Song of Solomon 4:9 — Word Study
WLCלִבַּבְתִּ֖נִי אֲחֹתִ֣י כַלָּ֑ה לִבַּבְתִּ֙ינִי֙ בְּאַחַ֣ת מֵעֵינַ֔יִךְ בְּאַחַ֥ד עֲנָ֖ק מִצַּוְּרֹנָֽיִךְ׃
BSAYou have captured my heartlâbab■ [ravished, taken away] my sisterʼâchôwth [biological or spiritual] my bridekallâh [daughter-in-law] you have stolen my heartlâbab■ [wounded] with oneʼechâd [one glance, a single look] glance of your eyesʻayin [sources of insight] with oneʼechâd [one jewel, a chain] jewelʻânâq of your necktsavvâʼr
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לִבַּבְתִּ֖נִי | you have stolen heart my | Verb piel perfect second person feminine singular, suffix |
| אֲחֹתִ֣י | O sister my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| כַלָּ֑ה | bride | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| לִבַּבְתִּ֙ינִי֙ | you have stolen heart my | Verb piel perfect second person feminine singular, suffix |
| בְּאַחַ֣ת | with one | Preposition |
| מֵעֵינַ֔יִךְ | from eyes your | Preposition, noun common feminine dual construct, suffix |
| בְּאַחַ֥ד | with one | Preposition |
| עֲנָ֖ק | necklace | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| מִצַּוְּרֹנָֽיִךְ׃ | from necklaces your | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your neck. |
| KJV | Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. |
| ASV | Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my bride; Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, With one chain of thy neck. |
| YLT | Thou hast emboldened me, my sister-spouse, Emboldened me with one of thine eyes, With one chain of thy neck. |
| WEB | You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride. You have ravished my heart with one of your eyes, with one chain of your neck. |
| BBE | You have taken away my heart, my sister, my bride; you have taken away my heart, with one look you have taken it, with one chain of your neck! |
Where they part company is לִבַּבְתִּ֖נִי — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause expresses the speaker's declaration, while the subordinate clauses provide the means by which the heart has been captured.
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 4:9
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 Song of Solomon's Celebration of Lovegenerated
Song of Solomon 4:9 presents a vivid expression of love, where the speaker declares that their heart has been captured by their beloved. This passage emphasizes the deep emotional connection and admiration between the speaker and the beloved, using rich imagery to convey the intensity of their feelings. The surrounding verses further illustrate the beauty and allure of the beloved, enhancing the romantic atmosphere of the text.
The Key Word — לִבַּבְתִּ֖נִי, li.bav.Ti.nigenerated
The verb לִבַּב (labab) is a piel perfect form, indicating a completed action performed by the subject. It means to steal or captivate the heart, suggesting a powerful emotional impact. The root carries connotations of encouraging or stimulating emotions, which aligns with the context of love and affection expressed in this verse.
In this instance, the speaker uses the verb to convey that their heart has been thoroughly taken by the beloved, emphasizing the depth of their feelings. The use of the second person feminine singular indicates that the speaker is addressing a female, reinforcing the intimate nature of the relationship.
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 verse consists of a main clause followed by a series of phrases that elaborate on the speaker's feelings. The finite verb לִבַּבְתִּ֖נִי (you have captured) governs the entire expression, with the phrases detailing the beloved's identity and the means by which the heart has been taken.
The structure emphasizes the emotional weight of the speaker's declaration, with the use of direct address enhancing the intimacy of the expression. The phrases 'my sister, my bride' and the descriptions of the glance and the jewel serve to deepen the connection between the speaker and the beloved.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates לִבַּבְתִּ֖נִי as ἡμᾶς (us), which shifts the focus from the individual act of capturing the heart to a more collective sense of belonging. This choice suggests an interpretation that encompasses a shared emotional experience rather than solely personal affection.
This rendering may indicate a broader understanding of love and connection, highlighting the communal aspects of relationships in the context of the Song of Solomon.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Song of Solomon 4:9 expresses a deep love where the speaker says their heart has been captured by their beloved. The speaker affectionately calls their beloved 'sister' and 'bride', showing a close relationship. The verse highlights how a single glance and a beautiful necklace have stolen their heart.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To capture someone's heart means to deeply affect them emotionally, often through love or admiration.
The terms 'sister' and 'bride' indicate a close, intimate relationship, signifying both familial and romantic bonds.
