1 Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? Whither hath thy beloved turned him, That we may seek him with thee?Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- Whither is thy beloved H1730 (דּוֹד) — (figuratively) to love; by implication, a love-token, lover, friend; specifically an uncle
- gone H1980 (הָלַךְ) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
- O thou fairest H3303 (יָפֶה) — beautiful (literally or figuratively)
- among women H802 (אִשָּׁה) — a woman
- turned aside H6437 (פָּנָה) — to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. appear, look, etc.
- that we may seek H1245 (בָּקַשׁ) — to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
2 My beloved is gone down to his garden, To the beds of spices, To feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- My beloved H1730 (דּוֹד) — (figuratively) to love; by implication, a love-token, lover, friend; specifically an uncle
- is gone down H3381 (יָרַד) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively,…
- into his garden H1588 (גַּן) — a garden (as fenced)
- to the beds H6170 (עֲרוּגָה) — something piled up (as if (figuratively) raised by mental aspiration), i.e. a paterre
- of spices H1314 (בֶּשֶׂם) — fragrance; by implication, spicery; also the balsam plant
- to feed H7462 (רָעָה) — to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend)
- in the gardens H1588 (גַּן) — a garden (as fenced)
- and to gather H3950 (לָקַט) — properly, to pick up, i.e. (generally) to gather; specifically, to glean
- lilies H7799 (שׁוּשַׁן) — a lily (from its whiteness), as a flower of architectural ornament; also a (straight) trumpet (from the tubular shape)
3 I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: He feedeth his flock among the lilies.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- my beloved’s H1730 (דּוֹד) — (figuratively) to love; by implication, a love-token, lover, friend; specifically an uncle
- and my beloved H1730 (דּוֹד) — (figuratively) to love; by implication, a love-token, lover, friend; specifically an uncle
- mine: he feedeth H7462 (רָעָה) — to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend)
- among the lilies H7799 (שׁוּשַׁן) — a lily (from its whiteness), as a flower of architectural ornament; also a (straight) trumpet (from the tubular shape)
4 Thou art fair, O my love, as Tirzah, Comely as Jerusalem, Terrible as an army with banners.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- beautiful H3303 (יָפֶה) — beautiful (literally or figuratively)
- O my love H7474 (רַעְיָה) — a female associate
- as Tirzah H8656 (תִּרְצָה) — Tirtsah, a place in Palestine; also an Israelitess
- comely H5000 (נָאוֶה) — suitable, or beautiful
- as Jerusalem H3389 (יְרוּשָׁלִַ͏ם) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
- terrible H366 (אָיֹם) — frightful
- with banners H1713 (דָּגַל) — to flaunt, i.e. raise a flag; figuratively, to be conspicuous
5 Turn away thine eyes from me, For they have overcome me. Thy hair is as a flock of goats, That lie along the side of Gilead.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- Turn away H5437 (סָבַב) — to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively
- thine eyes H5869 (עַיִן) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
- from me, for they H1992 (הֵם) — they (only used when emphatic)
- have overcome H7292 (רָהַב) — to urge severely, i.e. (figuratively) importune, embolden, capture, act insolently
- me: thy hair H8181 (שֵׂעָר) — hair (as if tossed or bristling)
- as a flock H5739 (עֵדֶר) — an arrangement, i.e. muster (of animals)
- of goats H5795 (עֵז) — a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for goat's hair)
- that appear H1570 (גָּלַשׁ) — probably to caper (as a goat)
- from Gilead H1568 (גִּלְעָד) — Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites
6 Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes, Which are come up from the washing; Whereof every one hath twins, And none is bereaved among them.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- Thy teeth H8127 (שֵׁן) — a tooth (as sharp); specifically ivory; figuratively, a cliff
- as a flock H5739 (עֵדֶר) — an arrangement, i.e. muster (of animals)
- of sheep H7353 (רָחֵל) — a ewe [the females being the predominant element of a flock] (as a good traveller)
- which go up H5927 (עָלָה) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
- from the washing H7367 (רַחְצָה) — a bathing place
- whereof every one beareth twins H8382 (תָּאַם) — to be (causatively, make) twinned, i.e. (figuratively) duplicate or (architectural) jointed
- not one barren H7909 (שַׁכּוּל) — bereaved
7 Thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate Behind thy veil.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- As a piece H6400 (פֶּלַח) — a slice
- of a pomegranate H7416 (רִמּוֹן) — a pomegranate, the tree (from its upright growth) or the fruit (also an artificial ornament)
- thy temples H7541 (רַקָּה) — properly, thinness, i.e. the side of the head
- within H1157 (בְּעַד) — in up to or over against; generally at, beside, among, behind, for, etc.
