Song of Solomon 7:6 — Word Study
WLCמַה־ יָּפִית֙ וּמַה־ נָּעַ֔מְתְּ אַהֲבָ֖ה בַּתַּֽעֲנוּגִֽים׃
BSAheadrôʼsh uponʻal CarmelKarmel hairdallâh headrôʼsh purpleʼargâmân King'smelek to bindʼâçar troughrahaṭ
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מַה־ | how! | Pronoun |
| יָּפִית֙ | you are beautiful | Verb, Qal, perfect second person feminine singular |
| וּמַה־ | and how! | Conjunction, pronoun |
| נָּעַ֔מְתְּ | you are lovely | Verb, Qal, perfect second person feminine singular |
| אַהֲבָ֖ה | O love | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| בַּתַּֽעֲנוּגִֽים׃ | with delights | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | How fair and pleasant you are, O love, with your delights! |
| KJV | How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! |
| ASV | How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! |
| YLT | How fair and how pleasant hast thou been, O love, in delights. |
| WEB | How beautiful and how pleasant you are, love, for delights! |
| BBE | How beautiful and how sweet you are, O love, for delight. |
Where they part company is תַּעֲנוּגִֽים — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around the main clause, with two adverbial phrases enhancing the expression of admiration, followed by the predicate and a prepositional phrase.
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 7:6
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 — The Celebration of Lovegenerated
Song of Solomon 7:6 expresses a deep admiration for the beloved's beauty and charm. This verse is part of a larger poetic dialogue that celebrates the physical and emotional aspects of love. The imagery used reflects the richness of the relationship and the joy it brings to the speaker. The surrounding verses continue to explore themes of beauty and desire, enhancing the overall appreciation of love in this context.
The Key Word — יָּפִית֙, ya.Fitgenerated
The verb יָפָה (yaphah) means to be beautiful or to shine brightly. It is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action, and is specifically in the second person feminine singular, addressing the beloved directly. This highlights the personal nature of the admiration being expressed.
This word captures not just physical beauty but also a sense of brightness and allure, suggesting that the beloved's beauty is both radiant and captivating. The context of the Song of Solomon emphasizes the importance of beauty in love and relationships.
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.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb יָפִית֙ (you are beautiful) governs the sentence, with two adverbial phrases preceding it: מַה־ (how!) and וּמַה־ (and how!). This structure emphasizes the speaker's amazement at the beloved's beauty.
The sentence flows smoothly, with the predicate אַהֲבָ֖ה (O love) concluding the thought, reinforcing the affectionate tone of the address.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָפִית֙ with σου (your), which personalizes the beauty being described. This choice aligns with the intimate nature of the Song of Solomon.
The Greek word κάρμηλος for אַהֲבָ֖ה conveys a sense of richness in love, similar to the Hebrew, but it may also imply a broader understanding of love's nature.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Song of Solomon 7:6 expresses admiration for the beloved's beauty and charm. The speaker uses the words יָפִית֙ and נָּעַ֔מְתְּ to highlight how beautiful and lovely the beloved is, addressing them affectionately as אַהֲבָ֖ה.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Calling someone beautiful in this context emphasizes their physical charm and the emotional connection that beauty evokes.
Love is described as delightful because it brings joy, pleasure, and a sense of fulfillment to those who experience it.
This verse reflects the themes of admiration and celebration of beauty in love, which are central to the entire book.
The poetic structure enhances the emotional impact, allowing the speaker's feelings of admiration and affection to resonate more deeply.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What qualities do I admire most in those I love?
- How can I express appreciation for beauty in my relationships?
- In what ways does love bring delight into my life?
- How can I cultivate a deeper understanding of beauty in the world around me?
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 fair and pleasant you are, O love, with your delights!
How beautiful and how pleasant you are, love, for delights!
How fair and pleasant you are, O love, with your delights!
How beautiful you are! How lovely, O love, with your delights!
Tyndale line
How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!
How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!
How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!
How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!
Howe faire art thou, and howe pleasant art thou, O my loue, in pleasures!
Strictly literal
How fair and how pleasant art thou, [my] love, in delights!
How fair and how pleasant hast thou been, O love, in delights.
How beautiful and how pleasant you have been, || O love, in delights.
(7:7) How beautiful and how pleasant art thou, O love, in thy attractions!
How beautiful and how lovely you are, my love, with delights!
From the Latin
How beautiful art thou, and how comely, my dearest, in delights!
Simplified
How beautiful you are, my love—how attractive are your charms!
How beautiful and how sweet you are, O love, for delight.
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 closely, with six words matched in the Hebrew and Greek. The Dead Sea Scrolls provide partial restoration, indicating some variation but maintaining the core message of admiration for beauty.
מַה־ יָּפִית֙ וּמַה־ נָּעַ֔מְתְּ אַהֲבָ֖ה בַּתַּֽעֲנוּגִֽים׃
6 of the 6 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.
