Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version If you do not know, most beautiful of women, follow the tracks of the sheep and graze your young goats by the tents of the shepherds. New Living Translation If you don’t know, O most beautiful woman, follow the trail of my flock, and graze your young goats by the shepherds’ tents. English Standard Version If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents. Berean Standard Bible If you do not know, O fairest of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds. King James Bible If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents. New King James Version If you do not know, O fairest among women, Follow in the footsteps of the flock, And feed your little goats Beside the shepherds’ tents. New American Standard Bible “If you yourself do not know, Most beautiful among women, Go out on the trail of the flock, And pasture your young goats By the tents of the shepherds. NASB 1995 “If you yourself do not know, Most beautiful among women, Go forth on the trail of the flock And pasture your young goats By the tents of the shepherds. NASB 1977 “If you yourself do not know, Most beautiful among women, Go forth on the trail of the flock, And pasture your young goats By the tents of the shepherds. Legacy Standard Bible “If you yourself do not know, Most beautiful among women, Go forth on the trail of the flock And pasture your young goats By the dwellings of the shepherds. Amplified Bible “If you do not know [where your lover is], O you fairest among women, Run along, follow the tracks of the flock, And pasture your young goats By the tents of the shepherds. Christian Standard Bible If you do not know, most beautiful of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats near the shepherds’ tents. Holman Christian Standard Bible If you do not know, most beautiful of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats near the shepherds’ tents. American Standard Version If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, And feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents. Contemporary English Version My dearest, if you don't know, just follow the path of the sheep. Then feed your young goats near the shepherds' tents. English Revised Version If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents. GOD'S WORD® Translation If you do not know, most beautiful of women, follow the tracks of the flocks, and graze your young goats near the shepherds' tents. Good News Translation Don't you know the place, loveliest of women? Go and follow the flock; find pasture for your goats near the tents of the shepherds. International Standard Version If you don't know, most beautiful of women, go out after the flock and graze your young goats beside the shepherd's tents. Majority Standard Bible If you do not know, O fairest of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds. NET Bible If you do not know, O most beautiful of women, simply follow the tracks of my flock, and pasture your little lambs beside the tents of the shepherds. New Heart English Bible If you do not know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds' tents. Webster's Bible Translation If thou knowest not, O thou fairest among women, go forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds tents. World English Bible If you don’t know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionIf you do not know, "" O beautiful among women, "" Go forth by the traces of the flock, "" And feed your kids by the shepherds’ dwellings! Young's Literal Translation If thou knowest not, O fair among women, Get thee forth by the traces of the flock, And feed thy kids by the shepherds' dwellings! Smith's Literal Translation If thou shalt not know for thyself, O fair one among women, come forth for thyself at the heels of the flock, and feed thy kids by the shepherds tents. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIf thou know not thyself, O fairest among women, go forth, and follow after the steps of the flocks, and feed thy kids beside the tents of the shepherds. Catholic Public Domain Version Groom to Bride: If you yourself do not know, O most beautiful among women, then go out and follow after the steps of the flocks, and pasture your young goats beside the tabernacles of the shepherds. New American Bible If you do not know, most beautiful among women, Follow the tracks of the flock and pasture your lambs near the shepherds’ tents. New Revised Standard Version If you do not know, O fairest among women, follow the tracks of the flock, and pasture your kids beside the shepherds’ tents. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIf you do not know, O you most beautiful among women, come, follow in the footprints of the flock, and feed your kids beside the shepherds' tents. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated But you shall know yourself; you are beautiful among women. Come into the footprints of the sheep and feed your kids in the tents of Shepherds OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock And feed thy kids, beside the shepherds' tents. Brenton Septuagint Translation If thou know not thyself, thou fair one among women, go thou forth by the footsteps of the flocks, and feed thy kids by the shepherd's tents. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Bride Confesses Her Love…7Tell me, O one I love, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest them at midday? Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your companions? 8If you do not know, O fairest of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds. 9I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.… Cross References John 10:14-15 I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, / just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. John 10:27-28 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. / I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. Psalm 23:1-3 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. / He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. / He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. Isaiah 40:11 He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes. Ezekiel 34:11-16 For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. / As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. / I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the settlements of the land. ... Matthew 18:12-14 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? / And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. / In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. Luke 15:4-7 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? / And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, / comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’ ... 1 Peter 5:2-4 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; / not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. / And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Jeremiah 31:10 Hear, O nations, the word of the LORD, and proclaim it in distant coastlands: “The One who scattered Israel will gather them and keep them as a shepherd keeps his flock. Micah 5:4 He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD His God. And they will dwell securely, for then His greatness will extend to the ends of the earth. Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, / equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Genesis 29:7-8 “Look,” said Jacob, “it is still broad daylight; it is not yet time to gather the livestock. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.” / But they replied, “We cannot, until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.” 1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” 2 Samuel 7:8 Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel. Treasury of Scripture If you know not, O you fairest among women, go your way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed your kids beside the shepherds' tents. o thou Song of Solomon 1:15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes. Song of Solomon 2:10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. Song of Solomon 4:1,7,10 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead… go Proverbs 8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. 1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. feed John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. Jump to Previous Beautiful Dwellings Fair Fairest Feed Flock Follow Food Footsteps Forth Goats Graze Kids Pasture Sheep Shepherds Tents Tracks Trail Way Women YoungJump to Next Beautiful Dwellings Fair Fairest Feed Flock Follow Food Footsteps Forth Goats Graze Kids Pasture Sheep Shepherds Tents Tracks Trail Way Women YoungSong 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 If you do not know, O fairest of women This phrase addresses the beloved, often interpreted as the Shulammite woman, highlighting her beauty and worth. The term "fairest" suggests a superlative beauty, which can be seen as a reflection of the church's beauty in the eyes of Christ. The rhetorical question "If you do not know" implies a gentle rebuke or guidance, suggesting that the beloved may be seeking direction or assurance. This can be paralleled with the church's need for guidance from Christ, as seen in passages like John 10:27, where Jesus speaks of His sheep hearing His voice. follow the tracks of the flock and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds Persons / Places / Events 1. The Beloved (Most Beautiful of Women)This refers to the Shulammite woman, the bride in the Song of Solomon, who is deeply loved and admired by her beloved, Solomon. 2. The Shepherds These are the caretakers of the flocks, representing those who guide and protect, possibly symbolizing spiritual leaders or those who provide wisdom and guidance. 3. The Flock Represents the community or people of God, often used metaphorically in Scripture to describe the people who follow God. 4. The Tents of the Shepherds These are the places where the shepherds reside, symbolizing places of safety, guidance, and provision. Teaching Points Guidance in UncertaintyWhen we are unsure of our path, we are encouraged to seek guidance from those who are spiritually mature and grounded in faith. Beauty in Identity Recognize the inherent beauty and worth that God sees in us, as the beloved is called "most beautiful of women." Community and Fellowship The importance of being part of a community of believers is emphasized, as the flock represents the collective body of Christ. Spiritual Nourishment Just as the young goats are pastured, we must seek spiritual nourishment and growth through the Word and fellowship. Role of Spiritual Leaders Spiritual leaders are called to provide guidance and protection, much like shepherds with their flocks, and we should respect and seek their wisdom.(8) If thou know not.--With this verse one subsection of the poem plainly ends. Most of the supporters of the dramatic theory make Song of Solomon 1:9 begin the second scene of Act I.; and many of them understand this reply to the heroine's question as an ironical allusion on the part of the court ladies to her low birth. We take it rather as one of the many playful ways in which the poet either recalls or arranges meetings with the object of his passion (comp. Song of Solomon 2:10-14). In the first seven verses he imagines her sighing for him, and in his absence, fancying, as lovers do, causes which might keep them asunder or make him forsake her, such as the loss of her complexion, her abduction into a royal harem; and then in Song of Solomon 1:8 shows how groundless her fears are by playfully suggesting a well known way of finding him.Verse 8. - (Chorus of ladies.) If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents. That another voice is here introduced there can be no doubt; and as it is not like the voice of the bridegroom himself, which is heard in the next verse, we must suppose it to be the chorus of attendant ladies. Delitzsch suggests very plausibly that they are pleasantly chiding the simplicity of the country maiden, and telling her that, if she cannot understand her position, she had better return to her country life. In that case, "if thou know not" would mean - If thou canst not rise up to thy privilege; the knowledge referred to being general knowledge or wisdom. The delicate irony is well expressed, as in the reference to the kids - "feed thy kids," like a child as thou art. But there may be no intentional irony in the words; rather a playful and sympathetic response to the beautiful simplicity of the bride - If thou art waiting to be brought to thy beloved, if thou art seeking thy shepherd, thou most lovely woman, then go quietly on thy way, like a shepherdess tending the kids beside the shepherds' tents; follow the peaceful footsteps of the flock, and in due time the beloved one will appear. This is better than to suppose the ladies presuming to indulge in irony when they must know that Shulamith is the king's favourite. Besides, the first scene of the poem, which is a kind of introduction, thus ends appropriately with an invitation to peaceful waiting for love. We are prepared for the entrance of the beloved one. The spiritual meaning is simple and clear - Those that would be lifted up into the highest enjoyments of religion must not be impatient and doubt that the Lord will reveal himself, but go quietly and patiently on with the work of life, "in the footsteps of the flock," in fellowship with humble souls, and in the paths of peace, in the green pastures and beside the still waters, ready to do anything assigned them, and the time of rejoicing and rapture will come. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Ifאִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not you do not לֹ֤א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no know, תֵדְעִי֙ (ṯê·ḏə·‘î) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular Strong's 3045: To know O fairest הַיָּפָ֖ה (hay·yā·p̄āh) Article | Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 3303: Fair, beautiful of women, בַּנָּשִׁ֑ים (ban·nā·šîm) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female follow צְֽאִי־ (ṣə·’î-) Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim the tracks בְּעִקְבֵ֣י (bə·‘iq·ḇê) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 6119: Heel, footprint, hind part of the flock, הַצֹּ֗אן (haṣ·ṣōn) Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock and graze וּרְעִי֙ (ū·rə·‘î) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with your young goats גְּדִיֹּתַ֔יִךְ (gə·ḏî·yō·ṯa·yiḵ) Noun - feminine plural construct | second person feminine singular Strong's 1429: A kid (a young goat) near עַ֖ל (‘al) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the tents מִשְׁכְּנ֥וֹת (miš·kə·nō·wṯ) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 4908: A residence, the Tabernacle of the shepherds. הָרֹעִֽים׃ (hā·rō·‘îm) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with Links Song of Solomon 1:8 NIVSong of Solomon 1:8 NLT Song of Solomon 1:8 ESV Song of Solomon 1:8 NASB Song of Solomon 1:8 KJV Song of Solomon 1:8 BibleApps.com Song of Solomon 1:8 Biblia Paralela Song of Solomon 1:8 Chinese Bible Song of Solomon 1:8 French Bible Song of Solomon 1:8 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Song of Solomon 1:8 If you don't know most beautiful among (Song Songs SS So Can) |
    |