Song of Songs 4:11

Song of Songs 4:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
• New International Version (NIV)Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Your lips drip nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Your lips, O my spouse, Drip as the honeycomb; Honey and milk are under your tongue; And the fragrance of your garments Is like the fragrance of Lebanon.

Context of Song of Songs 4:11

9I love you so much that I never want to leave you, my sister and my bride. When you looked at me only once and I saw one jewel in your necklace, I knew that I could never leave you. 10Your love for me is wonderful, my sister and my bride. I enjoy your love even more than I enjoy wine. Your perfume has a smell that is more lovely than any spice! Your lips taste very sweet to me, my bride. They taste like honey that falls from the honeycomb. Milk and honey are under your tongue. The smell of your clothes is like the cedar trees of Lebanon. 12My sister and my bride, you are like a garden for me that is locked to other men. You are like a spring or a fountain that other people may not drink water from. 13Your body is like a special garden. It is full of pomegranate trees with their sweet fruit. There are wonderful fruits to enjoy. There are also henna and nard.

Song of Songs 4:11 word by word

נֹ֛פֶת תִּטֹּ֥פְנָה שִׂפְתוֹתַ֖יִךְ כַּלָּ֑ה דְּבַ֤שׁ וְחָלָב֙ תַּ֣חַת לְשׁוֹנֵ֔ךְ וְרֵ֥יחַ שַׂלְמֹתַ֖יִךְ כְּרֵ֥יחַ לְבָנֽוֹן׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thy lipsשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lipsH8193
• spouseכַּלָּהkallâh · daughter-in-law: brideH3618
• dropנָטַףnâţaph · to drip/prophesyH5197
• the honeycombנֹ֫פֶתnôpheth · honeyH5317
• honeyדְּבַשׁdebash · honeyH1706
• and milkחָלָבchâlâb · milkH2461
• under thy tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956
• and the smellרֵיחַrêyach · aromaH7381
• of thy garmentsשַׂלְמָהώalmâh · garmentH8008
• of Lebanonלְבָנוֹןlebânôn · LebanonH3844

Commentaries on Song of Songs 4:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Thy lips - drop as the honey-comb - Thy words are as delicious to my heart as the first droppings of the honey-comb are to the palate. Honey and milk are under thy tongue - Eloquence and persuasive speech were compared among the ancients to honey and milk. Thus Homer, Iliad, lib. i., ver. 247: - <-144 , . ̔ . Experienced Nestor, in persuasion skill'd, Words sweet as honey from his lips distill'd. But the figure is common to all writers and languages. A…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-15Verses 8-15 Observe the gracious call Christ gives to the church. It is, 1. A precept; so this is Christ's call to his church to come off from the world. These hills seem pleasant, but there are in them lions' dens; they are mountains of the leopards. 2. As a promise; many shall be brought as members of the church, from every point. The church shall be delivered from her persecutors in due time, though now she dwells among lions, Ps. 57:4. Christ's heart…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-11wine...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.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. drop--always ready to fall, being full of honey, though not always (Pr 10:19) actually dropping (So 5:13; De 32:2; Mt 12:34). honeycomb--(Pr 5:3; 16:24). under thy tongue--not always on, but under, the tongue, ready to fall (Psa 55:21). Contrast her former state (Psa 140:3; Ro 3:13). "Honey and milk" were the glory of the good land. The change is illustrated in the penitent thief. Contrast Mt 27:44 with Lu 23:39, &c. It was literally with "one" eye, a…Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 11flowing honey which is sweet.Read the comment

Topics related to Song of Songs 4:11

• Bridegroom
• Honey

In the dictionaries

• Lebanon
• Ethics of Jesus
• Honey
• Milk
• Perfume; Perfumer
• Tongue
• Marriage
• Perfumes

Commentaries on Song of Songs 4

• 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