Song of Songs 1:5

Song of Songs 1:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
• New International Version (NIV)Dark am I, yet lovely, daughters of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Kedar, like the tent curtains of Solomon.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I am very dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I am dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon.

Context of Song of Songs 1:5

3How pleasing is your fragrance; your name is like the spreading fragrance of scented oils. No wonder all the young women love you! 4Take me with you; come, let’s run! The king has brought me into his bedroom. How happy we are for you, O king. We praise your love even more than wine. How right they are to adore you. I am dark but beautiful, O women of Jerusalem— dark as the tents of Kedar, dark as the curtains of Solomon’s tents. 6Don’t stare at me because I am dark— the sun has darkened my skin. My brothers were angry with me; they forced me to care for their vineyards, so I couldn’t care for myself—my own vineyard. 7Tell me, my love, where are you leading your flock today? Where will you rest your sheep at noon? For why should I wander like a prostitute among your friends and their flocks?

Song of Songs 1:5 word by word

שְׁחוֹרָ֤ה אֲנִי֙ וְֽנָאוָ֔ה בְּנ֖וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם כְּאָהֳלֵ֣י קֵדָ֔ר כִּירִיע֖וֹת שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• blackשָׁחֹרshâchôr shâchôr · blackH7838
• but comelyנָאוֶהnâ'veh · lovelyH5000
• O ye daughtersבַּתbath · daughterH1323
• of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
• as the tentsאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tentH168
• of Kedarקֵדָרqêdâr · KedarH6938
• as the curtainsיְרִיעָהyerîy‛âh · curtainH3407
• of Solomonשְׁלֹמֹהshelômôh · SolomonH8010

Commentaries on Song of Songs 1:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5I am black, but comely - This is literally true of many of the Asiatic women; though black or brown, they are exquisitely beautiful. Many of the Egyptian women are still fine; but their complexion is much inferior to that of the Palestine females. Though black or swarthy in my complexion, yet am I comely - well proportioned in every part. As the tents of Kedar - I am tawny, like the tents of the Arabians, and like the pavilions of Solomon, probably…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 2-6Verses 2-6 The church, or rather the believer, speaks here in the character of the spouse of the King, the Messiah. The kisses of his mouth mean those assurances of pardon with which believers are favoured, filling them with peace and joy in believing, and causing them to abound in hope by the power of the Holy Ghost. Gracious souls take most pleasure in loving Christ, and being loved of him. Christ's love is more valuable and desirable than the best this…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-6The woman's dark skin is not related to her race; the sun has darkened her complexion. Despite this, she maintains her self-respect and asserts her beauty. She looks healthy from working in vineyards and caring for goats (see also Song of Solomon 1:8). Solomon had caretakers for his fields, vineyards, herds, and flocks; the herders lived in dark tents made of goats' hair.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. black--namely, "as the tents of Kedar," equivalent to blackness (Psa 120:5). She draws the image from the black goatskins with which the Scenite Arabs ("Kedar" was in Arabia-Petræa) cover their tents (contrasted with the splendid state tent in which the King was awaiting His bride according to Eastern custom); typifying the darkness of man's natural state. To feel this, and yet also feel one's self in Jesus Christ "comely as the curtains of Solomon,"…Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 5I am black but comely, etc. You, my friends, let me not be light in your eyes even if my husband has left me because of my blackness, for I am black because of the sun’s gaze, but I am comely with the shape of beautiful limbs, and if I am black as the tents of Kedar, which are blackened by the rain, for they are constantly spread out in the deserts, I am easily cleansed to be like the curtains of Solomon. The allegory is that the congregation of Israel…Read the comment

Topics related to Song of Songs 1:5

• Kedar
• Tapestry

In the dictionaries

• Jerusalem
• Kedar
• Solomon
• Draw
• Color; Colors
• Curtain
• Goat
• Hair
• Palestine
• Tent

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