Song of Solomon 5:10 — Word Study
WLCדּוֹדִ֥י צַח֙ וְאָד֔וֹם דָּג֖וּל מֵרְבָבָֽה׃
BSAMy beloveddôwd [dearly loved one, uncle] is dazzlingtsach [clear, bright] and ruddyʼâdôm [red, having a healthy complexion] outstandingdâgal [the chiefest, conspicuous] among ten thousandrᵉbâbâh [a myriad, a large multitude]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| דּוֹדִ֥י | lover my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| צַח֙ | [is] dazzling | Adj |
| וְאָד֔וֹם | and ruddy | Conjunction |
| דָּג֖וּל | [is] conspicuous | Verb, Qal, participle (passive) masculine singular |
| מֵרְבָבָֽה׃ | more than ten thousand | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. |
| KJV | My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. |
| ASV | My beloved is white and ruddy, The chiefest among ten thousand. |
| YLT | My beloved [is] clear and ruddy, Conspicuous above a myriad! |
| WEB | My beloved is white and ruddy. The best among ten thousand. |
| BBE | My loved one is white and red, the chief among ten thousand. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of דָּג֖וּל — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause presents the beloved's qualities, with additional phrases providing further description and context.
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 5:10
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Beauty of the Belovedgenerated
Song of Solomon 5:10 presents a vivid description of the beloved, highlighting their unique beauty and charm. The speaker uses striking imagery to convey admiration, comparing their beloved to a multitude, emphasizing their exceptional qualities. This passage is part of a larger poetic dialogue celebrating love and attraction, where the beloved is frequently praised for their outstanding features.
The Key Word — דּוֹדִ֥י, do.Digenerated
The word דּוֹד (dod) means 'beloved' and carries connotations of deep affection. It can also refer to an uncle or close relative, indicating familial love. The root suggests a boiling or fervent love, emphasizing strong emotional ties.
In this verse, the use of דּוֹדִי indicates a personal and intimate relationship, as the speaker affectionately refers to their beloved. This term sets the tone for the admiration expressed throughout the passage.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree in rendering דּוֹדִ֥י as 'my beloved' across versions such as the BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb דָּג֖וּל (is conspicuous) governs the entire sentence, with a noun phrase as the subject and an adjective phrase as the predicate. The structure highlights the beloved's qualities through descriptive phrases.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the beloved's attributes, presenting them as striking and exceptional, which enhances the poetic nature of the text.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates דּוֹדִ֥י as μου (my), maintaining the personal connection of the beloved. This choice reflects the intimate nature of the relationship described.
For דָּג֖וּל, the Greek ἐκλελοξισμένος indicates a sense of being raised or elevated, aligning with the notion of conspicuousness or prominence in the context of beauty.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Song of Solomon 5:10 describes the beloved as dazzling and ruddy, standing out among ten thousand. This verse captures a moment of admiration, showcasing the beloved's unique beauty and charm, which is celebrated throughout the poetic text.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Being 'dazzling' refers to the beloved's bright and striking appearance, suggesting a beauty that captures attention.
The term 'ruddy' indicates a healthy complexion, often associated with vitality and attractiveness.
This phrase emphasizes the beloved's exceptional qualities, suggesting they are unparalleled and remarkable compared to many others.
This verse exemplifies the celebration of love and beauty found throughout the Song of Solomon, highlighting the deep affection between the lovers.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What qualities do I admire in those I love, and how can I express that admiration?
- How does the imagery used in this verse enhance my understanding of love and attraction?
- In what ways can I celebrate the unique qualities of those close to me?
- How does the concept of beauty in this verse relate to my own perceptions of beauty?
The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.
My beloved is white and ruddy. The best among ten thousand.
My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.
My beloved is dazzling and ruddy; he stands out in comparison to all other men.
Tyndale line
My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
My beloved is white and ruddy, The chiefest among ten thousand.
My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
My beloved is white and ruddy, the chief among ten thousand.
My welbeloued is white and ruddie, the chiefest of ten thousand.
Strictly literal
My beloved is white and ruddy, The chiefest among ten thousand.
My beloved [is] clear and ruddy, Conspicuous above a myriad!
My beloved [is] clear and ruddy, || Conspicuous above a myriad!
My friend is white and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand.
My beloved is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.
From the Latin
My beloved is white and ruddy, chosen out of thousands.
Simplified
My love has dazzling good looks and is very fit—better than ten thousand others!
My loved one is white and red, the chief among ten thousand.
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 reads, "דּוֹדִ֥י צַח֙ וְאָד֔וֹם דָּג֖וּל מֵרְבָבָֽה׃" which translates to "My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in all five words, though it presents them in a different order and with its own articles. There are no significant differences noted in the Samaritan Pentateuch or the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse, indicating a strong consistency across these ancient witnesses.
