Song of Songs 5:13

Song of Songs 5:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
• New International Version (NIV)His cheeks are like beds of spice yielding perfume. His lips are like lilies dripping with myrrh.
• English Standard Version (ESV)His cheeks are like beds of spices, mounds of sweet-smelling herbs. His lips are lilies, dripping liquid myrrh.
• New King James Version (NKJV)His cheeks are like a bed of spices, Banks of scented herbs. His lips are lilies, Dripping liquid myrrh.

Context of Song of Songs 5:13

11His head is like [precious] gold, pure gold; His hair is [curly] like clusters of dates And black as a raven. 12His eyes are like doves Beside streams of water, Bathed in milk And reposed in their setting. His cheeks are like a bed of balsam, Banks of sweet, fragrant herbs. His lips are lilies Dripping sweet-scented myrrh. 14His hands are rods of gold Set with beryl; His abdomen is a figure of carved ivory Inlaid with sapphires. 15His legs are [strong and steady] pillars of alabaster Set upon pedestals of fine gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, Stately and choice as the cedars.

Song of Songs 5:13 word by word

לְחָיָו֙ כַּעֲרוּגַ֣ת הַבֹּ֔שֶׂם מִגְדְּל֖וֹת מֶרְקָחִ֑ים שִׂפְתוֹתָיו֙ שֽׁוֹשַׁנִּ֔ים נֹטְפ֖וֹת מ֥וֹר עֹבֵֽר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• His cheeksלְחִיlechîy · jawH3895
• as a bedעֲרוּגָה‛ărûgâh ‛ărûgâh · bedH6170
• of spicesבֶּ֫שֶׂםbeώem bôώem · spiceH1314
• sweetמֶרְקָחmerqâch · spiceH4840
• flowersמִגְדָּלmigdâl migdâlâh · towerH4026
• his lipsשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lipsH8193
• liliesשׁוּשַׁןshûshan shôshân shôshân shôshannâh · lilyH7799
• droppingנָטַףnâţaph · to drip/prophesyH5197
• sweet smellingעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
• myrrhמֹרmôr môr · myrrhH4753

Commentaries on Song of Songs 5:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13His cheeks are as a bed of spices - Possibly meaning a bed in the garden, where odoriferous herbs grew. But it has been supposed to refer to his beard, which in a young well-made man is exceedingly beautiful. I have seen young Turks, who had taken much care of their beards, mustachios, etc., look majestic. Scarcely any thing serves to set off the human face to greater advantage than the beard, when kept in proper order. Females admire it in their suitors…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-16Verses 9-16 Even those who have little acquaintance with Christ, cannot but see amiable beauty in others who bear his image. There are hopes of those who begin to inquire concerning Christ and his perfections. Christians, who are well acquainted with Christ themselves, should do all they can to make others know something of him. Divine glory makes him truly lovely in the eyes of all who are enlightened to discern spiritual things. He is white in the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13His cheeks are like spice gardens because he had a full beard, common in his culture. This beard was likely perfumed.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. cheeks--the seat of beauty, according to the Hebrew meaning [Gesenius]. Yet men smote and spat on them (Is 50:6). bed--full, like the raised surface of the garden bed; fragrant with ointments, as beds with aromatic plants (literally, "balsam"). sweet flowers--rather, "terraces of aromatic herbs"--"high-raised parterres of sweet plants," in parallelism to "bed," which comes from a Hebrew root, meaning "elevation." lips--(Psa 45:2; Joh 7:46)…Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 13His jaws are like a bed of spice in those beds are spice plants.Read the comment

Topics related to Song of Songs 5:13

• Lily
• Myrrh

In the dictionaries

• Answer
• Bank
• Cheek; Cheekbone
• Drop, Dropping
• Lily
• Myrrh
• Spice; Spices
• Solomon

Commentaries on Song of Songs 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary