Song of Solomon 1:16 — Word Study
WLCהִנְּךָ֨ יָפֶ֤ה דוֹדִי֙ אַ֣ף נָעִ֔ים אַף־ עַרְשֵׂ֖נוּ רַעֲנָנָֽה׃
BSAHowhên handsome [you are]yâpheh [beautiful, lovely] my beloveddôwd [dearly loved one, uncle] Oh, howʼaph delightfulnâʻîym [pleasant, sweet] The soft grassraʻănân [green, lush] [is] our bedʻeres [couch, place of rest]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הִנְּךָ֨ | here you | Particle, suffix |
| יָפֶ֤ה | [are] beautiful | Adj |
| דוֹדִי֙ | O lover my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| אַ֣ף | also | Particle |
| נָעִ֔ים | pleasant | Adj |
| אַף־ | also | Particle |
| עַרְשֵׂ֖נוּ | bed our | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| רַעֲנָנָֽה׃ | [is] luxuriant | Adj |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how delightful! The soft grass is our bed. |
| KJV | Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green. |
| ASV | Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: Also our couch is green. |
| YLT | Lo, thou [art] fair, my love, yea, pleasant, Yea, our couch [is] green, |
| WEB | Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, yes, pleasant; and our couch is verdant. |
| BBE | See, you are fair, my loved one, and a pleasure; our bed is green. |
Where they part company is נָעִים — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured with a main exclamatory clause followed by an additional exclamation and a descriptive phrase, emphasizing admiration and comfort.
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 1:16
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 — Expressions of Love in the Song of Solomongenerated
Song of Solomon 1:16 captures a moment of romantic admiration, where the speaker praises the beauty of their beloved and the delightful setting they share. This verse is part of a larger poetic dialogue that celebrates love and intimacy, as seen in the surrounding verses that also express deep affection and admiration.
The Key Word — יָפֶה, ya.Pehgenerated
The word יָפֶה (yapheh) is an adjective meaning 'beautiful' and is used to describe something that is aesthetically pleasing or attractive. It conveys a sense of joy and delight, particularly in the context of love and relationships, as seen throughout the Song of Solomon.
This term is derived from the root יָפָה (yafah), emphasizing its use in both literal and figurative contexts. In this verse, it highlights the beauty of the beloved, enhancing the romantic atmosphere.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB has handsome, and so do the KJV and ASV, maintaining the admiration for beauty.
Where others part company with the BSB, they differ on the rendering of נָעִים. The KJV and ASV use pleasant, while the NETB and ULB choose sweet, reflecting nuances in the description of the beloved's qualities.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of multiple clauses, with the main subject being the beloved. The finite verb יָפֶה (are beautiful) governs the description, followed by additional predicates that elaborate on the beloved's qualities and the setting.
The structure emphasizes the beauty of the beloved and the pleasantness of their surroundings, creating a harmonious expression of love.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָפֶה as καλός (kalos), which also means 'beautiful' but carries connotations of moral beauty as well. This choice reflects a broader understanding of beauty that encompasses both physical and character attributes.
The word רַעֲנָנָה is rendered differently in the Septuagint, which may suggest a variation in interpretation regarding the lushness or freshness described in the Hebrew text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Song of Solomon 1:16 expresses the speaker's admiration for their beloved, describing them as beautiful and delightful. The verse also emphasizes the comfort of their surroundings, with the soft grass serving as their bed, creating a romantic and intimate scene.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The term 'beautiful' signifies not only physical attractiveness but also the deep affection and admiration the speaker feels.
The mention of soft grass as a bed enhances the romantic atmosphere, suggesting comfort and intimacy in their relationship.
The word 'delightful' conveys a sense of joy and pleasure, emphasizing the positive feelings the speaker has towards their beloved.
This verse contributes to the overarching theme of love and desire, celebrating the beauty of relationships and the joy found in intimate connections.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I express admiration for the people I love?
- How can I create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for those I care about?
- What qualities do I find beautiful in others, and how do I communicate that?
- How does the setting of a relationship enhance the feelings of love and affection?
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 handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how delightful! The soft grass is our bed.
Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, yes, pleasant; and our couch is verdant.
How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how delightful! The soft grass is our bed.
Oh, how handsome you are, my lover! Oh, how delightful you are! The lush foliage is our canopied bed;
Tyndale line
Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: Also our couch is green.
Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our couch is green.
Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yes, pleasant: also our bed is green.
The beames of our house are cedars, our rafters are of firre.
Strictly literal
Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant; Also our bed is green.
Lo, thou [art] fair, my love, yea, pleasant, Yea, our couch [is] green,
Behold, you [are] beautiful, my love, indeed, pleasant, || Indeed, our bed [is] green,
Lo, thou art beautiful, my friend, also pleasant: also our couch is [made in the] green [wood].
Listen, you are handsome, my beloved, how handsome. The lush plants are our bed.
From the Latin
The beams of our houses are of cedar, our rafters of cypress trees.
Simplified
And you, my love, are so handsome—how charming you are! The green grass is our bed,
See, you are fair, my loved one, and a pleasure; our bed is green.
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 of Song of Solomon 1:16 reads, "הִנְּךָ֨ יָפֶ֤ה דוֹדִי֙ אַ֣ף נָעִ֔ים אַף־ עַרְשֵׂ֖נוּ רַעֲנָנָֽה׃" which translates to, "How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how delightful! The soft grass is our bed." The Septuagint closely matches the Masoretic Text, with 7 of the 8 words aligning, indicating a strong agreement in content, although the exact wording and structure may differ due to translation choices. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional variations for this verse, confirming the consistency of the Masoretic Text across these ancient witnesses.
הִנְּךָ֨ יָפֶ֤ה דוֹדִי֙ אַ֣ף נָעִ֔ים אַף־ עַרְשֵׂ֖נוּ רַעֲנָנָֽה׃
7 of the 8 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 1:16
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/Sp2ms
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 — AdjHAamsa
דּוֹד (dod) means 'beloved' and can refer to love in a general sense, as well as specifically to an uncle. It is derived from a root meaning 'to boil,' figuratively relating to love. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to affection and familial ties.
דּוֹד n.m. beloved, love (pl.), uncle
base
H1730 דּוֹד beloved, love (pl.), uncle
1730 dowd dode
or (shortened) dod {dode}; from an unused root meaning
properly, to boil, i.e. (figuratively) to love; by
implication, a love- token, lover, friend; specifically an
uncle:--(well-)beloved, father's brother, love, uncle.
דּוֹד (dod) — beloved.
: beloved
1) beloved, love, uncle
1a) loved one, beloved
1b) uncle
1c) love (pl. abstract)
דּוֹד (dod) — beloved: love.
: love
1) beloved, love, uncle
1a) loved one, beloved
1b) uncle
1c) love (pl. abstract)
דּוֹד (dod) — beloved: male relative.
: male_relative
1) beloved, love, uncle
1a) loved one, beloved
1b) uncle
1c) love (pl. abstract)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word אַף (aph) is a conjunction that indicates addition, often implying something greater. It can mean 'also,' 'yea,' or 'though,' and is used to connect ideas in a sentence. The entries highlight its use as both an adverb and conjunction, with a focus on its additive nature.
אַף conj. denoting addition, esp. of something greater, also, yea
base
H637 אַף conj. denoting addition, esp. of something greater, also, yea
637 'aph af
a primitive particle; meaning accession (used as an adverb or
conjunction); also or yea; adversatively though:--also, +
although, and (furthermore, yet), but, even, + how much less
(more, rather than), moreover, with, yea.
אַף (aph) — also.
conj (denoting addition, esp of something greater)
1) also, yea, though, so much the more
adv
2) furthermore, indeed
Aramaic equivalent: aph (אַף "also" H0638)
DirObjM — ParticleHTj
ol'-so: In the Greek kai, when it is equivalent to "also" or "even," is always placed before the word or phrase which it is intended to emphasize (e.g. Ac 12:3; 1 Joh 4:21). Mt 6:14 should therefore read, "Your heavenly Father will forgive you also"; Lu 6:13, "Whom also he named apostles"; Heb 8:6, "The mediator of a better covenant also"; and 1Th 4:14, `If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also (we believe that) those who are fallen asleep in Jesus, God will bring with Him.'