[ראש׳ך] [עלי׳ך] [ככרמל] [ודלת] ראש׳ך כארגמן מלך אסור [ברהטים]
2 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
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 7:6
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.
מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.
מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught
interrog. what?
Used adverbially
Indef. pron.
With preps.
base
H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?
. Used adverbially
. Indef. pron.
. With preps.
4100 mah maw
or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a
primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including
how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including
how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even
relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various
adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-
soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),
whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.
מָה (mah) — what?.
interr pron
1) what, how, of what kind
1a) (interrogative)
1a1) what?
1a2) of what kind
1a3) what? (rhetorical)
1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what
1b) (adverb)
1b1) how, how now
1b2) why
1b3) how! (exclamation)
1c) (with prep)
1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?
1c2) because of what?
1c3) the like of what?
1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often?
1c3b) for how long?
1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?
1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?
indef pron
2) anything, aught, what may
HPi — PronounHPi
Represents various Hebrew and Greek words, interrogative, interjectional and relative. Its different uses refer to
(1) the manner or way, e.g. Ge 44:34, "How shall I go up to my father?" ('ekh); Mt 6:28, "how they grow" (pos); 1Co 15:35, "How are the dead raised?";
(2) degree, extent, frequently, "how great" (Da 4:3, mah; Mr 5:19, hosos, "how much"); "how many" (Mt 27:13, posos); "how much" (Ac 9:13, hosos); "how much more" (Mt 7:11, posos;
יָפָה (yaphah) is a Hebrew verb that means to be bright or beautiful. It encompasses various forms, including Qal (to be beautiful), Piel (to beautify), and Hithpael (to beautify oneself). The entries suggest a focus on beauty and brightness, with applications in both personal appearance and the adornment of objects.
[יָפָה] vb. be fair, beautiful
Qal be beautiful
Pi. beautify an idol
Hithp. beautify thyself
base
H3302 יָפָה
3302 yaphah yaw-faw'
a primitive root; properly, to be bright, i.e. (by
implication) beautiful:--be beautiful, be (make self)
fair(-r), deck.
יָפָה (ya.phah) — be beautiful.
1) to be bright, be beautiful, be handsome, be fair
1a) (Qal) to be beautiful
1b) (Piel) to beautify
1c) (Pual) to be beautiful
1d) (Hithpael) to beautify oneself
HVqp2fs — Verb · Qal · perfect second person feminine singularHVqp2fs
מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.
מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught
interrog. what?
Used adverbially
Indef. pron.
With preps.
base
H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?
. Used adverbially
. Indef. pron.
. With preps.
4100 mah maw
or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a
primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including
how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including
how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even
relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various
adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-
soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),
whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.
מָה (mah) — what?.
interr pron
1) what, how, of what kind
1a) (interrogative)
1a1) what?
1a2) of what kind
1a3) what? (rhetorical)
1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what
1b) (adverb)
1b1) how, how now
1b2) why
1b3) how! (exclamation)
1c) (with prep)
1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?
1c2) because of what?
1c3) the like of what?
1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often?
1c3b) for how long?
1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?
1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?
indef pron
2) anything, aught, what may
HC/Pi — Conjunction · pronounHC/Pi
Represents various Hebrew and Greek words, interrogative, interjectional and relative. Its different uses refer to
(1) the manner or way, e.g. Ge 44:34, "How shall I go up to my father?" ('ekh); Mt 6:28, "how they grow" (pos); 1Co 15:35, "How are the dead raised?";
(2) degree, extent, frequently, "how great" (Da 4:3, mah; Mr 5:19, hosos, "how much"); "how many" (Mt 27:13, posos); "how much" (Ac 9:13, hosos); "how much more" (Mt 7:11, posos;
נָעֵם (na`em) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be pleasant, delightful, or lovely. It is a primitive root that conveys a sense of beauty and sweetness. The word appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, including descriptions of land, physical beauty, and pleasant words. Notably, it is used in Genesis 49:15 and Song of Solomon 7:7.
[נָעֵם] vb. be pleasant, delightful, lovely;—Qal Pf. 3 fs. נָעֵ֑מָה Gn 49:15 (poem in J; of land); 2 ms. (of delightful friend) נָעַ֥מְתָּ לִי מְאֹד 2 S 1:26, also (of physical beauty) מִמִּי נָעָ֑מְתָּ Ez 32:19; 2 fs. (id.) וּמַה־נָּעַמְתְּ Ct 7:7 how lovely art thou!; 3 pl., of pleasant words, נָעֵ֑מוּ ψ 141:6; Impf. 3ms יִנְעָ֑ם: Pr 2:10 (of knowledge); 9:17; 24:25 is impers. c. ל, to them ... shall be delight.
ref
H5276 [נָעֵם] be pleasant, delightful, lovely
5276 na`em naw-ame'
a primitive root; to be agreeable (literally or
figuratively):--pass in beauty, be delight, be pleasant, be
sweet.
