Song of Solomon 5:13

Verse

His cheeks are like beds of spice, towers of perfume. His lips are like lilies, dripping with flowing myrrh.

American Standard Version (1901)

His cheeks are as a bed of spices, As banks of sweet herbs: His lips are as lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.

His face is as beds of spices, giving out perfumes of every sort; his lips like lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.

His cheeks are like a flowerbed of spices that produces fragrance. His lips are like lilies, dripping with liquid myrrh.

King James (Authorized) Version

His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.

Translation for Translators

His cheeks are like [SIM] a garden full of spice trees that produce sweet-smelling perfume. His lips are like [SIM] lilies that have myrrh/perfume dripping from them.

Unlocked Literal Bible

His cheeks are like beds of spices, yielding aromatic scents. His lips are lilies, dripping liquid myrrh.

Noah Webster Bible

His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet-smelling myrrh.

World English Bible

His cheeks are like a bed of spices with towers of perfumes. His lips are like lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.

Young's Literal Translation

His cheeks as a bed of the spice, towers of perfumes, His lips [are] lilies, dropping flowing myrrh,

Context

The Bride

¹²His eyes are like doves beside the streams of water, bathed in milk and mounted like jewels. ¹³His cheeks are like beds of spice, towers of perfume. His lips are like lilies, dripping with flowing myrrh. ¹⁴His arms are rods of gold set with beryl. His body is an ivory panel bedecked with sapphires.

Summary

This verse describes the physical appearance of the beloved in the Song of Solomon, using metaphors to depict his attributes. The comparison of his cheeks to beds of spices and his lips to lilies conveys a sense of beauty, tenderness, and sweetness. The imagery used in this verse reflects the deep admiration and affection the lover has for the beloved, highlighting the intimate and romantic nature of their relationship. Overall, this verse captures the poetic and passionate language found throughout the Song of Solomon, celebrating love and desire in a profound and artistic way.

Commentary

Tyndale

Tyndale Open Study Notes

5:13 His cheeks are like gardens of spices because they were covered by the full beard that was worn by all men of that culture. This beard would have been perfumed.