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Song of Solomon 4:1 How beautiful you are, my darling--how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead.
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Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from the hills of Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/songs/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />You are beautiful, my darling, beautiful beyond words. Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair falls in waves, like a flock of goats winding down the slopes of Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/songs/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/songs/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />How beautiful you are, my darling—how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/songs/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Behold, thou <i>art</i> fair, my love; behold, thou <i>art</i> fair; thou <i>hast</i> doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair <i>is</i> as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/songs/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Behold, you <i>are</i> fair, my love! Behold, you <i>are</i> fair! You <i>have</i> dove’s eyes behind your veil. Your hair <i>is</i> like a flock of goats, Going down from Mount Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/songs/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“How beautiful you are, my darling, How beautiful you are! Your eyes are <i>like</i> doves behind your veil; Your hair is like a flock of goats That have descended from Mount Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/songs/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />“How beautiful you are, my darling, How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil; Your hair is like a flock of goats That have descended from Mount Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/songs/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“<,>How beautiful you are, my darling, How beautiful you are! Your eyes are <i>like</i> doves behind your veil; Your hair is like a flock of goats That have descended from Mount Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/songs/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“Behold, you are beautiful, my darling, Behold, you are beautiful! Your eyes are <i>like</i> doves behind your veil; Your hair is like a flock of goats That have leapt down from Mount Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/songs/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“How fair <i>and</i> beautiful you are, my darling, How very beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are like those of a dove; Your hair is like [the shimmering black fleece of] a flock of [Arabian] goats That have descended from Mount Gilead [beyond the Jordan].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/songs/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />How beautiful you are, my darling. How very beautiful! Behind your veil, your eyes are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/songs/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />M How beautiful you are, my darling. How very beautiful! Behind your veil, your eyes are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/songs/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; Thine eyes are as doves behind thy veil. Thy hair is as a flock of goats, That lie along the side of mount Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/songs/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />My darling, you are lovely, so very lovely--as you look through your veil, your eyes are those of a dove. Your hair tosses about as gracefully as goats coming down from Gilead. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/songs/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thine eyes are as doves behind thy veil: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that lie along the side of mount Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/songs/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Look at you! You are beautiful, my true love. Look at you! You are so beautiful. Your eyes behind your veil are like doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats moving down Mount Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/songs/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />How beautiful you are, my love! How your eyes shine with love behind your veil. Your hair dances like a flock of goats bounding down the hills of Gilead. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/songs/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Look at you! You are beautiful, my darling. Look at you! You are so beautiful. Your eyes behind your veil are doves, your hair is like a flock of goats coming down from Mt. Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/songs/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />How beautiful you are, my darling?how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/songs/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Oh, you are beautiful, my darling! Oh, you are beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are like doves. Your hair is like a flock of female goats descending from Mount Gilead. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/songs/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Look, you are beautiful, my love. Look, you are beautiful. Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is as a flock of goats, that descend from Mount Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/songs/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/songs/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Behold, you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair is as a flock of goats, that descend from Mount Gilead. