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Contemporary English Version

Song of Solomon 4:4

Your neck is more graceful than the tower of David, decorated with thousands of warriors' shields.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armory;   Tower;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Arms, Military;   Shields;   Towers;  

Dictionaries:

- Easton Bible Dictionary - Towers;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Arms;   Hadarezer;   Nail;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Sex, Biblical Teaching on;   Song of Solomon;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Armour, Arms;   Song of Songs;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Armour;   Armoury;   David, Tower of;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Tower;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Build;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Armory;   Hanging;   Neck;   Song of Songs;   Tower of David;   Wisdom of Solomon, the;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Armory;   Constellations;   Titles of Hebrew Books;   Tower;  

Parallel Translations

English Standard Version
Your neck is like the tower of David, built in rows of stone; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Thy necke is as the tower of Dauid builte for defence: a thousand shieldes hang therein, and all the targates of the strong men.
Christian Standard Bible®
Your neck is like the tower of David,constructed in layers.A thousand shields are hung on it—all of them shields of warriors.
Hebrew Names Version
Your neck is like David's tower built for an armory, Whereon there hang a thousand shields, All the shields of the mighty men.
Darby Translation
Thy neck is like the tower of David, Built for an armoury: A thousand bucklers hang thereon, All shields of mighty men.
Easy-to-Read Version
Your neck is long and thin like David's tower. That tower was built to be decorated with a thousand shields on its walls, with the shields of powerful soldiers.
Amplified Bible
"Your neck is like the tower of David, Built with rows of [glistening] stones, Whereon hang a thousand shields, All of them shields of warriors.
American Standard Version
Thy neck is like the tower of David Builded for an armory, Whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, All the shields of the mighty men.
Complete Jewish Bible
Your neck is like the tower of David, built magnificently, on which hang a thousand bucklers, each one a brave warrior's shield.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Thy neck is like the tower of David builded with turrets, whereon there hang a thousand shields, all the armour of the mighty men.
King James Version (1611)
Thy necke is like the tower of Dauid builded for an armorie, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mightie men.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Thy neck is as the tower of David, that was built for an armoury: a thousand shields hang upon it, and all darts of mighty men.
English Revised Version
Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all the shields of the mighty men.
Berean Standard Bible
Your neck is like the tower of David, built with rows of stones; on it hang a thousand shields, all round shields of the warriors.
Lexham English Bible
Your neck is like the tower of David, built in courses; a thousand ornaments are hung on it, all the shields of the warriors.
Literal Translation
Your neck is like the tower of David, built for an armory; a thousand bucklers hang on it, all the shields of the mighty men.
New Century Version
Your neck is like David's tower, built with rows of stones. A thousand shields hang on its walls; each shield belongs to a strong soldier.
New English Translation
Your neck is like the tower of David built with courses of stones; one thousand shields are hung on it— all shields of valiant warriors.
New King James Version
Your neck is like the tower of David, Built for an armory, On which hang a thousand bucklers, All shields of mighty men.
New Living Translation
Your neck is as beautiful as the tower of David, jeweled with the shields of a thousand heroes.
New Life Bible
Your neck is like the tower of David, built with beauty. On it hang a thousand battle-coverings, the coverings of men of war.
New Revised Standard
Your neck is like the tower of David, built in courses; on it hang a thousand bucklers, all of them shields of warriors.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Like the tower of David, is thy neck, built for war, - A thousand shields, hung thereon, all, equipment of heroes:
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thy neck, is as the tower of David, which is built with bulwarks: a thousand bucklers hang upon it, all the armour of valiant men.
George Lamsa Translation
Your neck beneath your veil is like the tower of David, built for an armory, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all quivers of valiant men.
Good News Translation
Your neck is like the tower of David, round and smooth, with a necklace like a thousand shields hung around it.
New American Standard Bible
"Your neck is like the tower of David, Built with layers of stones On which are hung a thousand shields, All the round shields of the warriors.
King James Version
Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Thy necke is like the towre of Dauid buylded with costly stones, lying out on the sides wherevpon there hange a thousande shieldes: yea all the weapons of the giauntes.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Thi necke is as the tour of Dauid, which is bildid with strengthis maad bifore for defense; a thousynde scheldis hangen on it, al armure of stronge men.
Young's Literal Translation
As the tower of David [is] thy neck, built for an armoury, The chief of the shields are hung on it, All shields of the mighty.
World English Bible
Your neck is like David's tower built for an armory, Whereon there hang a thousand shields, All the shields of the mighty men.
Revised Standard Version
Your neck is like the tower of David, built for an arsenal, whereon hang a thousand bucklers, all of them shields of warriors.
Update Bible Version
Your neck is like the tower of David built for an armory, Whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, All the shields of the mighty men.
Webster's Bible Translation
Thy neck [is] like the tower of David built for an armory, on which hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.
Bible in Basic English
Your neck is like the tower of David made for a store-house of arms, in which a thousand breastplates are hanging, breastplates for fighting-men.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thy neck is like the tower of Dauid buylded with bulworkes, wher vpon there hage a thousande sheldes, yee all the weapes of the giautes.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Your neck is like the tower of David, Built with rows of stones On which are hung a thousand shields, All the round shields of the mighty men.
Legacy Standard Bible
Your neck is like the tower of David,Built with rows of stonesOn which are hung one thousand shields,All the small shields of the mighty men.

