Song of Songs 1

KJV · Chapter 1/8

1The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.

2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.

3Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

4Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

5I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

6Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

7Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?

8If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.

9I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.

10Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.

11We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.

12While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

13A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.

14My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En–gedi.

15Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.

16Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.

17The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

The beloved declares her love for her lover, longing for his kisses and desiring to follow him. She describes herself as darkened by the sun and speaks of laboring in her brothers' vineyards. The couple exchange words of mutual admiration.

Explanation

Song of Songs is a poem of married love attributed to Solomon, written as a dialogue between a couple in love and a chorus of "daughters of Jerusalem." In Hebrew culture, human love and desire within marriage were seen as good gifts from God, worthy of poetic celebration rather than something shameful. The mention of being "dark" reflects outdoor labor, something socially looked down on at the time, yet it does not diminish her beauty in her beloved's eyes. Application for today: genuine love celebrates the whole person, including their circumstances and apparent imperfections.

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