Song of Solomon 1:5

I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

Song of Solomon 1:5, King James Version

Song of Solomon 1:5 in other translations

BSB	I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
WEB	I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar’s tents, like Solomon’s curtains.
ASV	I am black, but comely, Oh ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon.
YLT	Dark am I, and comely, daughters of Jerusalem, As tents of Kedar, as curtains of Solomon.
DARBY	I am black, but comely, daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon.
BBE	I am dark, but fair of form, O daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
Webster	I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

What does Song of Solomon 1:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

5. black--namely, "as the tents of Kedar," equivalent to blackness (Psa 120:5). She draws the image from the black goatskins with which the Scenite Arabs ("Kedar" was in Arabia-Petræa) cover their tents (contrasted with the splendid state tent in which the King was awaiting His bride according to Eastern custom); typifying the darkness of man's natural state. To feel this, and yet also feel one's self in Jesus Christ "comely as the curtains of Solomon," marks the believer (Ro 7:18, &c.; 8:1); 1Ti 1:15, "I am chief"; so she says not merely, "I was," but "I am"; still black in herself, but comely through His comeliness put upon her (Eze 16:14). curtains--first, the hangings and veil in the temple of Solomon (Eze 16:10); then, also, the "fine linen which is the righteousness of saints" (Re 19:8), the white wedding garment provided by Jesus Christ (Is 61:10; Mt 22:11; 1Co 1:30; Col 1:28; 2:10; Re 7:14). Historically, the dark tents of Kedar represent the Gentile Church (Is 60:3-7, &c.). As the vineyard at the close is transferred from the Jews, who had not kept their own, to the Gentiles, so the Gentiles are introduced at the commencement of the Song; for they were among the earliest enquirers after Jesus Christ (Mt 2:1-12): the wise men from the East (Arabia, or Kedar). daughters of Jerusalem--professors, not the bride, or "the virgins," yet not enemies; invited to gospel blessings (So 3:10, 11); so near to Jesus Christ as not to be unlikely to find Him (So 5:8); desirous to seek Him with her (So 6:1; compare So 6:13; 7:1, 5, 8). In So 7:8, 9, the bride's Beloved becomes their Beloved; not, however, of all of them (So 8:4; compare Lu 23:27, 28).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 5 I am black, but comely - This is literally true of many of the Asiatic women; though black or brown, they are exquisitely beautiful. Many of the Egyptian women are still fine; but their complexion is much inferior to that of the Palestine females. Though black or swarthy in my complexion, yet am I comely - well proportioned in every part. As the tents of Kedar - I am tawny, like the tents of the Arabians, and like the pavilions of Solomon, probably covered by a kind of tanned cloth. The daughters of Jerusalem are said to represent the synagogue; the bride, the Church of Christ. It is easy to find spiritual meanings: every creed will furnish them.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Song of Solomon 1:2-6

The church, or rather the believer, speaks here in the character of the spouse of the King, the Messiah. The kisses of his mouth mean those assurances of pardon with which believers are favoured, filling them with peace and joy in believing, and causing them to abound in hope by the power of the Holy Ghost. Gracious souls take most pleasure in loving Christ, and being loved of him. Christ's love is more valuable and…

Read the full comment on Song of Solomon 1:2-6 →

Song of Solomon 1:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

שְׁחוֹרָ֤הshe.cho.Rah[am] blackH7838

אֲנִי֙'a.NiIH589

וְֽנָאוָ֔הve.na.Vahand lovelyH5000

בְּנ֖וֹתbe.NotO daughters ofH1323

יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimJerusalemH3389

כְּאָהֳלֵ֣יke.'o.ho.Leilike [the] tents ofH168

קֵדָ֔רke.DarKedarH6938

כִּירִיע֖וֹתki.ri.'otlike [the] tent curtains ofH3407

שְׁלֹמֹֽה\׃she.lo.MohSolomonH8010

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Song of Solomon 1:5

Song of Solomon 2:14
O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
Luke 15:22
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Song of Solomon 5:16
His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
Song of Solomon 2:7
I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
Song of Solomon 5:8
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.
Psalms 120:5
Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
Song of Solomon 4:3
Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.
Isaiah 60:7
All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
1 Corinthians 4:10-13
We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
Isaiah 61:10
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Song of Solomon 6:4
Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

black.
Isa 53:2; Mt 10:25; 1Co 4:10-13; 1Jo 3:1
comely.
Ps 90:17; 149:4; Isa 61:10; Eze 16:14; Mt 22:11; Lu 15:22; Ro 13:14
2Co 5:21; Eph 5:26
O ye.
Ps 45:9; Lu 13:34; Ga 4:26
as the tents.
Ps 120:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Song of Solomon 1:4
Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.
Song of Solomon 1:5
I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
Song of Solomon 1:6
Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

Read all of Song of Solomon 1

Song of Solomon 1:5 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Morena soy, oh hijas de Jerusalem, mas codiciable; como las cabañas de Cedar, como las tiendas de Salomón.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Je suis noire, mais je suis agréable, filles de Jérusalem! comme les tentes de Kédar, comme les tentures de Salomon.
German Elberfelder 1871	Ich bin schwarz, aber anmutig, Töchter Jerusalems, wie die Zelte Kedars wie die Zeltbehänge Salomos.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Nolite me considerare quod fusca sim, quia decoloravit me sol. Filii matris meæ pugnaverunt contra me; posuerunt me custodem in vineis: vineam meam non custodivi.