Song of Solomon 1:15 — Word Study
WLCהִנָּ֤ךְ יָפָה֙ רַעְיָתִ֔י הִנָּ֥ךְ יָפָ֖ה עֵינַ֥יִךְ יוֹנִֽים׃
BSAHowhên [truly, exceedingly] beautiful [you are]yâpheh [fair, lovely, pleasant] my darlingraʻyâh [beloved, female companion, maiden] Oh, how veryhên [exceedingly] beautifulyâpheh [fair, lovely] Your eyesʻayin [thine, sources of sight] are [like] dovesyôwnâh [as gentle as, comparable to, pigeons]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הִנָּ֤ךְ | here you | Particle, suffix |
| יָפָה֙ | [are] beautiful | Adj |
| רַעְיָתִ֔י | O friend my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| הִנָּ֥ךְ | here you | Particle, suffix |
| יָפָ֖ה | [are] beautiful | Adj |
| עֵינַ֥יִךְ | eyes your | Noun common feminine dual construct, suffix |
| יוֹנִֽים׃ | [are] doves | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves. |
| KJV | Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes. |
| ASV | Behold, thou art fair, my love; Behold thou art fair; Thine eyes are as doves. |
| YLT | Lo, thou [art] fair, my friend, Lo, thou [art] fair, thine eyes [are] doves! |
| WEB | Behold, you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are like doves. |
| BBE | See, you are fair, my love, you are fair; you have the eyes of a dove. |
Where they part company is יָפָה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of a main clause followed by exclamatory and comparative phrases, emphasizing the beauty of the beloved.
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Song of Solomon 1:15
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Celebration of Beauty in Lovegenerated
Song of Solomon 1:15 captures a moment of admiration where the speaker praises the beauty of their beloved. This verse is part of a larger poetic expression that explores themes of love and attraction, reflecting the deep emotional connections found in romantic relationships. The surrounding verses further illustrate the intimate and affectionate nature of the dialogue between the lovers.
The Key Word — יָפָה, ya.Fahgenerated
The Hebrew word יָפֶה (yapheh) means 'beautiful' and is used to describe something that is aesthetically pleasing or attractive. It can refer to people, places, or things that evoke joy and delight, emphasizing the positive qualities of beauty.
This adjective is derived from the root יָפָה (yafah), and it appears frequently in contexts celebrating love and beauty, particularly in the Song of Solomon, which captures the essence of romantic admiration.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In this study, the verse is read in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the word beautiful. The KJV and ASV also use fair to convey the same meaning.
Where translations differ is in the rendering of יָפָה. The KJV, ASV, and others use fair, while the GNV opts for pleasant. These variations reflect different nuances of beauty.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse includes multiple clauses, with the main predicate being the expression of beauty. The finite verb forms govern the subject and adjectives describing the beloved's beauty.
The word order highlights the admiration, starting with the imperative הִנָּ֤ךְ (here you), drawing immediate attention to the beloved before describing her beauty and comparing her eyes to doves.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָפָה as καλή (kalē), which also means 'beautiful'. This choice maintains the same aesthetic quality as the Hebrew, suggesting a consistent understanding of beauty across both texts.
The use of περιστεραί (peristerai) for doves aligns with the symbolism of peace and gentleness, reinforcing the imagery present in the Hebrew text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Song of Solomon 1:15 expresses a deep admiration for the beloved's beauty, stating that she is beautiful and comparing her eyes to doves. This verse is part of a poetic celebration of love, highlighting the affection and admiration between the lovers.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The speaker is expressing deep admiration and affection, highlighting the physical and emotional beauty of their beloved.
Doves symbolize peace and gentleness, suggesting that the beloved's eyes are not only beautiful but also evoke a sense of calm and tenderness.
Beauty is a central theme in the Song of Solomon, representing the joy and delight found in romantic relationships, as well as the physical and emotional connection between lovers.
Different translations may emphasize various aspects of beauty, such as 'fair' or 'pleasant', which can influence the reader's perception of the beloved's qualities.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I express admiration for the beauty in the people I love?
- What qualities do I find most beautiful in others, and how can I celebrate them?
- In what ways does the imagery of nature, like doves, enhance our understanding of beauty?
- How can I cultivate a sense of beauty in my own life and relationships?
The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves.
Behold, you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are like doves.
How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves.
Oh, how beautiful you are, my beloved! Oh, how beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves!
Tyndale line
Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.
Behold, thou art fair, my love; Behold thou art fair; Thine eyes are as doves.
Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thine eyes are as doves.
Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.
My welbeloued, beholde, thou art faire and pleasant: also our bed is greene:
Strictly literal
Behold, thou art fair, my love; Behold, thou art fair: thine eyes are doves.
Lo, thou [art] fair, my friend, Lo, thou [art] fair, thine eyes [are] doves!
Behold, you [are] beautiful, my friend, || Behold, you [are] beautiful, your eyes [are] doves!
Lo, thou art beautiful, my beloved: lo, thou art beautiful: thy eyes are those of a dove.—
Listen, you are beautiful, my love; listen, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves. The woman speaking to the man
From the Latin
Behold thou art fair, my beloved, and comely. Our bed is flourishing.
Simplified
Look at how very beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful! Your eyes are as gentle as doves.
See, you are fair, my love, you are fair; you have the eyes of a dove.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in their wording for Song of Solomon 1:15, with all seven words matched. This indicates a strong consistency in the transmission of this verse across different textual traditions.
הִנָּ֤ךְ יָפָה֙ רַעְיָתִ֔י הִנָּ֥ךְ יָפָ֖ה עֵינַ֥יִךְ יוֹנִֽים׃
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Song of Solomon 1:15
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
הֵן (hen) is a demonstrative adverb or interjection meaning 'lo!' or 'behold!'. It is primarily used to draw attention to a fact that prompts action or leads to a conclusion. The word can also express surprise and is less common than its counterpart הִנֵּה (hinneh). Additionally, it can function hypothetically as 'if'.
הֵן 100 demonstr.adv. or interj. lo!, behold (on etym. v. הִנֵּה), less widely used than הִנֵּה, and in prose mostly confined to calling attention to some fact upon which action is to be taken, or a conclusion based
base
H2005 הֵן demonstr. adv. or interj. lo!, behold (on etym. v. הִנֵּה), less widely used than הִנֵּה, and in prose mostly confined to calling attention to some fact upon which action is to be taken, or a conclusion based
2005 hen hane
a primitive particle; lo!; also (as expressing surprise)
if:--behold, if, lo, though.
הֵן (hen) — look!.
interj
1) behold, lo, though hypothetical part
2) if
Aramaic equivalent: hen (הֵן "look!" H2006A)
Part | Suff — Particle · suffixHTj/Sp2fs
The Hebrew word יָפֶה (yapheh) means 'fair' or 'beautiful,' and can describe something that is aesthetically pleasing or attractive. It is derived from the root word יָפָה (yafah). The entries consistently emphasize its use in both literal and figurative contexts.
יָפֶה adj. fair, beautiful
base
H3303 יָפֶה fair, beautiful
3303 yapheh yaw-feh'
from 3302; beautiful (literally or figuratively):--+
beautiful, beauty, comely, fair(-est, one), + goodly,
pleasant, well.
see HEBREW for 03302
יָפֶה (ya.pheh) — beautiful.
fair, beautiful, handsome
Adj — AdjHAafsa
רַעְיָה (ra'yah) is a feminine noun derived from רָעָה (ra'ah). It encompasses meanings such as companion, fellow, and darling, often referring to a female associate or attendant maidens. The entries highlight its relational aspect, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[רַעְיָה] n.f. companion
base
H7474 רַעְיָה
7474 ra`yah rah-yaw'
feminine of 7453; a female associate:--fellow, love.
see HEBREW for 07453
רַעְיָה (ra.yah) — darling.
attendant maidens, companion
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bs
הֵן (hen) is a demonstrative adverb or interjection meaning 'lo!' or 'behold!'. It is primarily used to draw attention to a fact that prompts action or leads to a conclusion. The word can also express surprise and is less common than its counterpart הִנֵּה (hinneh). Additionally, it can function hypothetically as 'if'.
הֵן 100 demonstr.adv. or interj. lo!, behold (on etym. v. הִנֵּה), less widely used than הִנֵּה, and in prose mostly confined to calling attention to some fact upon which action is to be taken, or a conclusion based
base
H2005 הֵן demonstr. adv. or interj. lo!, behold (on etym. v. הִנֵּה), less widely used than הִנֵּה, and in prose mostly confined to calling attention to some fact upon which action is to be taken, or a conclusion based
2005 hen hane
a primitive particle; lo!; also (as expressing surprise)
if:--behold, if, lo, though.
הֵן (hen) — look!.
interj
1) behold, lo, though hypothetical part
2) if
Aramaic equivalent: hen (הֵן "look!" H2006A)
Part | Suff — Particle · suffixHTj/Sp2fs
The Hebrew word יָפֶה (yapheh) means 'fair' or 'beautiful,' and can describe something that is aesthetically pleasing or attractive. It is derived from the root word יָפָה (yafah). The entries consistently emphasize its use in both literal and figurative contexts.
יָפֶה adj. fair, beautiful
base
H3303 יָפֶה fair, beautiful
3303 yapheh yaw-feh'
from 3302; beautiful (literally or figuratively):--+
beautiful, beauty, comely, fair(-est, one), + goodly,
pleasant, well.
see HEBREW for 03302
יָפֶה (ya.pheh) — beautiful.
fair, beautiful, handsome
Adj — AdjHAafsa
The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye
lit. as physical organ
eyes as showing mental qualities
desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes
Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states
Transferred mngs.:
visible surface of earth
appearance
gleam, sparkle
Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead
base
עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:
ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1
ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19
ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.
ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)
base
H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ
. . eyes as showing mental qualities
. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes
. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states
. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth
. appearance
. gleam, sparkle
. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead
H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)
5869 `ayin ah'-yin
probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or
figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the
landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +
think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +
displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,
fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,
knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,
presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +
think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.
: eye
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).
§ spring, fountain
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.
§ spring, fountain
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.
: seeing
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.
: appearance
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).
: before(the_eyes)
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.
: sin
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
N-cd | Suff — Noun common feminine dual construct · suffixHNcfdc/Sp2fs
יוֹנָה (yownah) means 'dove' or 'pigeon.' It is likely derived from a root related to warmth, possibly reflecting the bird's mating behavior. The entries consistently refer to this word without significant disagreement.
יוֹנָה n.f. dove
base
H3123 יוֹנָה dove
3123 yownah yo-naw'
probably from the same as 3196; a dove (apparently from the
warmth of their mating):--dove, pigeon.
see HEBREW for 03196
יוֹנָה (yo.nah) — dove.
dove, pigeon
N-fp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
Were clean according to the Mosaic ritual, and were offered in sacrifice, especially by the poor, Ge 15:9 Le 5:7 12:6-8 Lu 2:24. Several kinds of doves or pigeons frequented the Holy Land; and the immense flocks of them sometimes witnessed illustrate a passage in Isa 60:8. They are symbols of simplicity, innocence, and fidelity, Ho 7:11 Mt 10:16. The dove was the chosen harbinger of God’s returning favor after the flood, Ge 8:1-22, and was honored as an emblem of the Holy Spirit,