Bible/Song of Solomon/1

Song of Solomon 1:5

1:4 Draw 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. the upright: or, they love thee uprightly
I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

KJV

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I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar’s tents, like Solomon’s curtains.

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

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

1:6 Look 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.

What does Song of Solomon 1:5 mean?

Song of Solomon 1:5 is a verse in the book of Song of Solomon, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include שָׁחֹר (shâchôr), נָאוֶה (nâʼveh), בַּת (bath). It connects to 16 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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I
am
black,שָׁחֹרshâchôr/shaw-khore'/H7838properly, dusky, but also (absol.) jetty
but
comely,נָאוֶהnâʼveh/naw-veh'/H5000suitable, or beautiful
O
ye
daughtersבַּתbath/bath/H1323a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
of
Jerusalem,יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםYᵉrûwshâlaim/yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im/H3389Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
as
the
tentsאֹהֶלʼôhel/o'-hel/H168a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
of
Kedar,קֵדָרQêdâr/kay-dawr'/H6938Kedar, a son of Ishmael; also (collectively) Bedouin (as his descendants or representatives)
as
the
curtainsיְרִיעָהyᵉrîyʻâh/yer-ee-aw'/H3407a hanging (as tremulous)
of
Solomon.שְׁלֹמֹהShᵉlômôh/shel-o-mo'/H8010Shelomah, David's successor

Commentary on Song of Solomon 1:5

HENRY_FULL · Song of Solomon 1:5
l abide by it to the end." Note, Those that take God for their portion must take him for their prince, and swear allegiance to him; and, having promised to keep his word, we must often put ourselves in mind of our promise, Ps. xxxix. 1 . 58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. David, having in the foregoing verse reflected upon his covenants with God, here reflects upon his prayers to God, and renews his petition. Observe, 1. What he prayed for. Having taken God for his portion, he entreated his favour, as one that knew he had forfeited it, was unworthy of it, and yet undone without it, but for ever happy if he could obtain it. We cannot demand God's favour as a debt, but must be humble suppliants for it, that God will not only be reconciled to us, but accept us and smile upon us. He prays, " Be merciful to me, in the forgiveness of what I have done amiss, and in giving me grace to do better for the future." 2. How he prayed— with his whole heart, as one that knew how to value the blessing he prayed for. The gracious soul is entirely set upon the favour of God, and i

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Deuteronomy 4:30

When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; are: Heb. have found thee

Deuteronomy 4:31

(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

Jeremiah 8:4

Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?

Jeremiah 31:18

I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.

Jeremiah 31:19

Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

Lamentations 3:40

Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

Ezekiel 18:28

Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Ezekiel 18:30

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. yourselves: or, others

Ezekiel 33:14

Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; that: Heb. judgment and justice

Ezekiel 33:19

But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.

Joel 2:13

And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Haggai 1:5

Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Consider: Heb. Set your heart on your ways

Haggai 1:7

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Consider: Heb. Set your heart on your ways

Luke 15:17

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

2 Corinthians 12:21

And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

2 Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.2228 Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

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Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Song of Solomon 1:5.

2 Samuel 5:14

And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

Exodus 26:12

And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.

Exodus 26:13

And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it. of that: Heb. in the remainder, or, surplus

Exodus 26:7

And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.

Exodus 26:9

And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.

Frequently asked questions

What does Song of Solomon 1:5 say?

Song of Solomon 1:5 (King James Version) reads: "I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon."

Is Song of Solomon 1:5 in the Old or New Testament?

Song of Solomon 1:5 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Song of Solomon.

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As you read Song of Solomon 1:5, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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