נָעִים (na`iym) means pleasant or delightful, covering both objective and subjective senses, as well as being associated with sweetness and beauty. It may also refer to musical qualities, suggesting something that is sweetly sounding or singing. The word is built from a root that implies delightfulness in various contexts.
נָעִים adj. pleasant, delightful (poet.)
base
נָעִים adj. perh. singing, sweetly sounding, musical
base
H5273a נָעִים pleasant, delightful H5273b נָעִים perh. singing, sweetly sounding, musical
5273 na`iym naw-eem'
from 5276; delightful (objective or subjective, literal or
figurative):--pleasant(-ure), sweet.
see HEBREW for 05276
נָעִים (na.im) — pleasant.
1) pleasant, delightful, sweet, lovely, agreeable
1a) delightful
1b) lovely, beautiful (physical)
נָעִים (na.im) — musical.
singing, sweetly sounding, musical
Adj — AdjHAamsa
The Hebrew word אַף (aph) is a conjunction that indicates addition, often implying something greater. It can mean 'also,' 'yea,' or 'though,' and is used to connect ideas in a sentence. The entries highlight its use as both an adverb and conjunction, with a focus on its additive nature.
אַף conj. denoting addition, esp. of something greater, also, yea
base
H637 אַף conj. denoting addition, esp. of something greater, also, yea
637 'aph af
a primitive particle; meaning accession (used as an adverb or
conjunction); also or yea; adversatively though:--also, +
although, and (furthermore, yet), but, even, + how much less
(more, rather than), moreover, with, yea.
אַף (aph) — also.
conj (denoting addition, esp of something greater)
1) also, yea, though, so much the more
adv
2) furthermore, indeed
Aramaic equivalent: aph (אַף "also" H0638)
HTj — ParticleHTj
ol'-so: In the Greek kai, when it is equivalent to "also" or "even," is always placed before the word or phrase which it is intended to emphasize (e.g. Ac 12:3; 1 Joh 4:21). Mt 6:14 should therefore read, "Your heavenly Father will forgive you also"; Lu 6:13, "Whom also he named apostles"; Heb 8:6, "The mediator of a better covenant also"; and 1Th 4:14, `If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also (we believe that) those who are fallen asleep in Jesus, God will bring with Him.'
עֶ֫רֶשׂ (eres) refers to a couch or divan, derived from a root that suggests an arching shape. The term is used to denote a bed or sleeping place, with its primary meaning centered around furniture for resting.
עֶ֫רֶשׂ n.f. couch, divan
base
H6210 עֶ֫רֶשׂ couch, divan
6210 `eres eh'res
from an unused root meaning perhaps to arch; a couch
(properly, with a canopy):--bed(-stead), couch.
עֶ֫רֶשׂ (e.re.s) — bed.
couch, divan, bed
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bp
The Hebrew word רָעַן (*ra`an*) is a verb meaning to be or grow luxuriant, fresh, or green, while רַעֲנָן (*ra`anan*) is an adjective describing something as luxuriant or fresh. It is derived from an unused root meaning to be green and can also imply prosperity. The verb appears in Job 15:32.
[רָעַן] vb. only Pa‛lel be or grow luxuriant, fresh, green;—Jb 15:32
ref
רַעֲנָן adj. luxuriant, fresh
base
H7488a רָעַן only Pa‛lal be or grow luxuriant, fresh, green H7488b רַעֲנָן luxuriant, fresh
7488 ra`anan rah-an-awn'
from an unused root meaning to be green; verdant; by analogy,
new; figuratively, prosperous:--green, flourishing.
רָעַן (ra.an) — be fresh.
v
(Palel) to be or grow luxuriant or fresh or green
רַעֲנָן (ra.a.nan) — luxuriant.
adj
luxuriant, fresh
Aramaic equivalent: ra.a.nan (רַעֲנַן "luxuriant" H7487)
Adj — AdjHAafsa