Contextual Overview

1 He Speaks: My darling, you are lovely, so very lovely— as you look through your veil, your eyes are those of a dove. Your hair tosses about as gracefully as goats coming down from Gilead. 2 Your teeth are whiter than sheep freshly washed; they match perfectly, not one is missing. 3 Your lips are crimson cords, your mouth is shapely; behind your veil are hidden beautiful rosy cheeks. 4 Your neck is more graceful than the tower of David, decorated with thousands of warriors' shields. 5 Your breasts are perfect; they are twin deer feeding among lilies. 6 I will hasten to those hills sprinkled with sweet perfume and stay there till sunrise. 7 My darling, you are lovely in every way.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

neck: Song of Solomon 1:10, Song of Solomon 7:4, 2 Samuel 22:51, Ephesians 4:15, Ephesians 4:16, Colossians 2:19, 1 Peter 1:5

an armoury: Nehemiah 3:19

a thousand: 2 Chronicles 9:15, 2 Chronicles 9:16, 2 Chronicles 12:9-11

Reciprocal: Isaiah 22:8 - the armour Ezekiel 27:10 - they hanged

Cross-References

Genesis 4:16
But Cain had to go far from the Lord and live in the Land of Wandering, which is east of Eden.
Genesis 4:17
Later, Cain and his wife had a son named Enoch. At the time Cain was building a town, and so he named it Enoch after his son.
Genesis 4:19
Lamech married Adah, then Zillah.
Genesis 4:20
Lamech and Adah had two sons, Jabal and Jubal. Their son Jabal was the first to live in tents and raise sheep and goats. Jubal was the first to play harps and flutes.
Genesis 15:17
Sometime after sunset, when it was very dark, a smoking cooking pot and a flaming fire went between the two halves of each animal.
Exodus 13:12
From then on, you must give him every first-born son from your families and every first-born male from your animals, because these belong to him.
Leviticus 9:24
The Lord sent fiery flames that burned up everything on the altar, and when everyone saw this, they shouted and fell to their knees to worship the Lord .
Numbers 16:35
Suddenly the Lord sent a fire that burned up the two hundred fifty men who had offered incense to him.
Numbers 18:12
For example, when the Israelites bring me the first batches of oil, wine, and grain, you can have the best parts of those gifts.
Numbers 18:17
However, all first-born cattle, sheep, and goats belong to me and cannot be bought back. Splatter their blood on the altar and send their fat up in smoke, so I can smell it and be pleased.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Thy neck [is] like the tower of David, builded for an armoury,.... This was either the strong hold of Zion; or some tower erected by David for an armoury, wherein his worthies or mighty men bring up their shields; Mr. Sandys k says, it stood aloft in the utmost angle of a mountain, whose ruins are yet extant: though the neck is compared to this, not for its height, seeing a high and outstretched neck is a token of pride and haughtiness with the Jews, Isaiah 3:16; see

