Song of Songs 8:1

Song of Songs 8:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.
• New International Version (NIV)If only you were to me like a brother, who was nursed at my mother’s breasts! Then, if I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Oh that you were like a brother to me who nursed at my mother's breasts! If I found you outside, I would kiss you, and none would despise me.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Oh, that you were like my brother, Who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I should find you outside, I would kiss you; I would not be despised.

Context of Song of Songs 8:1

Oh, I wish you were my brother, who nursed at my mother’s breasts. Then I could kiss you no matter who was watching, and no one would criticize me. 2I would bring you to my childhood home, and there you would teach me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, my sweet pomegranate wine. 3Your left arm would be under my head, and your right arm would embrace me.

Song of Songs 8:1 word by word

מִ֤י יִתֶּנְךָ֙ כְּאָ֣ח לִ֔י יוֹנֵ֖ק שְׁדֵ֣י אִמִּ֑י אֶֽמְצָאֲךָ֤ בַחוּץ֙ אֶשָׁ֣קְךָ֔ גַּ֖ם לֹא־יָב֥וּזוּ לִֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• O thatנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
• as my brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
• that suckedיָנַקyânaq · to suckleH3243
• the breastsשַׁדshad shôd · breastH7699
• of my motherאֵם'êm · motherH517
• I should findמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• thee withoutחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351
• I would kissנָשַׁקnâshaq · to kissH5401
• thee; yea, I should not be despisedבּוּזbûz · to despiseH936

Commentaries on Song of Songs 8:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1O that thou wert as my brother - The bride, fearing that her fondness for her spouse might be construed into too great a familiarity, wishes that he were her little brother; and then she might treat him in the most affectionate manner, and kiss him even in the streets without suspicion, and without giving offense to any one.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Desire for communion with Christ. (Song 8:1-4) The vehemence of this desire. (Song 8:5-7) The church pleads for others. (Song 8:8-12) And prays for Christ's coming. (Song 8:13,14) Verses 1-4 The church wishes for the constant intimacy and freedom with the Lord Jesus that a sister has with a brother. That they might be as his brethren, which they are, when by grace they are made partakers of a Divine nature. Christ is become as our Brother; wherever we…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1If he were her brother, she could kiss him in public. Romantic kisses were not appropriate in public, but kisses between family members were acceptable.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-14So 8:1-14. 1. He had been a brother already. Why, then, this prayer here? It refers to the time after His resurrection, when the previous outward intimacy with Him was no longer allowed, but it was implied it should be renewed at the second coming (Joh 20:17). For this the Church here prays; meanwhile she enjoys inward spiritual communion with Him. The last who ever "kissed" Jesus Christ on earth was the traitor Judas. The bride's return with the King to…Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 1O that you were like my brother that you would come to console me as Joseph did his brothers, who did evil to him, and it is stated concerning him (Gen. 50:21): “and he consoled them.”Read the comment

Topics related to Song of Songs 8:1

• Brother

In the dictionaries

• Breast
• Kiss

Commentaries on Song of Songs 8

• 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