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/songs/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Behold, you [are] beautiful, my friend, behold, you [are] beautiful, "" Your eyes [are] doves behind your veil, "" Your hair as a row of the goats that have shone from Mount Gilead,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/songs/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Lo, thou art fair, my friend, lo, thou art fair, Thine eyes are doves behind thy veil, Thy hair as a row of the goats That have shone from mount Gilead,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/songs/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Behold thee beautiful, my friend, behold thee beautiful; thine eyes doves from behind to thy veil: thy hair as a herd of goats which lay down from mount Gilead.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/songs/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />How beautiful art thou, my love, how beautiful art thou! thy eyes are doves' eyes, besides what is hid within. Thy hair is as flocks of goats, which Come up from mount Galaad. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/songs/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Groom to Bride: <font color=#CC0000>How beautiful you are, my love, how beautiful you are! Your eyes are those of a dove, except for what is hidden within. Your hair is like flocks of goats, which ascend along the mountain of Gilead.</font><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/songs/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br /> How beautiful you are, my friend, how beautiful you are! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/songs/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />How beautiful you are, my love, how very beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats, moving down the slopes of Gilead.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/songs/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />BEHOLD, you are beautiful, my beloved; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves' eyes behind your veil; your hair is like a flock of goats, which come up from mount Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/songs/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Behold, you are beautiful my intimate one, behold, you are beautiful! Your eyes are of a dove; outside of your silence, your hair is like a flock of goats that goes up from Mount Gelad<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/songs/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; Thine eyes are as doves behind thy veil; Thy hair is as a flock of goats, that trail down from mount Gilead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/songs/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Behold, thou art fair, my companion; behold, thou art fair; thine eyes are doves, beside thy veil: thy hair is as flocks of goats, that have appeared from Galaad.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/songs/4-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9D_QEk8ZdxU?start=447" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/songs/4.htm">Solomon Admires His Bride</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2005.htm" title="2005: hin·nāḵ (Interjection:: 2fs) -- Lo! behold! A primitive particle; lo!; also if.">How</a> <a href="/hebrew/3303.htm" title="3303: yā·p̄āh (Adj-fs) -- Fair, beautiful. From yaphah; beautiful.">beautiful you are,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7474.htm" title="7474: ra‘·yā·ṯî (N-fsc:: 1cs) -- A companion. Feminine of rea'; a female associate.">my darling—</a> <a href="/hebrew/2005.htm" title="2005: hin·nāḵ (Interjection:: 2fs) -- Lo! behold! A primitive particle; lo!; also if.">how</a> <a href="/hebrew/3303.htm" title="3303: yā·p̄āh (Adj-fs) -- Fair, beautiful. From yaphah; beautiful.">very beautiful!</a> <a href="/hebrew/5869.htm" title="5869: ‘ê·na·yiḵ (N-cdc:: 2fs) -- An eye. Probably a primitive word; an eye; by analogy, a fountain.">Your eyes</a> <a href="/hebrew/3123.htm" title="3123: yō·w·nîm (N-fp) -- Dove. Probably from the same as yayin; a dove.">are like doves</a> <a href="/hebrew/1157.htm" title="1157: mib·ba·‘aḏ (Prep-m) -- From ad with prepositional prefix; in up to or over against; generally at, beside, among, behind, for, etc.">behind</a> <a href="/hebrew/6777.htm" title="6777: lə·ṣam·mā·ṯêḵ (Prep-l:: N-fsc:: 2fs) -- (woman's) veil. From an unused root meaning to fasten on; a veil.">your veil.</a> <a href="/hebrew/8181.htm" title="8181: śa‘·rêḵ (N-msc:: 2fs) -- Hair. Or sa.ar; from sa'ar in the sense of dishevelling; hair.">Your hair</a> <a href="/hebrew/5739.htm" title="5739: kə·‘ê·ḏer (Prep-k:: N-msc) -- A flock, herd. From adar; an arrangement, i.e. Muster.">is like a flock</a> <a href="/hebrew/5795.htm" title="5795: hā·‘iz·zîm (Art:: N-fp) -- Female goat. From azaz; a she-goat, but masculine in plural.">of goats</a> <a href="/hebrew/1570.htm" title="1570: šeg·gā·lə·šū (Pro-r:: V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To recline. A primitive root; probably to caper.">streaming down</a> <a href="/hebrew/2022.htm" title="2022: mê·har (Prep-m:: N-msc) -- Mountain, hill, hill country. A shortened form of harar; a mountain or range of hills.">Mount</a> <a href="/hebrew/1568.htm" title="1568: gil·‘āḏ (N-proper-fs) -- Probably from Gal'ed; Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites.">Gilead.</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep coming up from the washing; each has its twin, and not one of them is lost.