New Living Translation
Song of Songs 1:6
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.
Song of Songs 1:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother’s sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I had to neglect.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Do 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!
- New King James Version (NKJV)Do not look upon me, because I am dark, Because the sun has tanned me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; They made me the keeper of the vineyards, But my own vineyard I have not kept.
Context of Song of Songs 1:6
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. 5I am dark but beautiful, O women of Jerusalem— dark as the tents of Kedar, dark as the curtains of Solomon’s tents. Don’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? 8If you don’t know, O most beautiful woman, follow the trail of my flock, and graze your young goats by the shepherds’ tents.
Read all of Song of Songs 1Song of Songs 1:6 word by word
אַל־תִּרְא֙וּנִי֙ שֶׁאֲנִ֣י שְׁחַרְחֹ֔רֶת שֶׁשֱּׁזָפַ֖תְנִי הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ בְּנֵ֧י אִמִּ֣י נִֽחֲרוּ־בִ֗י שָׂמֻ֙נִי֙ נֹטֵרָ֣ה אֶת־הַכְּרָמִ֔ים כַּרְמִ֥י שֶׁלִּ֖י לֹ֥א נָטָֽרְתִּי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Lookרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- blackשְׁחַרְחֹרshecharchôreth · blackishH7840
- because the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
- hath lookedשָׁזַףshâzaph · to seeH7805
- upon me: my mother’sאֵם'êm · motherH517
- childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- were angryחָרַרchârar · to scorchH2787
- with me; they madeשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
- me the keeperנָטַרnâţar · to keepH5201
- of the vineyardsכֶּרֶםkerem · vineyardH3754
Commentaries on Song of Songs 1:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Because the sun hath looked upon me - The bride gives here certain reasons why she was dark complexioned. "The sun hath looked upon me." I am sunburnt, tanned by the sun; being obliged, perhaps, through some domestic jealously or uneasiness, to keep much without: "My mother's children were angry; they made me keeper of the vineyards." Here the brown complexion of the Egyptians is attributed to the influence of the sun or climate. My mother's children were…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. 6of the vineyards: The New Living Translation sees vineyard as a metaphor for the woman's body (compare Song of Solomon 2:15; 7:12). In ancient Near Eastern societies, brothers protected their sisters from early intimate relationships. The woman's protest shows she believes she is ready for love (see also Song of Solomon 8:8–12, the only other mention of the brothers). The dramatic view sees vineyard as actual vineyards: The brothers' mistreatment led to…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. She feels as if her blackness was so great as to be gazed at by all. mother's children--(Mt 10:36). She is to forget "her own people and her father's house," that is, the worldly connections of her unregenerate state (Psa 45:10); they had maltreated her (Lu 15:15, 16). Children of the same mother, but not the same father [Maurer], (Joh 8:41-44). They made her a common keeper of vineyards, whereby the sun looked upon, that is, burnt her; thus she did…Read the comment
- Rashi on Tanakh · v. 6Do not look upon me Do not look upon me disdainfully [like (I Sam. 6:19) “for they had gazed upon the Ark of the Lord”].Read the comment
Topics related to Song of Songs 1:6
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
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