Song of Songs 5:12

Song of Songs 5:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.
• New International Version (NIV)His eyes are like doves by the water streams, washed in milk, mounted like jewels.
• English Standard Version (ESV)His eyes are like doves beside streams of water, bathed in milk, sitting beside a full pool.
• New King James Version (NKJV)His eyes are like doves By the rivers of waters, Washed with milk, And fitly set.

Context of Song of Songs 5:12

10My lover is very handsome and healthy. He is the greatest man among 10,000 men. 11His head is like very pure gold. The hairs on his head are like waves. They are black like a raven. His eyes are like doves beside streams of water. They are like doves that someone has washed in milk. They shine like jewels. 13The sides of his face are like a garden with spice trees. Their smell is like perfume. His lips are like lilies with myrrh that falls from them. 14His arms are like bars of gold with jewels in them. His body shines like bright ivory, with sapphire jewels to make it more beautiful.

Song of Songs 5:12 word by word

עֵינָ֕יו כְּיוֹנִ֖ים עַל־אֲפִ֣יקֵי מָ֑יִם רֹֽחֲצוֹת֙ בֶּֽחָלָ֔ב יֹשְׁב֖וֹת עַל־מִלֵּֽאת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• His eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• of dovesיוֹנָהyônâh · doveH3123
• by the riversאָפִיק'âphîyq · channelH650
• of watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
• washedרָחַץrâchats · to wash: washH7364
• with milkחָלָבchâlâb · milkH2461
• fitly setמִלֵּאתmillê'th · settingH4402
• fitly setיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427

Commentaries on Song of Songs 5:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12His eyes are as the eyes of doves - See on Song of Solomon 4:1; (note). Washed with milk - The white of the eye, exceedingly white. By the use of stibium, in the East, the eye is rendered very beautiful; and receives such a lustre from the use of this article, that, to borrow the expression of a late traveler, "their eyes appear to be swimming in bliss." I believe this expression to be the meaning of the text. Fitly set - Or, as the margin, very properly…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. 11-15The woman describes the man as a statue made of gold, ivory, lapis lazuli, and marble pillars. This suggests he looks god-like, as ancient statues of deities used these precious materials (Exodus 32:1–4; 1 Kings 12:28; Daniel 2:32233; 3:1).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. as the eyes of doves--rather, "as doves" (Psa 68:13); bathing in "the rivers"; so combining in their "silver" feathers the whiteness of milk with the sparkling brightness of the water trickling over them (Mt 3:16). The "milk" may allude to the white around the pupil of the eye. The "waters" refer to the eye as the fountain of tears of sympathy (Eze 16:5, 6; Lu 19:41). Vivacity, purity, and love, are the three features typified. fitly set--as a gem in…Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 12His eyes are like doves beside rivulets of water By rivulets of water his eyes are as beautiful as the eyes of doves. Rivulets of water are beautiful to behold, and the young men go there to swim, so does the poet praise the eyes of “my beloved.” When he gazes upon the rivulets of water, they resemble the beauty of the eyes of doves.Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Answer
• Dove
• Fit, Fitly
• River
• Wash; Washing

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