Song of Solomon 5:11 — Word Study
WLCרֹאשׁ֖וֹ כֶּ֣תֶם פָּ֑ז קְוּצּוֹתָיו֙ תַּלְתַּלִּ֔ים שְׁחֹר֖וֹת כָּעוֹרֵֽב׃
BSAHis headrôʼsh [the topmost part of the body] is purestpâz goldkethem [fine, refined] his hairqᵉvutstsâh [locks, flowing tresses] is wavytaltal△ [bushy, hanging down] and blackshâchôr [dark, shadowy] as a ravenʻôrêb [a dark-colored bird]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| רֹאשׁ֖וֹ | head his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| כֶּ֣תֶם | [is] gold of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| פָּ֑ז | pure gold | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| קְוּצּוֹתָיו֙ | locks his | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| תַּלְתַּלִּ֔ים | [are] curls | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| שְׁחֹר֖וֹת | black | Adj |
| כָּעוֹרֵֽב׃ | like raven | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven. |
| KJV | His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. |
| ASV | His head is as the most fine gold; His locks are bushy, and black as a raven. |
| YLT | His head [is] pure gold — fine gold, His locks flowing, dark as a raven, |
| WEB | His head is like the purest gold. His hair is bushy, black as a raven. |
| BBE | His head is as the most delicate gold; his hair is thick, and black as a raven. |
Where they part company is שְׁחֹר֖וֹת — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause with a predicate and several descriptive phrases that enhance the imagery of the beloved's appearance.
1 of 7 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
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 5:11
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 5:11 presents a vivid and poetic portrayal of the beloved's physical appearance. The speaker uses metaphorical language to emphasize the beauty and value of the beloved, comparing their head to pure gold and their hair to dark, flowing locks. This verse is part of a larger passage that celebrates love and attraction, reflecting the deep emotional connection between the lovers.
The Key Word — כֶּ֣תֶם, Ke.temgenerated
The word כֶּ֣תֶם (ke.tem) refers to pure gold, emphasizing its value and beauty. It is derived from a root meaning something carved out, indicating its status as a refined and precious material. In this context, it highlights the worthiness of the beloved's head, suggesting a position of honor and significance.
This noun is in the masculine singular construct form, indicating that it is describing the head of the beloved. The use of this term in conjunction with the following word for pure gold reinforces the idea of exceptional beauty and rarity.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse uses gold for כֶּ֣תֶם, while the KJV and ASV also use gold. The translations agree in their rendering, emphasizing the preciousness of the beloved's head.
Where translations differ is with שְׁחֹר֖וֹת, with the BSB and others using black, while the LSV and YLT opt for dark. This highlights the richness of the color description.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb structure is implicit in the description, with the subject being the beloved's head and hair. The sentence is constructed to emphasize the attributes of the beloved, with the head described first, followed by the hair and its qualities.
The Hebrew word order places the focus on the head and hair, creating a poetic rhythm that enhances the imagery. The use of adjectives and metaphors adds layers of meaning, inviting the reader to visualize the beauty being described.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates כֶּ֣תֶם as ξρυσίον, which also means gold, maintaining the emphasis on value and beauty. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the Hebrew term's connotation of purity and refinement.
The Greek word μέλανες for שְׁחֹר֖וֹת indicates a similar dark quality, aligning with the original Hebrew description of the beloved's hair.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Song of Solomon 5:11 describes the beloved's head as pure gold and their hair as wavy and black like a raven. This imagery highlights the beauty and value of the beloved, creating a vivid picture of their appearance.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The comparison to gold signifies the high value and beauty of the beloved, suggesting they are precious and worthy of admiration.
Describing the hair as black as a raven emphasizes its dark, rich color, enhancing the visual imagery of the beloved's appearance.
The verse employs metaphor and simile, using comparisons to gold and a raven to create vivid imagery and convey deep admiration.
This verse fits into the theme of love and beauty, celebrating the physical and emotional connection between the lovers.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do the descriptions of beauty in this verse resonate with my understanding of love?