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/45-11.htm">Psalm 45:11</a></span><br />and the king will desire your beauty; bow to him, for he is your lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/5-19.htm">Proverbs 5:19</a></span><br />A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/62-5.htm">Isaiah 62:5</a></span><br />For as a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/29-17.htm">Genesis 29:17</a></span><br />Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/3-3.htm">1 Peter 3:3-4</a></span><br />Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, / but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25-27</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her / to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, / and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/11-15.htm">1 Corinthians 11:15</a></span><br />but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/19-7.htm">Revelation 19:7-8</a></span><br />Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. / She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/61-10.htm">Isaiah 61:10</a></span><br />I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/31-3.htm">Jeremiah 31:3</a></span><br />The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/25-1.htm">Matthew 25:1-13</a></span><br />“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. / Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. / The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/3-29.htm">John 3:29</a></span><br />The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/11-2.htm">2 Corinthians 11:2</a></span><br />I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/21-2.htm">Revelation 21:2</a></span><br />I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/24-16.htm">Genesis 24:16</a></span><br />Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin who had not had relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up again.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Behold, you are fair, my love; behold, you are fair; you have doves' eyes within your locks: your hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.</p><p class="hdg">thou art fair</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/songs/4-9.htm">Song of Solomon 4:9,10</a></b></br> Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, <i>my</i> spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/songs/1-15.htm">Song of Solomon 1:15</a></b></br> Behold, thou <i>art</i> fair, my love; behold, thou <i>art</i> fair; thou <i>hast</i> doves' eyes.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/songs/2-10.htm">Song of Solomon 2:10,14</a></b></br> My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away… </p><p class="hdg">thou hast</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/songs/5-12.htm">Song of Solomon 5:12</a></b></br> His eyes <i>are</i> as <i>the eyes</i> of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, <i>and</i> fitly set.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/11-29.htm">Matthew 11:29</a></b></br> Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/philippians/2-3.htm">Philippians 2:3-5</a></b></br> <i>Let</i> nothing <i>be done</i> through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves… </p><p class="hdg">thy hair</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/songs/5-11.htm">Song of Solomon 5:11</a></b></br> His head <i>is as</i> the most fine gold, his locks <i>are</i> bushy, <i>and</i> black as a raven.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/songs/6-5.htm">Song of Solomon 6:5,7</a></b></br> Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair <i>is</i> as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/songs/7-5.htm">Song of Solomon 7:5</a></b></br> Thine head upon thee <i>is</i> like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king <i>is</i> held in the galleries.</p><p class="hdg">appear from</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/32-1.htm">Numbers 32:1,40</a></b></br> Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place <i>was</i> a place for cattle; … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/songs/2-12.htm">Appear</a> <a href="/songs/2-13.htm">Beautiful</a> <a href="/songs/2-13.htm">Darling</a> <a href="/psalms/49-17.htm">Descend</a> <a href="/proverbs/7-27.htm">Descending</a> <a href="/songs/2-14.htm">Dove</a> <a href="/songs/2-12.htm">Doves</a> <a href="/songs/1-15.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/songs/2-14.htm">Fair</a> <a href="/songs/2-16.htm">Flock</a> <a href="/songs/2-13.htm">Friend</a> <a href="/psalms/108-8.htm">Gilead</a> <a href="/songs/1-8.htm">Goats</a> <a href="/songs/1-10.htm">Hair</a> <a href="/songs/3-10.htm">Love</a> <a href="/psalms/133-3.htm">Mount</a> <a href="/proverbs/16-30.htm">Moving</a> <a href="/songs/1-13.htm">Rest</a> <a href="/ezra/6-4.htm">Row</a> <a href="/psalms/50-2.htm">Shone</a> <a href="/songs/3-8.htm">Side</a> <a href="/psalms/65-10.htm">Slopes</a> <a href="/songs/1-8.htm">Trail</a> <a href="/job/26-6.htm">Veil</a> <a href="/songs/3-10.htm">Within</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/songs/6-5.htm">Appear</a> <a href="/songs/4-7.htm">Beautiful</a> <a href="/songs/4-7.htm">Darling</a> <a href="/songs/4-8.htm">Descend</a> <a href="/songs/6-5.htm">Descending</a> <a href="/songs/5-2.htm">Dove</a> <a href="/songs/5-12.htm">Doves</a> <a href="/songs/4-9.