The glance symbolizes a moment of connection or attraction, while the jewel represents beauty and adornment, both contributing to the speaker's feelings of love.
This verse encapsulates the passionate and poetic expressions of love found throughout the Song of Solomon, emphasizing emotional connection and admiration.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced deep emotional connections with others?
- How can I express my love and admiration for those close to me?
- What symbols of beauty and affection resonate with me in my relationships?
- How do familial and romantic relationships intersect in my 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
You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your neck.
You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride. You have ravished my heart with one of your eyes, with one chain of your neck.
You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your neck.
You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride! You have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.
Tyndale line
Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my bride; Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, With one chain of thy neck.
Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my bride; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thy eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
My sister, my spouse, thou hast wounded mine heart: thou hast wounded mine heart with one of thine eyes, and with a chaine of thy necke.
Strictly literal
Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, [my] spouse; Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, With one chain of thy neck.
Thou hast emboldened me, my sister-spouse, Emboldened me with one of thine eyes, With one chain of thy neck.
You have emboldened me, my sister-spouse, || Emboldened me with one of your eyes, || With one chain of your neck.
Thou hast ravished my heart, O my sister, [my] bride; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thy eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart, with just one look at me, with just one jewel of your necklace.
From the Latin
Thou hast wounded my heart, my sister, my spouse, thou hast wounded my heart with one of thy eyes, and with one hair of thy neck.
Simplified
You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride. With just one look you stole my heart, with just one sparkle from a single one of your necklaces.
You have taken away my heart, my sister, my bride; you have taken away my heart, with one look you have taken it, with one chain of your neck!
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 largely agree in their wording for this verse, with only minor differences in structure. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain a partial match, with some words supplied by an editor, indicating that the core message of the verse has remained consistent across these texts.
לִבַּבְתִּ֖נִי אֲחֹתִ֣י כַלָּ֑ה לִבַּבְתִּ֙ינִי֙ בְּאַחַ֣ת מֵעֵינַ֔יִךְ בְּאַחַ֥ד עֲנָ֖ק מִצַּוְּרֹנָֽיִךְ׃
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.
לבבת׳ני אחות׳י כלה לבבת׳ני באחד מעיני׳ך באחד [ענק] [מצורני׳ך]
7 words on the leather — 2 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.
Lexicons — every word in Song of Solomon 4:9
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.
לָבַב (labab) is a denominative verb with meanings related to encouraging or stimulating the mind and emotions, as well as making cakes. It can imply both positive actions, like encouraging or becoming intelligent, and negative ones, such as stultifying. The entries also note its connection to baking, indicating a range of uses from emotional to culinary.
[לבב] vb. denom.
Niph. get a mind
Pi. encourage
base
[לבב] vb. denom. Pi. make cakes.
base
H3823a לבב vb. denom. . get a mind
. encourage
H3823b לבב vb. denom. Pi. make cakes
3823 labab law-bab'
a primitive root; properly, to be enclosed (as if with fat);
by implication (as denominative from 3824) to unheart, i.e.
(in a good sense) transport (with love), or (in a bad sense)
stultify; also (as denominative from 3834) to make
cakes:--make cakes, ravish, be wise.
see HEBREW for 03824
see HEBREW for 03834
לָבַב (la.vav) — to encourage.
1) to ravish, become intelligent, get a mind
1a) (Niphal) to take heart, become enheartened, become intelligent
1b) (Piel) to ravish the heart, encourage, make heart beat faster
לִבֵּב (lib.bev) — to bake.
(Piel) to make cakes, bake cakes, cook bread
V-Piel-Perf-2fs | Suff — Verb piel perfect second person feminine singular · suffixHVpp2fs/Sp1bs
אָחוֹת (achowth) means 'sister' and can refer to a full sister, half-sister, or a relative. It is used both literally and figuratively, symbolizing relationships such as that of Israel and Judah, and can also imply intimacy or connection. The word is built from a feminine form related to other terms for kinship.
אָחוֹת 114 n.f. sister
sister
= beloved
symbol. of Judah, Samaria, Sodom & Jerusalem
fig. of intimate connection
another
base
H269 אָחוֹת sister
269 'achowth aw-khoth'
irregular feminine of 251; a sister (used very widely (like
250), literally and figuratively):--(an-)other, sister,
together.
see HEBREW for 0251
see HEBREW for 0250
אָחוֹת (a.chot) — sister.
