Song of Solomon 4:10

Translations

Modern

How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! Your love is much better than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than all spices.

Traditional

How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!

Literal

How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the scent of your oils than all spices!

Latin

Quam pulchræ sunt mammæ tuæ, soror mea sponsa! pulchriora sunt ubera tua vino, et odor unguentorum tuorum super omnia aromata.

Original

Hebrew

English

How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! Your love is much better than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than all spices.

Notes

Song of Solomon 4:10–11

wine...perfume...honey and milk: The woman is compared to things that are smooth, sweet, and sensual. Her love and their kisses, surrounded by rich fragrances, bring the bridegroom close to ultimate joy.

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 1:2–4
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine.
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Song of Solomon 7:6
How fair and pleasant you are, O love, with your delights!
Song of Solomon 5:5
I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh on the handles of the bolt.
Philippians 4:18
I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
Song of Solomon 3:6
Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from all the spices of the merchant?
Song of Solomon 1:12
While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
Revelation 5:8
When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
2 Corinthians 1:21–22
Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us,

Glossary

Beauty Incense Ointment Song of Solomon

Topics

Anointing of the Body Anointing: Ointment For: Richly Perfumed Bridegroom: Song of Ointment: Not Sacred

Song of Solomon 4:10

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