דּוֹדִ֥י צַח֙ וְאָד֔וֹם דָּג֖וּל מֵרְבָבָֽה׃
5 of the 5 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 5:10
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.
דּוֹד (dod) means 'beloved' and can refer to love in a general sense, as well as specifically to an uncle. It is derived from a root meaning 'to boil,' figuratively relating to love. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to affection and familial ties.
דּוֹד n.m. beloved, love (pl.), uncle
base
H1730 דּוֹד beloved, love (pl.), uncle
1730 dowd dode
or (shortened) dod {dode}; from an unused root meaning
properly, to boil, i.e. (figuratively) to love; by
implication, a love- token, lover, friend; specifically an
uncle:--(well-)beloved, father's brother, love, uncle.
דּוֹד (dod) — beloved.
: beloved
1) beloved, love, uncle
1a) loved one, beloved
1b) uncle
1c) love (pl. abstract)
דּוֹד (dod) — beloved: love.
: love
1) beloved, love, uncle
1a) loved one, beloved
1b) uncle
1c) love (pl. abstract)
דּוֹד (dod) — beloved: male relative.
: male_relative
1) beloved, love, uncle
1a) loved one, beloved
1b) uncle
1c) love (pl. abstract)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
צַח (tsach) is an adjective meaning dazzling, glowing, or clear. It conveys a sense of brightness and can also imply something that is evident or plainly seen. The word is derived from a root that suggests brightness and clarity, but the entries do not provide specific Old Testament references.
צַח adj. dazzling, glowing, clear
base
H6703 צַח dazzling, glowing, clear
6703 tsach tsakh
from 6705; dazzling, i.e. sunny, bright, (figuratively)
evident:--clear, dry, plainly, white.
see HEBREW for 06705
צַח (tsach) — dazzling.
dazzling, glowing, clear, bright
Adj — AdjHAamsa
אָדֹם (adom) is an adjective meaning 'red' or 'ruddy,' used to describe various things like people, animals, and objects. The noun form אֱדֹם (edom) refers to a type of condiment. The word is built from the root associated with the color red, as indicated in the entries.
אָדֹם adj. red.
base
אֱדֹם n.[m.] name of a condiment.
base
H122a אָדֹם red.H122b אֱדֹם name of a condiment.
122 'adom aw-dome'
from 119; rosy:--red, ruddy.
see HEBREW for 0119
אָדֹם (a.dom) — red.
red, ruddy (of man, horse, heifer, garment, water, lentils)
אֱדֹם (e.dom) — red stuff.
name of a condiment
Conj | Adj — ConjunctionHC/Aamsa
rud'-i ('adhmoni (1Sa 16:12; 17:42; Ge 25:25 the Revised Version margin), 'adhom (So 5:10); verbs 'adham (La 4:7), and eruthriao, "to blush" (Ad Es 15:5)): "Ruddy" is the form taken by the adjective "red" when used as a term of praise of the human skin, and this is its use in the Bible (the Hebrew and Greek words are all usual words for "red" or "to be red"). The dark-skinned Hebrews found great beauty in a clear complexion.
דָּגַל (dagal) primarily means to look or behold, but it also denotes the act of raising a banner or standard, particularly in a military context. The entries indicate its use in both a literal sense of carrying a banner and a figurative sense of being conspicuous. Notably, it appears in Song of Solomon 5:10.
[דָּגַל] vb. look, behold Ct 5:10
ref
[דָּגַל] vb. denom. carry, or set up standard, banner
Qal set up standard in battle
Niph. bannered, supplied with standards
base
H1713a דָּגַל look, behold H1713b דָּגַל vb. denom. carry, or set up standard, banner .set up standard in battle
. bannered, supplied with standards
1713 dagal daw-gal'
a primitive root; to flaunt, i.e. raise a flag; figuratively,
to be conspicuous:--(set up, with) banners, chiefest.
דָּגַל (da.gal) — to look.
1) to look, behold
1a) (Qal) looked at, conspicuous (participle)
דָּגַל (da.gal) — to set a banner.
1) to carry a banner or standard, set up banner or standard
1a)(Qal) to set up standard (in battle)
1b) (Niphal) supplied with banners, bannered
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine singularHVqsmsa
רְבָבָה (rebavah) refers to a multitude or a myriad, specifically denoting the number ten thousand. It is derived from the root word for abundance, indicating a large quantity. The term appears in contexts that emphasize vastness or a significant number.
רְבָבָה n.f. multitude , myriad, ten thousand
base
H7233 רְבָבָה multitude , myriad, ten thousand
7233 rbabah reb-aw-baw'
from 7231; abundance (in number), i.e. (specifically) a
myriad (whether definite or indefinite):--many, million, X
multiply, ten thousand.
see HEBREW for 07231
רְבָבָה (re.va.vah) — myriad.
multitude, myriad, ten thousand
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHR/Ncfsa
thou'-zand ('eleph; chilioi).
See NUMBER.