Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Dark am I, yet lovely, daughters of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Kedar, like the tent curtains of Solomon. New Living Translation I am dark but beautiful, O women of Jerusalem— dark as the tents of Kedar, dark as the curtains of Solomon’s tents. English Standard Version I am very dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. Berean Standard Bible I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. King James Bible I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. New King James Version I am dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon. New American Standard Bible “I am black and beautiful, You daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon. NASB 1995 “I am black but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon. NASB 1977 “I am black but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon. Legacy Standard Bible “I am black but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon. Amplified Bible “I am deeply tanned but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, [I am dark] like the tents of [the Bedouins of] Kedar, Like the [beautiful] curtains of Solomon. Christian Standard Bible Daughters of Jerusalem, I am dark like the tents of Kedar, yet lovely like the curtains of Solomon. Holman Christian Standard Bible Daughters of Jerusalem, I am dark like the tents of Kedar, yet lovely like the curtains of Solomon. American Standard Version I am black, but comely, Oh ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon. Contemporary English Version My skin is dark and beautiful, like a tent in the desert or like Solomon's curtains. English Revised Version I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. GOD'S WORD® Translation Young women of Jerusalem, I am dark and lovely like Kedar's tents, like Solomon's curtains. Good News Translation Women of Jerusalem, I am dark but beautiful, dark as the desert tents of Kedar, but beautiful as the draperies in Solomon's palace. International Standard Version The daughters of Jerusalem, I'm dark and lovely like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. Majority Standard Bible I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. NET Bible I am dark but lovely, O maidens of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Qedar, lovely like the tent curtains of Salmah. New Heart English Bible I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar's tents, like Solomon's curtains. Webster's Bible Translation I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. World English Bible I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar’s tents, like Solomon’s curtains. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionI [am] dark and lovely, daughters of Jerusalem, as tents of Kedar, as curtains of Solomon. Young's Literal Translation Dark am I, and comely, daughters of Jerusalem, As tents of Kedar, as curtains of Solomon. Smith's Literal Translation I am black and beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleI am black but beautiful, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Cedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Catholic Public Domain Version Bride to Chorus: O daughters of Jerusalem: I am black, but shapely, like the tabernacles of Kedar, like the tents of Solomon. New American Bible I am black and beautiful, Daughters of Jerusalem — Like the tents of Qedar, like the curtains of Solomon. New Revised Standard Version I am black and beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleI have dark skin, but I am comely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated I am black and beautiful, daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Qedar and like the curtains of Solomon OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon. Brenton Septuagint Translation I am black, but beautiful, ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Bride Confesses Her Love…4Take me away with you—let us hurry! May the king bring me to his chambers. We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. It is only right that they adore you. 5I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. 6Do not stare because I am dark, for the sun has gazed upon me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me a keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have neglected.… Cross References Psalm 45:11 and the king will desire your beauty; bow to him, for he is your lord. Psalm 139:14 I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well. Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 1 Peter 3:3-4 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, / but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.” Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; / you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her / to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, / and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. Revelation 19:7-8 Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. / She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints. Jeremiah 8:21 For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I am crushed. I mourn; horror has gripped me. Lamentations 4:8 But now their appearance is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick. Isaiah 52:1 Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you. Ezekiel 16:14 Your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect in the splendor I bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD. Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. / In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Treasury of Scripture I am black, but comely, O you daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. black Isaiah 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. Matthew 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? 1 Corinthians 4:10-13 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised… comely Psalm 90:17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. Psalm 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. o ye Psalm 45:9 Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Galatians 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. as the tents Psalm 120:5 Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! Jump to Previous Black Curtains Dark Daughters Fair Form Jerusalem Kedar Kedar's Lovely Solomon Solomon's Tent TentsJump to Next Black Curtains Dark Daughters Fair Form Jerusalem Kedar Kedar's Lovely Solomon Solomon's Tent TentsSong of Solomon 1 1. the church's love unto Christ5. She confesses her deformity 7. and prays to be directed, to his flock 8. Christ directs her to the shepherd's tents 9. and showing his love to her 11. gives her gracious promises 12. the church and Christ congratulate one another I am dark, yet lovely This phrase reflects the speaker's self-awareness and confidence in her beauty despite her dark complexion. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a darker skin tone often indicated a life of labor under the sun, possibly suggesting her work in the vineyards (Song of Solomon 1:6). This contrasts with the cultural preference for lighter skin, which was associated with nobility and leisure. Theologically, this can be seen as an affirmation of inherent worth and beauty, regardless of societal standards. It echoes the biblical theme that God values the heart over outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). O daughters of Jerusalem like the tents of Kedar like the curtains of Solomon Persons / Places / Events 1. The Shulammite WomanThe speaker in this verse, often interpreted as the bride or beloved in the Song of Solomon. She expresses her self-awareness and beauty despite her dark complexion. 2. Daughters of Jerusalem A group of women addressed by the Shulammite, often seen as a chorus or audience within the poem, representing societal norms or expectations. 3. Tents of Kedar Kedar was a nomadic tribe known for their black goat-hair tents. This imagery highlights the Shulammite's dark complexion. 4. Curtains of Solomon These likely refer to the luxurious and beautiful curtains in King Solomon's palace, symbolizing beauty and splendor. 5. Solomon The attributed author of the Song of Solomon, representing wisdom and wealth, and often seen as the bridegroom in the allegory. Teaching Points Embrace Your God-Given IdentityThe Shulammite's declaration of being "dark, yet lovely" encourages believers to embrace their unique identity and beauty as created by God. Challenge Societal Standards The contrast between the tents of Kedar and the curtains of Solomon invites reflection on how societal standards of beauty can be challenged and redefined. Value Inner Beauty The reference to the "curtains of Solomon" suggests that true beauty is not just external but also reflects inner qualities and character. Community and Self-Perception The address to the "daughters of Jerusalem" highlights the role of community in shaping self-perception and the importance of affirming one another's worth.(5) As the tents of Kedar--i.e., Dark as the Kedareen tents of black goats' hair, beautiful as the royal pavilions with their rich hangings. For a similar style of parallelism, comp. Isaiah 15:3 : "On her housetops, and to her open streets, every one howleth, descendeth with weeping." For Kedar, see Genesis 25:13. As the poet puts this description of the lady's complexion into her own mouth, we must understand it as a little playful raillery, which is immediately redeemed by a compliment. It also prepares the way for the reminiscence of an interesting passage in her early life. See next verse. Verse 5. - I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. The word "black" (שְׁחורָה) does not necessarily mean that the skin is black, but rather sunburnt, dark brown, as in Lamentations 4:8, where the same word signifies the livid or swarthy appearance of one who has suffered long from famine and wretchedness. There is certainly no reason to take the word as an argument for the bride being Pharaoh's daughter; but it points to what is confirmed by the rest of the poem - the rustic birth and northern blood of the bride. She has been living in the fields, and is browned with the ruddy health of a country life. The best explanation of the words is that they are drawn out by the fact that the bride is surrounded by her ladies. Some think that they look askance at her, or with indignation at the boldness of her words; but that is quite unnecessary, and would be inconsistent with the dignity of the bride. The country maiden feels the greatness of the honour, that she is chosen of the king, and with simple modesty, in the presence of courtly ladies around her, sets forth her claim. The simile is not uncommon in poetry, as in Theocritus and Virgil. Comely; i.e. attractive, agreeable. Kedar (whether from the Arabic, meaning "powerful," or from the Hebrew, "black") designates the tribes of the North Arabian descendants of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13; Isaiah 21:17), Kedareens, referred to by Pliny, and remaining in Arabia until the time of the Mohammedans. The Bedouin still calls his tent his "hair house;" it is covered with goat's-hair cloth, mostly black or grey. Whether the reference is to the colour of the goat's hair or to the tents being browned or blackened by the heat of the sun, we cannot doubt that the allusion is to the complexion, and the rest of the simile would then be applicable to the lovely shape and features of the maiden, the curtains of Solomon being the curtains of a pavilion, or pleasure tent, spread out like "a shining butterfly," i.e. the beautiful cloth or tapestry which formed the sides of the tent or the tent coverings, the clothing of the framework, or tent hangings (see Isaiah 54:2; Exodus 26:36; 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17:1, etc.). Egyptian hangings were particularly prized. The custom prevailed among Eastern monarchs of sojourning once in the year in some lovely rural district, and at such times their tents would be very magnificent. The LXX. has, ὡς δεῥῤείς Σολομὼν, "as the skins of Solomon;" but this is a mistake. The word is derived from a root "to tremble," i.e. "to glitter in the sun." Those who desire to find an allegorical interpretation think there is an evident allusion here to the sojourn of Israel in the wilderness, or the admission of the Gentiles into the covenant; but there is no reason for any such strain upon the meaning. The simile is merely poetical. The soul realizes its own acceptance before God, but ascribes that acceptance to his grace. "The bride, the Lamb's wife," sees the beauty of the Lord reflected in herself, and rejoices in her own attractions for his sake. There is no immodesty in the consciousness of merit so long as that merit is ascribed to him from whom it comes. There is often more pride in the assumption of humility than in the claim to be acknowledged. The same apostle who declared himself less than the least of all saints also maintained that he was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Iאֲנִי֙ (’ă·nî) Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 589: I am dark שְׁחוֹרָ֤ה (šə·ḥō·w·rāh) Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 7838: Dusky, jetty yet lovely, וְֽנָאוָ֔ה (wə·nā·wāh) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 5000: Suitable, beautiful O daughters בְּנ֖וֹת (bə·nō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural construct Strong's 1323: A daughter of Jerusalem, יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (yə·rū·šā·lim) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel like the tents כְּאָהֳלֵ֣י (kə·’ā·ho·lê) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 168: A tent of Kedar, קֵדָ֔ר (qê·ḏār) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 6938: Kedar -- perhaps 'swarthy', a son of Ishmael, also his desc like the curtains כִּירִיע֖וֹת (kî·rî·‘ō·wṯ) Preposition-k | Noun - feminine plural construct Strong's 3407: A hanging of Solomon. שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃ (šə·lō·mōh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 8010: Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throne Links Song of Solomon 1:5 NIVSong of Solomon 1:5 NLT Song of Solomon 1:5 ESV Song of Solomon 1:5 NASB Song of Solomon 1:5 KJV Song of Solomon 1:5 BibleApps.com Song of Solomon 1:5 Biblia Paralela Song of Solomon 1:5 Chinese Bible Song of Solomon 1:5 French Bible Song of Solomon 1:5 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Song of Solomon 1:5 I am dark but lovely you daughters (Song Songs SS So Can) |
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