- What qualities do I admire in others that reflect the beauty described here?
- In what ways can I express appreciation for the beauty in those I love?
- How does the use of metaphor enhance my understanding of the beloved's qualities?
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
His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven.
His head is like the purest gold. His hair is bushy, black as a raven.
His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven.
His head is like the most pure gold. His hair is curly – black like a raven.
Tyndale line
His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
His head is as the most fine gold; His locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
His head is as fine golde, his lockes curled, and blacke as a rauen.
Strictly literal
His head is [as] the finest gold; His locks are flowing, black as the raven;
His head [is] pure gold — fine gold, His locks flowing, dark as a raven,
His head [is] pure gold—fine gold, || His locks flowing, dark as a raven,
His head is bright as the finest gold, his locks are like waving foliage, and black as a raven.
His head is the purest gold; his hair is curly and as black as a raven.
From the Latin
His head is as the finest gold: his locks as branches of palm trees, black as a raven.
Simplified
His head is like the finest gold , his hair is wavy and black as the raven.
His head is as the most delicate gold; his hair is thick, and black as a raven.
Word by word, the decisions they made
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, with six of the seven words matched. This correspondence indicates a consistent understanding of the text across these traditions, though the Septuagint's word order differs.
רֹאשׁ֖וֹ כֶּ֣תֶם פָּ֑ז קְוּצּוֹתָיו֙ תַּלְתַּלִּ֔ים שְׁחֹר֖וֹת כָּעוֹרֵֽב׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Song of Solomon 5:11
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.
רֹאשׁ (ro'sh) means 'head' and encompasses various meanings related to position and rank. It can refer to the head of a person or animal, the top of a mountain, or a chief in various contexts, such as a city or nation. The word also signifies beginnings and sums, appearing in phrases related to enumeration. Additionally, it serves as a proper noun for 'Rosh,' a title for a chief or prince.
רֹאשׁ 599 n.m.
(c. 230 t.) head, of human being
head, of animals
top (88 t.)
height, of stars
head = chief (man)
= chief (city)
chief nation
= chief (place, position)
= chief priest
= head of a family
head = front, leader's place
of time, beginning, of night watch
of things, river-heads
chief, choicest, best, of spices
head = division of army, company, band
= sum, esp. in phr. take sum of, enumerate
other phr.
base
רֹאשׁ n.pr.gent. Rôsh
base
H7218a רֹאשׁ . . (c. 230 t.) head, of human being
. head, of animals
. . top (88 t.)
. height, of stars
. . head = chief (man)
. = chief (city)
. chief nation
. = chief (place, position)
. = chief priest
. = head of a family
. . head = front, leader's place
. of time, beginning, of night watch
. of things, river-heads
. chief, choicest, best, of spices
. head = division of army, company, band
. = sum, esp. in phr. take sum of, enumerate
. other phr.
H7218b רֹאשׁ n. pr. gent. Rôsh
7218 ro'sh roshe
from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as
most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many
applications, of place, time, rank, itc.):--band, beginning,
captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company,
end, X every (man), excellent, first, forefront, ((be-))head,
height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), X lead, X poor,
principal, ruler, sum, top.
רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head.
: head
1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning
1a) head (of man, animals)
1b) top, tip (of mountain)
1c) height (of stars)
1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)
1e) head, front, beginning
1f) chief, choicest, best
1g) head, division, company, band
1h) sum
רֹאשׁ (rosh) — prince.
Rosh, a tite for a chief or prince
רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head: leader.
: leader
1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning
1a) head (of man, animals)
1b) top, tip (of mountain)
1c) height (of stars)
1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)
1e) head, front, beginning
1f) chief, choicest, best
1g) head, division, company, band
1h) sum
רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head: top.
: top/best
1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning
1a) head (of man, animals)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
כֶּ֫תֶם (kethem) refers to gold, specifically pure gold, and is noted as a poetic and late term. It is derived from a root meaning something carved out, indicating ore. The entries consistently emphasize its association with fine or pure gold.