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/songs/4-3.htm">Fair</a> <a href="/songs/4-2.htm">Flock</a> <a href="/songs/4-7.htm">Friend</a> <a href="/songs/6-5.htm">Gilead</a> <a href="/songs/6-5.htm">Goats</a> <a href="/songs/5-2.htm">Hair</a> <a href="/songs/4-7.htm">Love</a> <a href="/songs/7-5.htm">Mount</a> <a href="/songs/6-5.htm">Moving</a> <a href="/songs/7-11.htm">Rest</a> <a href="/songs/6-5.htm">Row</a> <a href="/songs/6-5.htm">Shone</a> <a href="/songs/6-5.htm">Side</a> <a href="/songs/6-5.htm">Slopes</a> <a href="/songs/6-5.htm">Trail</a> <a href="/songs/4-3.htm">Veil</a> <a href="/songs/4-3.htm">Within</a><div class="vheading2">Song of Solomon 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/songs/4-1.htm">Christ sets forth the graces of the church</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/songs/4-8.htm">He shows forth his love to her</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/songs/4-16.htm">The church prays to be made fit for his presence</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/songs/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/songs/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/songs/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>How beautiful you are, my darling—how very beautiful!</b><br>This expression of admiration highlights the deep affection and appreciation the speaker has for the beloved. In the context of the Song of Solomon, this is a poetic and romantic dialogue between lovers, often interpreted as an allegory of Christ's love for the Church. The repetition emphasizes the intensity and sincerity of the admiration. The use of "beautiful" in biblical literature often signifies not just physical beauty but also moral and spiritual qualities. This mirrors the way God sees His people, valuing their inner beauty and righteousness.<p><b>Your eyes are like doves behind your veil.</b><br>Doves in biblical symbolism often represent peace, purity, and the Holy Spirit. The comparison of the beloved's eyes to doves suggests innocence, gentleness, and tranquility. The mention of the veil indicates modesty and mystery, common in ancient Near Eastern bridal customs. This imagery can be seen as a reflection of the Church's purity and the peace that comes from the Holy Spirit. The veil also signifies the sacredness and intimacy of the relationship, as the eyes are partially hidden, inviting deeper connection and understanding.<p><b>Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead.</b><br>The imagery of hair compared to a flock of goats descending Mount Gilead is rich with cultural and geographical significance. Mount Gilead, a region known for its lush pastures, provides a backdrop of abundance and beauty. Goats in this context are likely the long-haired, black goats native to the area, which would create a striking visual as they move down the mountainside. This comparison suggests vitality, movement, and natural beauty. In a spiritual sense, it can symbolize the Church's vitality and the beauty of a life lived in harmony with God's creation. The flowing movement of the goats can also be seen as a metaphor for the dynamic and living nature of faith.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_beloved.htm">The Beloved</a></b><br>The speaker in this verse is Solomon, who is expressing his admiration for his bride. The beloved is often interpreted as a representation of Christ's love for the Church.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_bride.htm">The Bride</a></b><br>The bride is the recipient of Solomon's praise. She symbolizes the Church or the individual believer in a spiritual allegory.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/m/mount_gilead.htm">Mount Gilead</a></b><br>A region east of the Jordan River known for its lush pastures and beauty. It serves as a metaphor for the bride's hair, emphasizing abundance and grace.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_beauty_of_holiness.htm">The Beauty of Holiness</a></b><br>Just as Solomon admires the physical beauty of his bride, God admires the spiritual beauty of His people. We are called to cultivate inner beauty through holiness and righteousness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_the_dove.htm">Symbolism of the Dove</a></b><br>The dove symbolizes peace and purity. As believers, our eyes should reflect the peace and purity that come from a relationship with Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/abundance_in_christ.htm">Abundance in Christ</a></b><br>The imagery of the flock of goats on Mount Gilead suggests abundance and provision. In Christ, we find spiritual abundance and provision for our needs.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_veil_of_mystery.htm">The Veil of Mystery</a></b><br>The veil represents the mystery and sacredness of the relationship between Christ and the Church. We are invited to explore and deepen this relationship.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_song_of_solomon_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Song of Solomon 4</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_song_4_1-3's_exaggerations.htm">How do we reconcile the poetic exaggerations in Song of Solomon 4:1–3 with any literal or historical interpretations of the text? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_'rounded_bowl'_navel_literal_or_hyperbole.htm">Song of Solomon 7:2 – Does describing a navel as a “rounded bowl” for wine suggest literal impossibility or exaggeration that conflicts with scientific reality? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/was_solomon's_kingdom_truly_wealthy.htm">The lavish imagery in Song of Solomon 1 implies a royal court with abundant wealth. Is there corroborating historical evidence that Solomon's kingdom was this prosperous?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_song_4_fit_solomon's_many_wives.htm">If historically attributed to King Solomon, how does Song of Solomon 4 mesh with the accounts of his many wives and concubines in other biblical texts (e.g., 1 Kings 11:3)?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/songs/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>IV.</span><p>(1) <span class= "bld">Locks.