Psalms 74:5; and so the phrase is used in Latin writers l; but for its being ornamented with spoils hung up in it, as golden shields after mentioned, as the neck is with pearls, jewels, and chains of gold, Song of Solomon 1:10; The word for "armoury" is from "alaph" , "to teach"; not as being a pattern to teach artificers, as Jarchi; nor to show passengers their way, as R. Jonah and others, who think this tower was built as a "pharus", for such a purpose m; but it was as an arsenal, in which young learners of the art of war laid up their weapons, as well as what were taken from an enemy; or what were made and laid up here, as a store in time of need. By the church's neck may be meant either the ministers of the word, set in the highest part of the body, the church, next to Christ the Head, and in subjection to him; to whom they hold, and whose name, cause, and interest, they bear up and support in the world; and are the means of conveying spiritual food from him to the souls of men; and are adorned with the gifts and graces of the Spirit: and may be compared to the "tower of David", for their integrity and uprightness, and for their strength and immovableness, standing firm and unmoved against the batteries of Satan and the world, and for the defence of the Gospel; and to that "built for an armoury", they being furnished with the whole armour of God. An ancient writer n supposes the Apostle Paul is particularly meant; that eminent exalter of Christ the Head, and who was set for the defence of the Gospel: or it may be rather the Scriptures themselves are meant; which point out and hold forth Christ the Head, and make him manifest to the sons of men; and are a means of conveying spiritual breath; when attended with a divine power, then are they spirit and life; and of conveying food to the souls of men, very nourishing and satisfying; and are bespangled with glorious truths and precious promises; where every truth is a golden link, and every promise a pearl, to a believer: and they may be compared to the "tower of David" for their sublimity, being out of the reach and above the capacity of a natural man; and for their firmness and immovableness, which Satan and all his emissaries will never be able to remove out of the world; and like to that as "built for an armoury",

whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men: no other armour is mentioned, as in this armoury, but shields; they being a principal part of armour, and are especially o so called, as in the Septuagint version of 1 Kings 14:26; these shields are armour of mighty men; mighty, through God and his grace, to perform mighty actions, and do great exploits; being furnished from the spiritual armoury with the whole armour of God, to repel Satan's temptations, to defend the Gospel, and refute error; particularly the ministers of the word are those mighty men; though it is applicable to all saints.

k Travels, p. 139. Vid. Adrichom. Theatrum Terrae Sanctae, p. 168. l Vid. Barthii Animadv. ad Claudian. in Rufin. l. 1. v. 53. & l. 2. v. 294. m Vid. Castell. Lexic. col. 3904. so Pagninus and Tigurine version. n Psellus in ioc. o Vid. Cuperi Observ. l. 1. c. 7. p. 42. & Gutberleth. de Saliis, c. 12. p. 69.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The “tower of David” may be that mentioned in Nehemiah 3:25-27; Micah 4:8. For the custom of hanging shields and other weapons in and upon buildings suited for the purpose, see Ezekiel 27:10-11.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Song of Solomon 4:4. Thy neck is like the tower of David — It is certain that bucklers were frequently hung about towers, both for their ornaments, and to have them at hand when their use was required; see Ezekiel 27:10. But the allusion here may be to those pillars which are often seen in armouries on which weapons of various kinds are hung, formed into a great variety of shapes and very splendid. Whoever has seen the armoury in the tower of London, or such like places, has most probably seen something very similar to that of which the poet speaks.


 
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