כֶּ֫תֶם n.m. gold, poet. and late
base
H3800 כֶּ֫תֶם gold, poet. and late
3800 kethem keh'-them
from 3799; properly, something carved out, i.e. ore; hence,
gold (pure as originally mined):--((most) fine, pure) gold(-en
wedge).
see HEBREW for 03799
כֶּ֫תֶם (ke.tem) — gold.
gold, pure gold
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…
פָּז (paz) refers to refined or pure gold. It is derived from a related root and specifically denotes gold that has been purified. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning as fine or pure gold, with no notable disagreements among the lexicons.
פַּז n.m. refined, pure gold
base
H6337 פָּז refined, pure gold
6337 paz pawz
from 6338; pure (gold); hence, gold itself (as
refined):--fine (pure) gold.
see HEBREW for 06338
פַּז (paz) — pure gold.
refined or pure gold
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
gold (zahabh; chrusos):
1. Terms:
No metal has been more frequently mentioned in Old Testament writings than gold, and none has had more terms applied to it. Among these terms the one most used is zahabh. The Arabic equivalent, dhahab, is still the common name for gold throughout Palestine, Syria and Egypt. With zahabh frequently occur other words which, translated, mean "pure" (Ex 25:11), "refined" (1Ch 28:18), "finest" (1Ki 10:18), "beaten" (1Ki 10:17), "Ophir" (Ps 45:9).
Other terms occurring are: paz, "fine gold" (Job 28:17;
Gold
(1.) Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour (Ex. 25:11; 1 Chr. 28:18; 2 Chr. 3:5).
(2.) Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being enclosed or treasured up; thus precious or “fine gold” (1 Kings 6:20; 7:49).
Gold was known from the very earliest times. (Genesis 2:11) It was at first used chiefly for ornaments, etc. (Genesis 24:22) Coined money was not known to the ancients till a comparatively late period; and on the Egyptian tombs gold is represented as being weighed in rings for commercial purposes. Comp. (Genesis 43:21) Gold was extremely abundant in ancient times, (1 Chronicles 22:14; 2 Chronicles 1:15; 9:9; Daniel 3:1; Nahum 2:9) but this did not depreciate its value, because of the enormous quantities consumed by…
A well-known valuable metal, found in many parts of the world, and obtained anciently in Ophir, Job 28:16; Parvaim, 2Ch 3:6; Sheba, and Raamah, Eze 27:22. Job alludes to gold in various forms, Job 22:24 28:15-19. Abraham was rich in it, and female ornaments were early made of it, Ge 13:2 24:22,35. It is spoken of throughout Scripture; and the use of it among and ancient Hebrews, in its native and mixed state, and for the same purposes as at present, was very common. The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with pure gold; the mercy seat, the vessels and utensils belonging to the tabernacle, and those also of the house of…
קְוֻצּוֹת (qvutstsah) refers to locks of hair, derived from a feminine passive participle of the root word for cutting or shorn hair. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to hair, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[קְוֻצּוֹת] n.f.pl. locks of hair
base
H6977 קְוֻצּוֹת, קְוֻצָּה
6977 qvutstsah kev-oots-tsaw'
feminine passive participle of 6972 in its original sense; a
forelock (as shorn):--lock.
see HEBREW for 06972
קְוֻצּוֹת (qe.vuts.tsah) — lock.
lock, locks of hair
N-fp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp3ms
תַּלְתַּלִּים (taltalim) refers to something bushy or wavy, particularly in the context of a woman's hair. The word is built from reduplication and is linked to the idea of vibration. Its meaning is uncertain, with some lexicons suggesting it may refer to locks of hair, as seen in Song of Solomon 5:11.
תַּלְתַּלִּים n.f. (?) pl. as fig. of woman’s locks, mng. dub.: Ct 5:11;
ref
H8534 תַּלְתַּלִּים, תַּלְתַּל
8534 taltal tal-tal'
by reduplication, from 8524 through the idea of vibration; a
trailing bough (as pendulous):--bushy.
see HEBREW for 08524
תַּלְתַּלִּים (tal.tal) — lock.
