Song of Solomon 5:9

New King James Version

What is your beloved More than another beloved, O fairest among women? What is your beloved More than another beloved, That you so charge us?

Parallel Translations

New Living Translation

Young Women of Jerusalem

Why is your lover better than all others, O woman of rare beauty? What makes your lover so special that we must promise this?

Update Bible Version
What is your beloved more than [another] beloved, O you fairest among women? What is your beloved more than [another] beloved, That you so adjure us?

New Century Version
How is your lover better than other lovers, most beautiful of women? How is your lover better than other lovers? Why do you want us to promise this?

New English Translation

The Maidens to The Beloved:

Why is your beloved better than others, O most beautiful of women? Why is your beloved better than others, that you would command us in this manner?

Webster's Bible Translation
What [is] thy beloved more than [another] beloved, O thou fairest among women? what [is] thy beloved more than [another] beloved, that thou dost so charge us?

World English Bible
How is your beloved better than another beloved, You fairest among women? How is your beloved better than another beloved, That you do so adjure us? Beloved

Amplified Bible
"What is your beloved more than another beloved, O most beautiful among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved, That you should so command us to take an oath?"

English Standard Version

Others

What is your beloved more than another beloved, O most beautiful among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you thus adjure us?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
A! thou faireste of wymmen, of what manner condicioun is thi derlyng `of the louede? of what manner condicioun is thi derling of a derling? for thou hast bisouyt vs bi an hooli thing.

English Revised Version
What is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, that thou dost so adjure us?

Berean Standard Bible
How is your beloved better than others, O most beautiful among women? How is your beloved better than another, that you charge us so?

Contemporary English Version
Their Friends Speak: Most beautiful of women, why is the one you love more special than others? Why do you ask us to tell him how you feel?

American Standard Version
What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? What is thy beloved more than another beloved, That thou dost so adjure us?

Bible in Basic English
What is your loved one more than another, O fairest among women? What is your loved one more than another, that you say this to us?

Complete Jewish Bible

[Chorus]

How does the man you love differ from any other, you most beautiful of women? How does the man you love differ from any other, that you should give us this charge?

Darby Translation
What is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, Thou fairest among women? What is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, That thou dost so charge us?

Easy-to-Read Version
Beautiful woman, how is your lover different from other lovers? Is your lover better than other lovers? Is that why you ask us to make this promise?

JPS Old Testament (1917)
'What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? What is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so adjure us?'

King James Version (1611)
What is thy beloued more then another beloued, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloued more then another beloued, that thou doest so charge vs?

New Life Bible
"What is your loved one more than another loved one, O most beautiful among women? What is your loved one more than another loved one, that you tell us to do this?"

New Revised Standard
What is your beloved more than another beloved, O fairest among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you thus adjure us?

Geneva Bible (1587)
O the fairest among women, what is thy welbeloued more then other welbeloued? what is thy welbeloued more then another louer, that thou doest so charge vs?

George Lamsa Translation
What is your beloved more than another beloved, O you beautiful among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you so adjure us?

Good News Translation

The Women

Most beautiful of women, is your lover different from everyone else? What is there so wonderful about him that we should give you our promise?

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEMWhat is thy beloved more than any other beloved, thou most beautiful among women? What is thy beloved more than any other beloved, that, thus, thou hast adjured us?

Douay-Rheims Bible
What manner of one is thy beloved of the beloved, O thou most beautiful among women? what manner of one is thy beloved of the beloved, that thou hast so adjured us?

Revised Standard Version
What is your beloved more than another beloved, O fairest among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you thus adjure us?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
What maner of man is thy loue aboue other louers, O thou fairest among women? Or what can thy loue do more then other louers, that thou chargest vs so straytly?

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
What is thy kinsman more than another kinsman, O thou beautiful among women? what is thy kinsman more than another kinsman, that thou hast so charged us?

Christian Standard Bible®
What makes the one you love better than another,most beautiful of women?What makes him better than another,that you would give us this charge?

Hebrew Names Version
How is your beloved better than another beloved, You fairest among women? How is your beloved better than another beloved, That you do so adjure us? Beloved

King James Version
What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?

Lexham English Bible
How is your beloved better than another lover, O most beautiful among women? How is your beloved better than another lover, that you adjure us thus?

Literal Translation
What is your Beloved more than another beloved, most beautiful among women? What is your Beloved more than another beloved, that you adjure us so?