1) sister
1a) sister (same parents)
1b) half-sister (same father)
1c) relative
1c1) (metaph) of Israel's and Judah's relationship
1d) beloved
1d1) bride
1e) (fig.) of intimate connection
1f) another
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bs
כַּלָה (kallah) primarily means 'bride' or 'daughter-in-law.' It is derived from a root meaning 'to be perfect.' The entries consistently refer to the word as denoting a son's wife or a young bride, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
כַּלָה n.f. daughter-in-law, bride
base
H3618 כַּלָה daughter-in-law, bride
3618 kallah kal-law'
from 3634; a bride (as if perfect); hence, a son's
wife:--bride, daughter-in-law, spouse.
see HEBREW for 03634
כַּלָּה (kal.lah) — daughter-in-law: bride.
: bride
1) bride, daughter-in-law
1a) daughter-in-law
1b) bride, young wife
Also means: kal.lah (כַּלָּה ": daughter-in-law" H3618H)
כַּלָּה (kal.lah) — daughter-in-law.
: daughter-in-law
1) bride, daughter-in-law
1a) daughter-in-law
1b) bride, young wife
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
brid.
See MARRIAGE.
Bride
Frequently used in the ordinary sense (Isa. 49:18; 61:10, etc.). The relation between Christ and his church is set forth under the figure of that between a bridegroom and bride (John 3:29). The church is called “the bride” (Rev. 21:9; 22:17). Compare parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt. 25:1-13).
→ Ornaments of Isa 49:18; 61:10; Jer 2:32; Re 21:2
→ Presents to Ge 24:53
→ Maids of Ge 24:59,61; 29:24,29
→ FIGURATIVE Ps 45:10-17; Eze 16:8-14; Re 19:7,8; 21:2,9; 22:17
לָבַב (labab) is a denominative verb with meanings related to encouraging or stimulating the mind and emotions, as well as making cakes. It can imply both positive actions, like encouraging or becoming intelligent, and negative ones, such as stultifying. The entries also note its connection to baking, indicating a range of uses from emotional to culinary.
[לבב] vb. denom.
Niph. get a mind
Pi. encourage
base
[לבב] vb. denom. Pi. make cakes.
base
H3823a לבב vb. denom. . get a mind
. encourage
H3823b לבב vb. denom. Pi. make cakes
3823 labab law-bab'
a primitive root; properly, to be enclosed (as if with fat);
by implication (as denominative from 3824) to unheart, i.e.
(in a good sense) transport (with love), or (in a bad sense)
stultify; also (as denominative from 3834) to make
cakes:--make cakes, ravish, be wise.
see HEBREW for 03824
see HEBREW for 03834
לָבַב (la.vav) — to encourage.
1) to ravish, become intelligent, get a mind
1a) (Niphal) to take heart, become enheartened, become intelligent
1b) (Piel) to ravish the heart, encourage, make heart beat faster
לִבֵּב (lib.bev) — to bake.
(Piel) to make cakes, bake cakes, cook bread
V-Piel-Perf-2fs | Suff — Verb piel perfect second person feminine singular · suffixHVpp2fs/Sp1bs
אֶחָד (echad) means 'one' and is derived from a numeral. It encompasses meanings such as each, every, a certain, and can serve as an indefinite article. It is also used as an ordinal to denote 'first' and appears in various combinations, including eleven. The entries consistently emphasize its numerical and qualitative aspects.
אֶחָד 972 adj.num. one
one
= each, every
= a certain
= indef. art.
only, & (fem.) once
one … another, one … the other
as ordinal first
in combin.
base
H259 אֶחָד one . one
. = each, every
. = a certain
. = indef. art.
. only, & (fem.) once
. one … another, one … the other
. as ordinal first
. in combin.
259 'echad ekh-awd'
a numeral from 258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an
ordinal) first:--a, alike, alone, altogether, and,
any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), +
eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only,
other, some, together,
see HEBREW for 0258
אֶחָד (e.chad) — one.
1) one (number)
1a) one (number)
1b) each, every
1c) a certain
1d) an (indefinite article)
1e) only, once, once for all
1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one
1g) first
1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHR/Acfsa
wun.
See NUMBER.