</span>--Heb., <span class= "ital">tsammah, </span>only besides in <a href="/songs/6-7.htm" title="As a piece of a pomegranate are your temples within your locks.">Song of Solomon 6:7</a> and <a href="/isaiah/47-2.htm" title="Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover your locks, make bore the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.">Isaiah 47:2</a>. The derivation, and the existence of cognate Arabic words, leave no doubt that it means <span class= "ital">veil. </span>So, in <a href="/isaiah/47-2.htm" title="Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover your locks, make bore the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.">Isaiah 47:2</a>, the LXX. understood it, though here they have given the strange and meaningless translation, "out of thy silence," which the Vulg. has still further mystified into "from that which lies hid within," a rendering which has been a fruitful source of moral allusion to the more hidden beauties of the soul. If the veil was worn in ancient times in Palestine, as by Eastern ladies now, covering the lower part of the face, but allowing the eyes to be seen, the description is very appropriate.<p><span class= "bld">That appear.</span>--Marg., <span class= "ital">that eat of; </span>Heb., <span class= "ital">galash: </span>only here and in the corresponding passage, <a href="/songs/6-5.htm" title="Turn away your eyes from me, for they have overcome me: your hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.">Song of Solomon 6:5</a>. The word has had a variety of most contradictory interpretations. The Authorised Version follows the LXX., and has the support of Ewald's great authority. The marginal <span class= "ital">eat of </span>rests only on the existence of cognates in Syriac and Arabic = <span class= "ital">obtained, collected </span>(see Lee's <span class= "ital">Heb. Dict.</span>)<span class= "ital">, </span>which would rather point to such a rendering as, "which they obtain from mount Gilead." The Vulg., <span class= "ital">qu? ascenderunt, </span>is followed by some commentators, though the bulk give the exactly opposite: "come down," or "run down," or "hang down from." In such a difficulty only the context can decide, and any translation suggesting the dark hair flowing in masses round the shoulders is allowable. At the same time, from a tendency of the author to accumulate, and sometimes to confuse, his figures (<a href="/songs/4-12.htm" title="A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.">Song of Solomon 4:12</a>; <a href="/songs/4-15.htm" title="A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.">Song of Solomon 4:15</a>, <a href="/context/songs/5-12.htm" title="His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.">Song of Solomon 5:12-13</a>), probably here it is the long, soft, delicate, generally black hair of the Oriental goat which is compared to that of the lady, as well as the general appearance presented by the whole flock suspended on the mountain side. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/songs/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thine eyes are as doves behind thy veil; thine hair is as a flock of goats, that lie along the side of Mount Gilead.</span> We commence, at this verse, the loving converse of the bridegroom with the bride, which we must suppose is heard as they travel together in the bridal procession. The words of adoring affection are chiefly spoken by the bridegroom, as is natural in the circumstances, and the reference to the journey, and its consummation in ver. 8, make it certain that the intention is to carry us in thought to the palanquin and the breathings of first love in bridal joy. The poetry is exquisite and truly Eastern, while yet absolutely chaste and pure. The praise of the eyes is common in all erotic poetry. Her eyes gleam, in colour, motion, and lustre, like a pair of doves from behind the veil; showing that the bride is thought of as travelling. The bride was always deeply veiled (see <a href="/genesis/24-65.htm">Genesis 24:65</a>), as the Roman bride wore the <span class="accented">velum flamineum</span>. The LXX. have mistaken the meaning, rendering, <span class="greek">ἐκτὸς τῇς σιωπήσεώς</span>. The veil might typify silence or reserve, but the word is <span class="accented">tsammah</span>, which is from a root "to veil," and is righty rendered by Symmachus <span class="greek">κάλυμμα</span>. The hair was long and dark, and lay down the shoulders uncovered and free, which added much to the graceful attraction of the bride. In later times it was customary for the hair to be adorned with a wreath of myrtle or roses, or a golden ornament representing Jerusalem. The goats in Syria and the neighbouring countries are mostly black or dark brown, while the sheep are white. Delitzsch says, "A flock of goats encamped upon a mountain (rising up, to one looking from a distance, as in a steep slope and almost perpendicularly), and as if hanging down lengthwise on its sides, presents a lovely view adorning the landscape." It would be especially lovely amid the romantic scenery of Gilead. The, verb rendered "lie along" is otherwise taken by the LXX., <span class="greek">ἀπεκαλύφησαν</span>, and by the Vulgate <span class="accented">ascenderunt.</span> The rabbis differ from one another in their renderings. One says, "which, look, down;" another, "make bare," "quit," or "descend;" another, "are seen." The modern translators vary. Luther says, "shorn;" Houbigant, "hang down;" Kleuken and Ewald, "shows itself;" Gesenius and others, "lie down;" Ginsburg, "rolling down," "running down." Our Revised Version gives, <span class="accented">lie along</span>, which is a very probable meaning. The reference is to the luxuriance and rich colour of the hair. Gilead would be a recollection of the bride's native place. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/songs/4-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">How</span><br /><span class="heb">הִנָּ֨ךְ</span> <span class="translit">(hin·nāḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interjection | second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2005.htm">Strong's 2005: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo! behold!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">beautiful [you are],</span><br /><span class="heb">יָפָ֤ה</span> <span class="translit">(yā·p̄āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3303.htm">Strong's 3303: </a> </span><span class="str2">Fair, beautiful</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my darling!</span><br /><span class="heb">רַעְיָתִי֙</span> <span class="translit">(ra‘·yā·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7474.htm">Strong's 7474: </a> </span><span class="str2">A female associate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">How</span><br /><span class="heb">הִנָּ֣ךְ</span> <span class="translit">(hin·nāḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interjection | second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2005.htm">Strong's 2005: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo! behold!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">very beautiful!</span><br /><span class="heb">יָפָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(yā·p̄āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3303.htm">Strong's 3303: </a> </span><span class="str2">Fair, beautiful</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Your eyes</span><br /><span class="heb">עֵינַ֣יִךְ</span> <span class="translit">(‘ê·na·yiḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - cdc | second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5869.htm">Strong's 5869: </a> </span><span class="str2">An eye, a fountain</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are [like] doves</span><br /><span class="heb">יוֹנִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(yō·w·nîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3123.htm">Strong's 3123: </a> </span><span class="str2">A dove</span><br /><br /><span class="word">behind</span><br /><span class="heb">מִבַּ֖עַד</span> <span class="translit">(mib·ba·‘aḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1157.htm">Strong's 1157: </a> </span><span class="str2">In up to, over against, at, beside, among, behind, for</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your veil.</span><br /><span class="heb">לְצַמָּתֵ֑ךְ</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ṣam·mā·ṯêḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6777.htm">Strong's 6777: </a> </span><span class="str2">(woman's) veil</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Your hair</span><br /><span class="heb">שַׂעְרֵךְ֙</span> <span class="translit">(śa‘·rêḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8181.htm">Strong's 8181: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hair</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is like a flock</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּעֵ֣דֶר</span> <span class="translit">(kə·‘ê·ḏer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5739.htm">Strong's 5739: </a> </span><span class="str2">An arrangement, muster</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of goats</span><br /><span class="heb">הָֽעִזִּ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘iz·zîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5795.htm">Strong's 5795: </a> </span><span class="str2">Female goat</span><br /><br /><span class="word">streaming down</span><br /><span class="heb">שֶׁגָּלְשׁ֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(šeg·gā·lə·šū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1570.htm">Strong's 1570: </a> </span><span class="str2">To recline</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Mount</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵהַ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(mê·har)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2022.htm">Strong's 2022: </a> </span><span class="str2">Mountain, hill, hill country</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Gilead.</span><br /><span class="heb">גִּלְעָֽד׃</span> <span class="translit">(gil·‘āḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1568.htm">Strong's 1568: </a> </span><span class="str2">Gilead -- a region in Palestine, also the name of several Israelites</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/songs/4-1.htm">Song of Solomon 4:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/songs/4-1.htm">Song of Solomon 4:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/songs/4-1.htm">Song of Solomon 4:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/songs/4-1.htm">Song of Solomon 4:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/songs/4-1.htm">Song of Solomon 4:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/songs/4-1.htm">Song of Solomon 4:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/songs/4-1.htm">Song of Solomon 4:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/songs/4-1.htm">Song of Solomon 4:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/songs/4-1.htm">Song of Solomon 4:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/songs/4-1.htm">Song of Solomon 4:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/songs/4-1.htm">OT Poetry: Song of Solomon 4:1 Behold you are beautiful my love (Song Songs SS So Can)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/songs/3-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Song of Solomon 3:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Song of Solomon 3:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/songs/4-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Song of Solomon 4:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Song of Solomon 4:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>