Young's Literal Translation
What [is] thy beloved above [any] beloved, O fair among women? What [is] thy beloved above [any] beloved, That thus thou hast adjured us?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Who is thy loue aboue other louers, O thou fayrest amonge wemen? Or, what can thy loue do, more then other louers, that thou chargest vs so straitly?

THE MESSAGE

The Chorus

What's so great about your lover, fair lady? What's so special about him that you beg for our help?

New American Standard Bible
"What kind of beloved is your beloved, O most beautiful among women? What kind of beloved is your beloved, That you make us swear in this way?"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"What kind of beloved is your beloved, O most beautiful among women? What kind of beloved is your beloved, That thus you adjure us?"

Legacy Standard Bible
"What is your beloved that he is more than any other beloved,O most beautiful among women?What is your beloved that he is more than any other beloved,That thus you call us to solemnly swear?"

Contextual Overview

⁹ What is your beloved More than another beloved, O fairest among women? What is your beloved More than another beloved, That you so charge us? ¹⁰ My beloved is white and ruddy, Chief among ten thousand. ¹¹ His head is like the finest gold; His locks are wavy, And black as a raven. ¹² His eyes are like doves By the rivers of waters, Washed with milk, And fitly set. ¹³ His cheeks are like a bed of spices, Banks of scented herbs. His lips are lilies, Dripping liquid myrrh. ¹⁴ His hands are rods of gold Set with beryl. His body is carved ivory Inlaid with sapphires. ¹⁵ His legs are pillars of marble Set on bases of fine gold. His countenance is like Lebanon, Excellent as the cedars. ¹⁶ His mouth is most sweet, Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, And this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

What is: Isaiah 53:2, Matthew 16:13-17, Matthew 21:10, John 1:14, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

O thou: Song of Solomon 1:8, Song of Solomon 6:1, Song of Solomon 6:9, Song of Solomon 6:10, Psalms 45:13, Psalms 87:3

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 9:6 - exceedest Psalms 45:14 - virgins Psalms 148:13 - for his name Song of Solomon 2:3 - my beloved Song of Solomon 8:13 - the companions John 9:36 - Who 1 Peter 1:8 - ye love 1 Peter 2:7 - you

Cross-References

1 Chronicles 1:2
Cainan, [fn] Mahalalel, Jared,

Luke 3:37
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

What is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, O thou fairest among women?.... The same title Christ gives her, Song of Solomon 1:8; and from whom these daughters seem to have taken it; and, in giving it to her, might be assured they were right, since he, who knew her perfectly well, so calls her; in what sense she was so fair,

Song of Solomon 1:8- :: and this they used, to show their esteem of her, and that they were willing to do all the service they could for her; and what made them so attentive to her charge, and so desirous of knowing her beloved; since they concluded he must be some extraordinary person that one so fair and beautiful as she was should make the object of her love and choice: for this question they put, not in a scornful and disdainful way; nor to shift off any trouble from themselves, through the charge she gave them; nor as altogether ignorant of her beloved, for some knowledge they had, though but small; but as desirous of knowing more of him, and of hearing his excellencies set forth, and especially those which distinguished him from the beloveds of all others: with some, the world, its riches and grandeur, are their beloved; with others, the sinful lusts and pleasures of this life; with others, the praises and applause of men; and with others near and dear relations; and, with all, self: but with a true believer in Christ, he is preferable to them all; to riches, pleasures, honours; to all creatures, and creature enjoyments; and self, in every sense of it, is parted with for him; he is fairer, wiser, and richer, than all others. And this question is repeated by the daughters,

what [is] thy beloved more than [another] beloved? to show their surprise it the charge given them; the suspicion they had of peculiar excellencies in her beloved; and to declare their seriousness and earnestness to know more of Christ; and their importunity to have a speedy answer; and the rather for what follows:

that thou dost so charge us? so awfully and solemnly, so seriously and strictly, with so much warmth and vehemence.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Section 5:9–6:3: The bride’s commendation of the beloved. In the allegorical interpretations of Jewish expositors all is here spoken by exiled Israel of the Holy One whose praise she sings “by the waters of Babylon” Psalms 137:1. Christian interpreters apply the description directly to the Incarnate Son, partly in His Eternal Godhead, but chiefly in His risen and glorified Humanity.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 9. What is thy beloved more than another beloved — This question gives the bride an opportunity to break out into a highly wrought description of the beauty and perfections of her spouse.