- thy locks H6777 (צַמָּה) — a veil
8 There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, And virgins without number.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- There are threescore H8346 (שִׁשִּׁים) — sixty
- queens H4436 (מַלְכָּה) — a queen
- and fourscore H8084 (שְׁמֹנִים) — eighty, also eightieth
- concubines H6370 (פִּילֶגֶשׁ) — a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour
- and virgins H5959 (עַלְמָה) — a lass (as veiled or private)
- without number H4557 (מִסְפָּר) — a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration
9 My dove, my undefiled, is but one; She is the only one of her mother; She is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed; Yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- My dove H3123 (יוֹנָה) — a dove (apparently from the warmth of their mating)
- my undefiled H8535 (תָּם) — complete; usually (morally) pious; specifically, gentle, dear
- one H259 (אֶחָד) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
- of her mother H517 (אֵם) — a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively [like father])
- the choice H1249 (בַּר) — beloved; also pure, empty
- of her that bare H3205 (יָלַד) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
- her. The daughters H1323 (בַּת) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
- saw H7200 (רָאָה) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
- her, and blessed H833 (אָשַׁר) — to be straight (used in the widest sense, especially to be level, right, happy); figuratively, to go forward, be honest, prosper
- the queens H4436 (מַלְכָּה) — a queen
- and the concubines H6370 (פִּילֶגֶשׁ) — a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour
- and they praised H1984 (הָלַל) — to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to ce…
10 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, Fair as the moon, Clear as the sun, Terrible as an army with banners?Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- looketh forth H8259 (שָׁקַף) — properly, to lean out (of a window), i.e. (by implication) peep or gaze (passively, be a spectacle)
- as the morning H7837 (שַׁחַר) — dawn (literal, figurative or adverbial)
- fair H3303 (יָפֶה) — beautiful (literally or figuratively)
- as the moon H3842 (לְבָנָה) — properly, (the) white, i.e. the moon
- clear H1249 (בַּר) — beloved; also pure, empty
- as the sun H2535 (חַמָּה) — heat; by implication, the sun
- terrible H366 (אָיֹם) — frightful
- with banners H1713 (דָּגַל) — to flaunt, i.e. raise a flag; figuratively, to be conspicuous
11 I went down into the garden of nuts, To see the green plants of the valley, To see whether the vine budded, And the pomegranates were in flower.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- I went down H3381 (יָרַד) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively,…
- into the garden H1594 (גִּנָּה)
- of nuts H93 (אֱגוֹז) — a nut
- to see H7200 (רָאָה) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
- the fruits H3 (אֵב) — a green plant
- of the valley H5158 (נַחַל) — a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine)
- whether the vine H1612 (גֶּפֶן) — a vine (as twining), especially the grape
- flourished H6524 (פָּרַח) — to break forth as a bud, i.e. bloom; generally, to spread; specifically, to fly (as extending the wings); figuratively, to flourish
- the pomegranates H7416 (רִמּוֹן) — a pomegranate, the tree (from its upright growth) or the fruit (also an artificial ornament)
- budded H5132 (נוּץ) — properly, to flash; also, to fly away (from the quickness of motion)
12 Before I was aware, my soul set me Among the chariots of my princely people.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- Or ever I was aware H3045 (יָדַע) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation…
- my soul H5315 (נֶפֶשׁ) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
- made H7760 (שׂוּם) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
- the chariots H4818 (מֶרְכָּבָה) — a chariot
- of Amminadib H5993 (עַמִּי נָדִיב) — Ammi-Nadib, probably an Israelite
13 Return, return, O Shulammite; Return, return, that we may look upon thee. Why will ye look upon the Shulammite, As upon the dance of Mahanaim?Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- Return H7725 (שׁוּב) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally…
- O Shulamite H7759 (שׁוּלַמִּית) — peaceful (with the article always prefixed, making it a pet name); the Shulammith, an epithet of Solomon's queen
- that we may look H2372 (חָזָה) — to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specifically, to have a vision of
- upon thee. What will ye see H2372 (חָזָה) — to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specifically, to have a vision of
- in the Shulamite H7759 (שׁוּלַמִּית) — peaceful (with the article always prefixed, making it a pet name); the Shulammith, an epithet of Solomon's queen
- As it were the company H4246 (מְחֹלָה) — a dance
- of two armies H4264 (מַחֲנֶה) — an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or even the sa…