נָעֵם (na.em) — be pleasant.
(Qal) to be pleasant, be beautiful, be sweet, be delightful, be lovely
HVqp2fs — Verb · Qal · perfect second person feminine singularHVqp2fs
luv'-li ('ahabh, 'ahebh; prosphiles): "Lovely" occurs only 4 times. In 2Sa 1:23 it is the translation of 'ahebh, "to be loved" ("Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant (the King James Version margin "sweet") in their lives"), where it seems to mean "loving" or "lovable." Two other words are so translated in the Old Testament: machmadch, "desire" a "desirable thing" (So 5:16, "He is altogether lovely," that is, "lovable," "to be desired," literally, "all of him lovableness," or "desirableness"); `aghabhim "loves," or "charms" (Eze 33:32, "Thou art unto them as a very lovely song," the King James Version margin "a song of loves," the Revised Version margin "a love-song"; in 33:31 the same word is translated "much love," the…
The Hebrew word אַהֲבָה (*'ahabah*) means 'love' and is a feminine noun derived from the root meaning the same. It encompasses various forms of love, including human affection between individuals, self-love, romantic love, and God's love for His people.
אַהֲבָה n.f. love
base
H160 אַהֲבָה love
160 'ahabah a-hab-aw
feminine of 158 and meaning the same:--love.
see HEBREW for 0158
אַהֲבָה (a.ha.vah) — love.
1) love
1a) human love for human object
1a1) of man toward man
1a2) of man toward himself
1a3) between man and woman
1a4) sexual desire
2) God's love to His people
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
luv ('ahebh, 'ahabhah, noun; phileo, agapao, verb; agape, noun): Love to both God and man is fundamental to true religion, whether as expressed in the Old Testament or the New Testament. Jesus Himself declared that all the law and the prophets hang upon love (Mt 22:40; Mr 12:28-34). Paul, in his matchless ode on love (1Co 13), makes it the greatest of the graces of the Christian life--greater than speaking with tongues, or the gift of prophecy, or the possession of a faith of superior excellence; for without love all these gifts and graces, desirable and useful as they are in themselves, are as nothing, certainly of no permanent value in the sight of God. Not that either Jesus or Paul underestimates the faith from which all the graces proceed, for this grace is recognized as…
Love
This word seems to require explanation only in the case of its use by our Lord in his interview with “Simon, the son of Jonas,” after his resurrection (John 21:16, 17). When our Lord says, “Lovest thou me?” he uses the Greek word agapas; and when Simon answers, he uses the Greek word philo, i.e., “I love.” This is the usage in the first and second questions put by our Lord; but in the third our Lord uses Simon’s word. The distinction between these two Greek words is thus fitly described by Trench:, ”Agapan has more of judgment and deliberate choice; philein has more of attachment and peculiar personal affection. Thus the ‘Lovest thou’ (Gr. agapas) on the lips of the Lord seems to Peter at this moment too cold a word, as though his Lord were keeping him at a distance, or at least not inviting him to draw near, as in the…
GOD IS LOVE; AND HE THAT DWELLETH IN LOVE DWELLETH IN GOD, AND GOD IN HIM, 1Jo 4:16. Love is a chief attribute of Jehovah, the length and breadth and height and depth of which are beyond comprehension, for they are infinite, Eph 3:18,19. Between the three Persons of the Godhead, love is unutterable full, perfect, and blissful; towards holy angels and Christians, God’s love is an infinite fatherly complacency and affection; towards sinners, it is immeasurable compassion. It is shown in all his works and ways, and dictated his holy law, but is most signally displayed in the gospel, Joh 3:16. "Herein is love."
Holy love in man would make the whole heart and soul supremely delight in and obey God, and cordially and practically love all beings according to their character-the good…
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תַּעֲנוּג (ta`anuwg) refers to concepts of luxury, daintiness, and exquisite delight. It is derived from the root meaning to be soft or delicate. The term encompasses ideas of pleasantness and comfort, highlighting a sense of refined enjoyment.
תַּעֲנוּג n.[m.] daintiness, luxury, exquisite delight
base
H8588 תַּעֲנוּג
8588 ta`anuwg tah-an-oog'
or taanug {tah-an-oog'}; and (feminine) taeanugah
{tah-ah-oog-aw'}; from 6026; luxury:--delicate, delight,
pleasant.
see HEBREW for 06026
תַּעֲנוּג (ta.a.nug) — luxury.
1) daintiness, luxury, exquisite delight, pleasantness, delight, comfort
1a) luxury
1b) dainty
1c) delight
HRd/Ncmpa — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHRd/Ncmpa