New Living Translation
Song of Songs 5:11
11His head is finest gold, his wavy hair is black as a raven.
Song of Songs 5:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
- New International Version (NIV)His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven.
- English Standard Version (ESV)His head is the finest gold; his locks are wavy, black as a raven.
- New King James Version (NKJV)His head is like the finest gold; His locks are wavy, And black as a raven.
Context of Song of Songs 5:11
9Why is your lover better than all others, O woman of rare beauty? What makes your lover so special that we must promise this? 10My lover is dark and dazzling, better than ten thousand others! His head is finest gold, his wavy hair is black as a raven. 12His eyes sparkle like doves beside springs of water; they are set like jewels washed in milk. 13His cheeks are like gardens of spices giving off fragrance. His lips are like lilies, perfumed with myrrh.
Read all of Song of Songs 5Song of Songs 5:11 word by word
רֹאשׁ֖וֹ כֶּ֣תֶם פָּ֑ז קְוּצּוֹתָיו֙ תַּלְתַּלִּ֔ים שְׁחֹר֖וֹת כָּעוֹרֵֽב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Commentaries on Song of Songs 5:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11His head is as the most fine gold - He has the most beautiful head, fine and majestic. Gold is here used to express excellence. His locks are bushy - Crisped or curled. This may refer to his mustachios. Black as a raven - His hair is black and glossy.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. 1111. head ... gold--the Godhead of Jesus Christ, as distinguished from His heel, that is, His manhood, which was "bruised" by Satan; both together being one Christ (1Co 11:3). Also His sovereignty, as Nebuchadnezzar, the supreme king was "the head of gold" (Da 2:32-38; Col 1:18), the highest creature, compared with Him, is brass, iron, and clay. "Preciousness" (Greek, 1Pe 2:7). bushy--curled, token of Headship. In contrast with her flowing locks (So 4:1)…Read the comment
- Rashi on Tanakh · v. 11His head glistens like the finest gold. כֶּתֶם is a term referring to the treasures of kings which they store in their treasure houses, and similarly, (Lam. 4:1): “[How] changed is the fine gold jewelry (הַכֶּתֶם),” and similarly, (Job 31:24): “and to jewelry (לַכֶּתֶם) I said, ‘My confidence,’” and similarly, (Prov. 25:12): “and jewelry of finest gold (כָתֶם).”Read the comment
Topics related to Song of Songs 5:11
In the dictionaries
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
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