English Standard Version
Song of Songs 1:8
8If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds' tents.
Song of Songs 1:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If 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.
- New International Version (NIV)If you do not know, most beautiful of women, follow the tracks of the sheep and graze your young goats by the tents of the shepherds.
- New King James Version (NKJV)If you do not know, O fairest among women, Follow in the footsteps of the flock, And feed your little goats Beside the shepherds’ tents.
- New Living Translation (NLT)If you don’t know, O most beautiful woman, follow the trail of my flock, and graze your young goats by the shepherds’ tents.
Context of Song of Songs 1:8
6Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has looked upon me. My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept! 7Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon; for why should I be like one who veils herself beside the flocks of your companions? If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds' tents. 9I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots. 10Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
Read all of Song of Songs 1Song of Songs 1:8 word by word
אִם־לֹ֤א תֵדְעִי֙ לָ֔ךְ הַיָּפָ֖ה בַּנָּשִׁ֑ים צְֽאִי־לָ֞ךְ בְּעִקְבֵ֣י הַצֹּ֗אן וּרְעִי֙ אֶת־גְּדִיֹּתַ֔יִךְ עַ֖ל מִשְׁכְּנ֥וֹת הָרֹעִֽים׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- If thou knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- not, O thou fairestיָפֶהyâpheh · beautifulH3303
- among womenאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
- go thy way forthיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- by the footstepsעָקֵב‛âqêb ‛iqqebâh · heelH6119
- of the flockצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629
- and feedרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462
- thy kidsגְּדִיָּהgedîyâh · kidH1429
- tentsמִשְׁכָּןmishkân · tabernacleH4908
Commentaries on Song of Songs 1:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8If thou know not - This appears to be the reply of the virgins. They know not exactly; and therefore direct the bride to the shepherds, who would give information.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8The man's first words in this poem gently calm the woman's anxiety by telling her where to meet him. The man wants to be with her and asks her to come disguised as a goatherd, following his flock's path.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. If--she ought to have known (Joh 14:8, 9). The confession of her ignorance and blackness (So 1:5) leads Him to call her "fairest" (Mt 12:20). Her jealousy of letting even "His companions" take the place of Himself (So 1:7) led her too far. He directs her to follow them, as they follow Him (1Co 11:1; He 6:10, 12); to use ordinances and the ministry; where they are, He is (Jr 6:16; Mt 18:19, 20; He 10:25). Indulging in isolation is not the way to find…Read the comment
- Rashi on Tanakh · v. 8If you do not, etc. This is the shepherd’s reply: If you do not know where you should go to feed your flock, you, O fairest of women, for the shepherd has ceased pasturing them.Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Song of Songs 1
- 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
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries