Song of Solomon 4:2
New International Version
Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing. Each has its twin; not one of them is alone.

New Living Translation
Your teeth are as white as sheep, recently shorn and freshly washed. Your smile is flawless, each tooth matched with its twin.

English Standard Version
Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes that have come up from the washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost its young.

Berean Standard Bible
Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep coming up from the washing; each has its twin, and not one of them is lost.

King James Bible
Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.

New King James Version
Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep Which have come up from the washing, Every one of which bears twins, And none is barren among them.

New American Standard Bible
“Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep Which have come up from their watering place, All of which bear twins, And not one among them has lost her young.

NASB 1995
“Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn ewes Which have come up from their washing, All of which bear twins, And not one among them has lost her young.

NASB 1977
“Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn ewes Which have come up from their washing, All of which bear twins, And not one among them has lost her young.

Legacy Standard Bible
Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn ewes Which have come up from their washing, All of which bear twins, And not one among them has lost her young.

Amplified Bible
“Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn ewes Which have come up from washing, All of which bear twins, And not one among them has lost her young.

Christian Standard Bible
Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep coming up from washing, each one bearing twins, and none has lost its young.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep coming up from washing, each one having a twin, and not one missing.

American Standard Version
Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes that are newly shorn, Which are come up from the washing, Whereof every one hath twins, And none is bereaved among them.

Contemporary English Version
Your teeth are whiter than sheep freshly washed; they match perfectly, not one is missing.

English Revised Version
Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes that are newly shorn, which are come up from the washing; whereof every one hath twins, and none is bereaved among them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Your teeth are like a flock of sheep about to be sheared, sheep that come up from the washing. All of them bear twins, and not one has lost its young.

Good News Translation
Your teeth are as white as sheep that have just been shorn and washed. Not one of them is missing; they are all perfectly matched.

International Standard Version
Your teeth are like a flock of sheep about to be sheared, who are coming up from being washed. All of them are twins, not one has lost her young.

Majority Standard Bible
Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep coming up from the washing; each has its twin, and not one of them is lost.

NET Bible
Your teeth are like a flock of newly-shorn sheep coming up from the washing place; each of them has a twin, and not one of them is missing.

New Heart English Bible
Your teeth are like a newly shorn flock, which have come up from the washing, where every one of them has twins. None is bereaved among them.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; all of which bear twins, and none is barren among them.

World English Bible
Your teeth are like a newly shorn flock, which have come up from the washing, where every one of them has twins. None is bereaved among them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Your teeth as a row of the shorn ones that have come up from the washing, "" For all of them are forming twins, "" And a bereaved one is not among them.

Young's Literal Translation
Thy teeth as a row of the shorn ones That have come up from the washing, For all of them are forming twins, And a bereaved one is not among them.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thy teeth as a herd of the shorn which came up from the washing; all of them bearing twins, and none barren among them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thy teeth as flocks of sheep, that are shorn which come up from the washing, all with twins, and there is none barren among them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Your teeth are like flocks of shorn sheep, which ascend from the washing, each one with its identical twin, and not one among them is barren.

New American Bible
Your teeth are like a flock of ewes to be shorn, that come up from the washing, All of them big with twins, none of them barren.

New Revised Standard Version
Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes that have come up from the washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them is bereaved.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Your teeth are like a flock of sheep that are shorn, which come up from the washing; every one of them bears twins, and none is bereft among them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Your teeth are like a flock that is shorn going up from their washing, all bearing twins and none is barren among them
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes all shaped alike, Which are come up from the washing; Whereof all are paired, and none faileth among them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thy teeth are as flocks of shorn sheep, that have gone up from the washing; all of them bearing twins, and there is not a barren one among them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon Admires His Bride
1How beautiful you are, my darling—how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead. 2Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep coming up from the washing; each has its twin, and not one of them is lost. 3Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon, and your mouth is lovely. Your brow behind your veil is like a slice of pomegranate.…

Cross References
Proverbs 27:27
You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you—food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.

Jeremiah 50:19
I will return Israel to his pasture, and he will graze on Carmel and Bashan; his soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.

Ezekiel 34:31
‘You are My flock, the sheep of My pasture, My people, and I am your God,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

Matthew 25:32-33
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. / He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

John 10:14-16
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. / I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Psalm 23:1-2
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.

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.

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.

Genesis 30:37-43
Jacob, however, took fresh branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees, and peeled the bark, exposing the white inner wood of the branches. / Then he set the peeled branches in the watering troughs in front of the flocks coming in to drink. So when the flocks were in heat and came to drink, / they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted. ...

Luke 15:4-6
“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!’

John 21:15-17
When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” / Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.” / Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Ezekiel 36:37-38
This is what the Lord GOD says: Once again I will hear the plea of the house of Israel and do for them this: I will multiply their people like a flock. / Like the numerous flocks for sacrifices at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so the ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

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.

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.’”


Treasury of Scripture

Your teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.

teeth

Song of Solomon 6:6
Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them.

Jeremiah 15:16
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

John 15:7
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

and none

Exodus 23:26
There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.

Deuteronomy 7:13,14
And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee…

Jump to Previous
Alike Alone Barren Bear Bereaved Cut Ewes Faileth Flock Lost Newly Paired Shaped Sheep Shorn Teeth Twin Twins Washing Whereof Wool Young
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Alike Alone Barren Bear Bereaved Cut Ewes Faileth Flock Lost Newly Paired Shaped Sheep Shorn Teeth Twin Twins Washing Whereof Wool Young
Song of Solomon 4
1. Christ sets forth the graces of the church
8. He shows forth his love to her
16. The church prays to be made fit for his presence














Your teeth
In the context of ancient Near Eastern poetry, teeth often symbolize beauty and strength. The Hebrew word for teeth, "shen," can also imply sharpness and effectiveness. In this verse, the teeth are compared to a flock, suggesting uniformity and order. This imagery reflects the bride's beauty and the perfection of her character, as seen through the eyes of her beloved.

are like a flock of newly shorn sheep
The comparison to "newly shorn sheep" emphasizes purity and renewal. In ancient Israel, sheep were a valuable commodity, and their wool was a symbol of wealth and provision. The act of shearing and washing sheep would leave them clean and white, symbolizing purity and innocence. This imagery suggests that the bride's beauty is fresh and unblemished, much like the church is seen as pure and holy in the eyes of Christ.

coming up from the washing
The phrase "coming up from the washing" further emphasizes the idea of cleanliness and renewal. In biblical times, washing was a significant act of purification, often associated with spiritual cleansing. This imagery can be seen as a metaphor for the sanctification process, where believers are cleansed and made new through their relationship with Christ.

each one bearing twins
The phrase "each one bearing twins" suggests abundance and completeness. In the Hebrew culture, twins were often seen as a double blessing. This imagery implies that the bride's beauty is not only perfect but also abundant and overflowing. Spiritually, this can be seen as a reflection of the abundant life promised to believers in Christ.

and not one has lost her young
This phrase highlights the idea of preservation and care. In the context of the verse, it suggests that the bride's beauty is intact and well-maintained. Historically, losing young sheep would be a loss to the shepherd, so this imagery conveys a sense of protection and divine care. Spiritually, it can be seen as a reminder of God's faithfulness in preserving His people, ensuring that none are lost from His flock.

(2) Thy teeth . . . --i.e., white as newly washed sheep. The word translated shorn is only used as a synonym for sheep, as we see by comparison with Song of Solomon 6:6. The only other place where it is found is 2Kings 6:6, where it is used of cutting wood.

Bear twins.--The Hebrew word means "to make double." But this may either be "to produce twins," as in the text, or "to make pairs," or "to occur in pairs," a rendering which gives far better sense. The perfect and regular rows of teeth are exactly paired, upper to lower, like the sheep coming two and two from the washing, not one being bereaved of its fellow.

Verse 2. - Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes that are newly shorn, which are come up from the washing; whereof every one hath twins, and none is bereaved among them. The simile is very apt and beautiful Thy teeth are perfectly smooth, regular, and white; the upper set corresponding exactly to the lower set, like twin births in which there is no break (cf. Song of Solomon 6:6). The moisture of the saliva dentium, heightening the glance of the teeth, is frequently mentioned in love songs. The whiteness of wool is often used as a comparison (see Isaiah 1:18; Daniel 7:9; Revelation 1:14; Book of Enoch 46:1). Some think that קְצוּבות. should not be rendered "newly shorn," but "periodically shorn" (see Ginsburg) - a poetical epithet for וְחֵלֵים. The newly shorn would be washed first, תָּאַם, "to be double,....to be pairs," in the hiph. is "to make double," "to make pairs," "to appear paired." Perhaps the reference is to the sheep being washed in pairs, and going up side by side from the water. This would seem almost more exact than the idea of twin lambs, because the difference in size between the ewe and the lamb would suggest irregularity. The word שַׁכֻּלָּת, "deprived," "bereaved" (Jeremiah 18:21), may point merely to the loneliness of the single sheep going up by itself, suggesting one tooth without its fellow. Ginsburg says, "all of which are paired." Each keeps to its mate as they come up from the pool. This is a decided improvement on the Authorized Version. But the figure is clear with either rendering, and is very striking and suggestive of the pleasant country life to which the bride was accustomed.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Your teeth
שִׁנַּ֙יִךְ֙ (šin·na·yiḵ)
Noun - cdc | second person feminine singular
Strong's 8127: A tooth, ivory, a cliff

are like a flock
כְּעֵ֣דֶר (kə·‘ê·ḏer)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5739: An arrangement, muster

of newly shorn sheep
הַקְּצוּב֔וֹת (haq·qə·ṣū·ḇō·wṯ)
Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine plural
Strong's 7094: To cut off, shear

coming up
שֶׁעָל֖וּ (še·‘ā·lū)
Pronoun - relative | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the washing;
הָרַחְצָ֑ה (hā·raḥ·ṣāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7367: A bathing place

each
שֶׁכֻּלָּם֙ (šek·kul·lām)
Pronoun - relative | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

has its twin,
מַתְאִימ֔וֹת (maṯ·’î·mō·wṯ)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 8382: To be, twinned, duplicate, jointed

and not one
אֵ֥ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

[is] lost.
וְשַׁכֻּלָ֖ה (wə·šak·ku·lāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7909: Childless


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OT Poetry: Song of Solomon 4:2 Your teeth are like a newly shorn (Song Songs SS So Can)
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