Song of Solomon 4:1

Translations

Modern

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.

Traditional

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.

Literal

Behold, you are beautiful, my darling, behold, you are beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil; your hair is like a flock of the goats streaming down from Mount Gilead.

Latin

Quam pulchra es, amica mea! quam pulchra es! Oculi tui columbarum, absque eo quod intrinsecus latet. Capilli tui sicut greges caprarum quæ ascenderunt de monte Galaad.

Original

Hebrew

English

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.

Notes

Song of Solomon 4:1

my darling (literally companion): The man is about to express his love with someone who is both his friend and lover (see also Song of Solomon 4:7).
like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead: Middle Eastern goats are very dark, often black. The woman's hair flows over and down her lighter veil.

Song of Solomon 4:1–5:1

The marriage is now complete.
This poem is the first "descriptive poem" in the book (see also Song of Solomon 5:10–16; 6:4–6; 7:2–8). Scholars often call these poems by the Arabic term wasf (meaning "description"). These poems are similar to songs sung at modern Arabic weddings. They are preludes to sexual intimacy. In describing physical beauty, they often start at the head and move downward.

Theme notes and profiles

Human Sexuality

Related verses

Song of Solomon 1:15
How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves.
Song of Solomon 6:5
Turn your eyes away from me, for they have overcome me. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down from Gilead.
Song of Solomon 6:7
Your brow behind your veil is like a slice of pomegranate.
Song of Solomon 4:9–10
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.
Song of Solomon 7:5
Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel, the hair of your head like purple threads; the king is captured in your tresses.
Song of Solomon 2:14
O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely.
Micah 7:14
Shepherd with Your staff Your people, the flock of Your inheritance. They live alone in a woodland, surrounded by pastures. Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
Numbers 32:40
So Moses gave Gilead to the clan of Machir son of Manasseh, and they settled there.
Psalm 45:11
…and the king will desire your beauty; bow to him, for he is your lord.
Ezekiel 16:14
Your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect in the splendor I bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD.
Song of Solomon 2:10
My beloved calls to me, “Arise, my darling. Come away with me, my beautiful one.
Numbers 32:1
Now the Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, surveyed the lands of Jazer and Gilead, and they saw that the region was suitable for livestock.

Places

Gilead: Mountainous region east of Jordan; tribal territory and personal name

Glossary

Beauty Goat Pigeon Song of Solomon

Topics

Gilead: A Mountain Goat: Numerous Mountains: Gilead The Goat: (Flock of) of the Church

Song of Solomon 4:1

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?

Places

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Related verses

Glossary

Topics