1) wavy, branchy (used of woman's hair-fig)
1a) meaning uncertain
N-fp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
שָׁחֹר (shachor) means 'black' and is derived from a root that suggests a dusky color. The term is used to describe something that is jet black or dark in appearance. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning as a color without significant disagreement.
שָׁחֹר adj. black
base
H7838 שָׁחֹר, שָׁחוֹר
7838 shachor shaw-khore'
or shachowr {shaw-khore'}; from 7835; properly, dusky, but
also (absol.) jetty:--black.
see HEBREW for 07835
שָׁחֹר (sha.chor) — black.
black
Adj — AdjHAafpa
See COLORS.
Black
Properly the absence of all colour. In Prov. 7:9 the Hebrew word means, as in the margin of the Revised Version, “the pupil of the eye.” It is translated “apple” of the eye in Deut. 32:10; Ps. 17:8; Prov. 7:2. It is a different word which is rendered “black” in Lev. 13:31,37; Cant. 1:5; 5:11; and Zech. 6:2, 6. It is uncertain what the “black marble” of Esther 1:6 was which formed a part of the mosaic pavement.
עֹרֵב (oreb) means 'raven' and is derived from the root meaning related to its dark color. The entries consistently identify it as a raven without additional nuances or variations in meaning.
עֹרֵב n.m. raven
base
H6158 עֹרֵב raven
6158 `oreb o-rabe'
or mowreb {o-rabe'}; from 6150; a raven (from its dusky
hue):--raven.
see HEBREW for 06150
עֹרֵב (o.rev) — raven.
raven
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
ra'-vn (`orebh; korax; Latin Corvus corax): A large family of the smaller birds of prey belonging to the genus Corvus corax. A bird of such universal distribution that it is known from Iceland to Japan, all over Asia, Europe and Africa, but almost extinct and not of general distribution in our own country. In no land is it more numerous than in Palestine In general appearance it resembles the crow, but is much larger, being almost two feet long, of a glossy black, with whiskers around the beak, and rather stiff-pointed neck feathers. A bird exhibiting as much intelligence as any, and of a saucy, impudent disposition, it has been an object of interest from the beginning. It has been able to speak sentences of a few words when carefully taught, and by its uncanny acts has made itself a bird surrounded by superstition, myth, fable, and is connected with the religious rites of many nations.…
Raven
Heb. ‘orebh, from a root meaning “to be black” (comp. Cant. 5:11); first mentioned as “sent forth” by Noah from the ark (Gen. 8:7). “Every raven after his kind” was forbidden as food (Lev. 11:15; Deut. 14:14). Ravens feed mostly on carrion, and hence their food is procured with difficulty (Job 38:41; Ps. 147:9). When they attack kids or lambs or weak animals, it is said that they first pick out the eyes of their victims (Prov. 30:17). When Elijah was concealed by the brook Cherith, God commanded the ravens…
(black). The Hebrew oreb is applied to the several species of the crow family, a number of which are found in Palestine. The raven belongs to the order Insessores , family Corvidae . (It resembles the crow, but is larger weighing three pounds; its black color is more iridescent, and it is gifted with greater sagacity. "There is something weird and shrewd in the expression of the raven’s countenance, a union of cunning and malignity which may have contributed to give it among widely-revered nations a reputation for preternatural knowledge." One writer says that the smell of death is so grateful to them that when in passing over sheep a tainted smell is perceptible, they cry and croak vehemently. It may be that in passing over a human habitation, if a sickly or cadaverous smell arises, they should make it known by their cries, and so has arisen the idea that the croaking of a raven is the…
Ge 8:7; Le 11:15, a bird similar to the crow, but larger, and not gregarious. It feeds on dead bodies; and in its general characteristics resembles the crow of America. The eyes of its victim are the first part to be devoured, Pr 30:17; and it drives away its young as soon as they can begin to shift for themselves, Job 38:41; Ps 147:9. Elijah was miraculously fed by ravens, 1Ki 17:6.