The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye
lit. as physical organ
eyes as showing mental qualities
desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes
Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states
Transferred mngs.:
visible surface of earth
appearance
gleam, sparkle
Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead
base
עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:
ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1
ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19
ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.
ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)
base
H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ
. . eyes as showing mental qualities
. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes
. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states
. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth
. appearance
. gleam, sparkle
. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead
H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)
5869 `ayin ah'-yin
probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or
figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the
landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +
think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +
displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,
fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,
knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,
presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +
think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.
: eye
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).
§ spring, fountain
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.
§ spring, fountain
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.
: seeing
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.
: appearance
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).
: before(the_eyes)
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.
: sin
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
Prep | N-cd | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffixHR/Ncfdc/Sp2fs
אֶחָד (echad) means 'one' and is derived from a numeral. It encompasses meanings such as each, every, a certain, and can serve as an indefinite article. It is also used as an ordinal to denote 'first' and appears in various combinations, including eleven. The entries consistently emphasize its numerical and qualitative aspects.
אֶחָד 972 adj.num. one
one
= each, every
= a certain
= indef. art.
only, & (fem.) once
one … another, one … the other
as ordinal first
in combin.
base
H259 אֶחָד one . one
. = each, every
. = a certain
. = indef. art.
. only, & (fem.) once
. one … another, one … the other
. as ordinal first
. in combin.
259 'echad ekh-awd'
a numeral from 258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an
ordinal) first:--a, alike, alone, altogether, and,
any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), +
eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only,
other, some, together,
see HEBREW for 0258
אֶחָד (e.chad) — one.
1) one (number)
1a) one (number)
1b) each, every
1c) a certain
1d) an (indefinite article)
1e) only, once, once for all
1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one
1g) first
1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHR/Acfsc
wun.
See NUMBER.
עֲנָק (anaq) refers to both 'neck' and 'necklace' or 'neck-pendant.' The word is derived from a root meaning to strangle, suggesting a connection to its use for jewelry. It appears in contexts related to long-necked individuals and is associated with giants in ancient regions like Hebron and Philistia.
עֲנָק n.[m.] neck, only in epith.gent. long-necked (tall) men, early giant people about Hebron and in Philistia
base
עֲנָק n.m. necklace, neck-pendant
base
H6060a עֲנָק neck H6060b עֲנָק necklace, neck-pendant
6060 `anaq aw-nawk'
from 6059; a necklace (as if strangling):--chain.
see HEBREW for 06059
עֲנָק (a.naq) — neck.
(TWOT) neck
עֲנָק (a.naq) — necklace.
necklace, neck-pendant
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
nek'-las (rabhidh, "chain"): A neck-chain ornament, worn either separately (Eze 16:11), or with pendants (Isa 3:19), such as crescents (Isa 3:18) or rings (Ge 38:25); sometimes made of gold (Ge 41:42; Da 5:29), or of strings of jewels (So 1:10). Even beasts of burden were sometimes so adorned by royalty (Jud 8:26). It was considered suggestive of pride (Ps 73:6) or of filial loyalty (
The Hebrew word צַוָּאר (*tsavvar*) primarily means 'neck' or 'back of the neck,' and can refer to both humans and animals. It is related to the word צַוָּרוֹן (*tsavvaron*), which means 'necklace,' as noted in Song of Solomon 4:9. The term is derived from a root meaning 'binding,' suggesting a connection to burdens carried on the neck.
צַוָּאר n.m. neck, back of neck
base
[צַוָּרוֹן] n.[m.]pl. necklace;—sf. Ct 4:9.
ref
H6677a צַוָּאר neck, back of neck H6677b צַוָּרוֹן n. [m.] pl. necklace
6677 tsavva'r tsav-vawr'
or tsavvar (Nehemiah 3:5) {tsav-vawr'}; or tsavvaron (Song of
Solomon 4:9) {tsav-vaw-rone'}; or (feminine) tsavva.rah (Micah
2:3) {tsav-vaw-raw'}; intensively from 6696 in the sense of
binding; the back of the neck (as that on which burdens are
bound):--neck.
see HEBREW for 06696
צַוָּאר (tsav.var) — neck.
1) neck, back of neck
1a) neck, back of neck (of man)
1b) neck (of animals)
Aramaic equivalent: tsav.var (צַוַּאר "neck" H6676)
צַוָּרוֹן (tsav.va.ron) — necklace.
necklace
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncmpc/Sp2fs