֵעִם 72 from with or beside
base
H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship
. Of a locality, close to, beside
. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of
. In possession of
. In the custody or care of
. Beside = except
. With = friendly with
. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside
5973 `im eem
from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction
with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;
often with prepositional prefix (and then usually
unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X
long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from
(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,
with(-al).
see HEBREW for 06004
עִם (im) — with.
1) with
1a) with
1b) against
1c) toward
1d) as long as
מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.
1a) beside, except
1b) in spite of
Prep — PrepositionHR
פְּרִי (priy) means 'fruit' and encompasses various meanings, including the literal fruit of the ground, offspring or children, and figurative fruit representing the consequences of actions. It is derived from a root that emphasizes the concept of produce or reward.
פְּרִי 119 n.m. fruit
fruit of the ground, of produce in gen.
= offspring, fruit of womb
fig. of fruit of actions, i.e. their consequences
base
H6529 פְּרִי fruit . fruit of the ground, of produce in gen.
. = offspring, fruit of womb
. fig. of fruit of actions, i.e. their consequences
6529 priy per-ee'
from 6509; fruit (literally or figuratively):--bough,
((first-)) fruit((-ful)), reward.
see HEBREW for 06509
פְּרִי (pe.ri) — fruit.
1) fruit
1a) fruit, produce (of the ground)
1b) fruit, offspring, children, progeny (of the womb)
1c) fruit (of actions) (fig.)
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…
מֶ֫גֶד (meged) refers to excellence or something distinguished and valuable, likely derived from a root meaning to be eminent. The entries consistently highlight its association with precious or pleasant things.
מֶ֫גֶד n.m. excellence
base
H4022 מֶ֫גֶד excellence
4022 meged meh'-ghed
from an unused root probably meaning to be eminent; properly,
a distinguished thing; hence something valuable, as a product
or fruit:--pleasant, precious fruit (thing).
מֶ֫גֶד (me.ged) — excellence.
excellence
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
chois.
See CHOOSE; WILL.
→ Between judgments, by David 2Sa 24:12; 1Ch 21:11-13
See CONTINGENCIES
See BLESSINGS, CONTINGENT ON OBEDIENCE
כֹּפֶר (kofer) has several meanings, including 'ransom' or 'price of a life,' 'pitch' (as in bitumen), 'henna' (a plant), and 'village.' It is derived from a root meaning 'cover.' The word appears in contexts related to redemption and construction, notably in Genesis 6:14 and 1 Samuel 6:18.
ref
כֹּ֫פֶר n.m. name of a plant, El Ḥenna
base
כֹּפֶר n.[m.] village;—only sg. cstr. 1 S 6:18
ref
H3724a כֹּפֶר the price of a life, ransom H3724b כֹּ֫פֶר pitch H3724c כֹּ֫פֶר name of a plant H3724d כֹּפֶר village
3724 kopher ko'-fer
from 3722; properly, a cover, i.e. (literally) a village (as
covered in); (specifically) bitumen (as used for coating), and
the henna plant (as used for dyeing); figuratively, a
redemption-price:--bribe, camphire, pitch, ransom,
satisfaction, sum of money, village.
see HEBREW for 03722
כֹּפֶר (ko.pher) — ransom.
price of a life, ransom, bribe
כֹּ֫פֶר (ko.pher) — pitch.
asphalt, pitch (as a covering)
כֹּ֫פֶר (ko.pher) — henna.
the henna plant, name of a plant (henna?)
כֹּפֶר (ko.pher) — village.
village
Another spelling of ka.phar (כָּפָר "village" H3723H)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
→ See BOTANY
עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.
עִם prep. with
of fellowship and companionship
of aid
Of actions done jointly with another
If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
Of a common lot together with the wicked
Of equality or resemblance generally aid
Of time, as long as
Of a locality, close to, beside
Of persons, עִם is spec.
in the house or family or service of
In possession of
In the custody or care of
Beside = except
With = friendly with
Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
base
מֵעִם 72 from with or beside
base
H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship
. Of a locality, close to, beside
. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of
. In possession of
. In the custody or care of
. Beside = except
. With = friendly with
. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside
5973 `im eem
from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction
with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;
often with prepositional prefix (and then usually
unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X
long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from
(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,
with(-al).
see HEBREW for 06004
עִם (im) — with.
1) with
1a) with
1b) against
1c) toward
1d) as long as
מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.
1a) beside, except
1b) in spite of
Prep — PrepositionHR
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-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
→ See BOTANY