Song of Solomon 5:11 His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven.

◄ Song of Solomon 5:11 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven.

English Standard Version
His head is the finest gold; his locks are wavy, black as a raven.

New American Standard Bible
"His head is like gold, pure gold; His locks are like clusters of dates And black as a raven.

King James Bible
His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
His head is purest gold. His hair is wavy and black as a raven.

International Standard Version
His head is pure gold, his hair is wavy, black like a raven.

American Standard Version
His head is as the most fine gold; His locks are bushy, and black as a raven.

Douay-Rheims Bible
His head is as the finest gold: his locks as branches of palm trees, black as a raven.

Darby Bible Translation
His head is as the finest gold; His locks are flowing, black as the raven;

Young's Literal Translation
His head is pure gold -- fine gold, His locks flowing, dark as a raven,

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

5:9-16 Even those who have little acquaintance with Christ, cannot but see amiable beauty in others who bear his image. There are hopes of those who begin to inquire concerning Christ and his perfections. Christians, who are well acquainted with Christ themselves, should do all they can to make others know something of him. Divine glory makes him truly lovely in the eyes of all who are enlightened to discern spiritual things. He is white in the spotless innocence of his life, ruddy in the bleeding sufferings he went through at his death. This description of the person of the Beloved, would form, in the figurative language of those times, a portrait of beauty of person and of grace of manners; but the aptness of some of the allusions may not appear to us. He shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all that believe. May his love constrain us to live to his glory.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

11. head … gold—the Godhead of Jesus Christ, as distinguished from His heel, that is, His manhood, which was "bruised" by Satan; both together being one Christ (1Co 11:3). Also His sovereignty, as Nebuchadnezzar, the supreme king was "the head of gold" (Da 2:32-38; Col 1:18), the highest creature, compared with Him, is brass, iron, and clay. "Preciousness" (Greek, 1Pe 2:7).

bushy—curled, token of Headship. In contrast with her flowing locks (So 4:1), the token of her subjection to Him (Ps 8:4-8; 1Co 11:3, 6-15). The Hebrew is (pendulous as) the branches of a palm, which, when in leaf, resemble waving plumes of feathers.

black—implying youth; no "gray hairs" (Ps 102:27; 110:3, 4; Ho 7:9). Jesus Christ was crucified in the prime of vigor and manliness. In heaven, on the other hand, His hair is "white," He being the Ancient of days (Da 7:9). These contrasts often concur in Him (So 5:10), "white and ruddy"; here the "raven" (So 5:12), the "dove," as both with Noah in the ark (Ge 8:11); emblems of judgment and mercy.