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the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
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World English Bible

Song of Solomon 5:14

His hands are like rings of gold set with beryl. His body is like ivory work overlaid with sapphires.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Beryl;   Gold;   Ivory;   Thompson Chain Reference - Beryl;   Precious Stones;   Stones, Precious;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Gold;   Love to Christ;   Preciousness of Christ;   Rings;  

Dictionaries:

- Easton Bible Dictionary - Beryl;   Bracelet;   Stones, Precious;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Beryl;   Canticles;   ;   Ring;   Sapphire;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Beryl;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Cylinder;   Jewels and Precious Stones;   Ring;   Tarshish;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Beryl;   Ivory;   Sapphire,;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Gold;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Bracelet;   Sol'omon;   Stones, Precious;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Ivory;   Ring;   Sapphire;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Body;   Ivory;   Ring;   Set;   Song of Songs;   Stones, Precious:;   Tablet;   Tarshish;   Writing;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Breastplate of the High Priest;   Elephant;   Gems;   Hananiah (ḥanina);   Sapphire;   Tables of the Law;   Talmud;  

Parallel Translations

Legacy Standard Bible
His hands are rods of goldSet with beryl;His abdomen is a plate of ivoryInlaid with sapphires.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"His hands are rods of gold Set with beryl; His abdomen is carved ivory Inlaid with sapphires.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
His handes are lyke golde rynges, hauyng inclosed the precious stone of Tharsis. His body is as the pure iuorie, dect ouer with Saphires:
Darby Translation
His hands gold rings, set with the chrysolite; His belly is bright ivory, overlaid [with] sapphires;
New King James Version
His hands are rods of gold Set with beryl. His body is carved ivory Inlaid with sapphires.
Literal Translation
His hands are like rings of gold filled with jewels; His body an ivory plate overlaid with sapphires.
Easy-to-Read Version
His arms are like gold rods, filled with jewels. His body is like smooth ivory with sapphires set in it.
King James Version (1611)
His hands are as gold rings set with the Berill: His belly is as bright iuorie, ouerlayd with Saphires.
King James Version
His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
his hades are full of golde rynges and precious stones. His body is as the pure yuery, decte ouer with Saphyres:
Amplified Bible
"His hands are rods of gold Set with beryl; His abdomen is a figure of carved ivory Inlaid with sapphires.
American Standard Version
His hands are as rings of gold set with beryl: His body is as ivory work overlaid with sapphires.
Bible in Basic English
His hands are as rings of gold ornamented with beryl-stones; his body is as a smooth plate of ivory covered with sapphires.
Update Bible Version
His hands are rings of gold set with beryl: His insides are ivory work overlaid [with] sapphires.
Webster's Bible Translation
His hands [are as] gold rings set with the beryl: his belly [is as] bright ivory overlaid [with] sapphires.
New English Translation
His arms are like rods of gold set with chrysolite. His abdomen is like polished ivory inlaid with sapphires.
Contemporary English Version
His arms are branches of gold covered with jewels; his body is ivory decorated with sapphires.
Complete Jewish Bible
His arms are rods of gold set with beryl, his body polished ivory adorned with sapphires.
Geneva Bible (1587)
His hands as rings of gold set with the chrysolite, his belly like white yuorie couered wt saphirs.
George Lamsa Translation
His hands are like golden girdles studded with precious stones; his belly is like a work of ivory overlaid with sapphires.
Hebrew Names Version
His hands are like rings of gold set with bareket. His body is like ivory work overlaid with sapphires.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
His hands are as rods of gold set with beryl; his body is as polished ivory overlaid with sapphires.
New Living Translation
His arms are like rounded bars of gold, set with beryl. His body is like bright ivory, glowing with lapis lazuli.
New Life Bible
His hands are strong pieces of gold set with stones of much worth. His body is made of ivory set with stones of much worth.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
His hands are as turned gold set with beryl: his belly is an ivory tablet on a sapphire stone.
English Revised Version
His hands are [as] rings of gold set with beryl: his body is [as] ivory work overlaid [with] sapphires.
Berean Standard Bible
His arms are rods of gold set with chrysolite. His body is an ivory panel bedecked with sapphires.
New Revised Standard
His arms are rounded gold, set with jewels. His body is ivory work, encrusted with sapphires.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
His hands, cylinders of gold, set with topaz, - His body, wrought work of ivory, covered with sapphires:
Douay-Rheims Bible
His hands are turned and as of gold, full of hyacinths. His belly as of ivory, set with sapphires.
Lexham English Bible
His arms are rods of gold engraved with jewels; his belly is polished ivory covered with sapphires.
English Standard Version
His arms are rods of gold, set with jewels. His body is polished ivory, bedecked with sapphires.
New American Standard Bible
"His hands are rods of gold Set with topaz; His abdomen is panels of ivory Covered with sapphires.
New Century Version
His hands are like gold hinges, filled with jewels. His body is like shiny ivory covered with sapphires.
Good News Translation
His hands are well-formed, and he wears rings set with gems. His body is like smooth ivory, with sapphires set in it.
Christian Standard Bible®
His arms are rods of gold set with topaz. His body is an ivory panel covered with sapphires.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Hise hondis ben able to turne aboute, goldun, and ful of iacynctis; his wombe is of yuer, ourned with safiris.
Revised Standard Version
His arms are rounded gold, set with jewels. His body is ivory work, encrusted with sapphires.
Young's Literal Translation
His hands rings of gold, set with beryl, His heart bright ivory, covered with sapphires,

Contextual Overview

9 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 10 My beloved is white and ruddy. The best among ten thousand. 11 His head is like the purest gold. His hair is bushy, black as a raven. 12 His eyes are like doves beside the water brooks, Washed with milk, mounted like jewels. 13 His cheeks are like a bed of spices with towers of perfumes. His lips are like lilies, dropping liquid myrrh. 14 His hands are like rings of gold set with beryl. His body is like ivory work overlaid with sapphires. 15 His legs are like pillars of marble set on sockets of fine gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. 16 His mouth is sweetness; Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, Daughters of Jerusalem. Friends

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

hands: Exodus 15:6, Psalms 44:4-7, Psalms 99:4, Isaiah 9:7, Isaiah 52:13

his belly: Song of Solomon 7:2, Exodus 24:10, Isaiah 54:11, Ezekiel 1:26-28

Reciprocal: Exodus 28:18 - sapphire Job 28:6 - sapphires Song of Solomon 7:4 - ivory Isaiah 3:21 - rings

Gill's Notes on the Bible

His hands [are as] gold rings, set with the beryl,.... Beryl is with great propriety mentioned, because it was usual to wear it on the fingers z. This was one of the precious stones in the breastplate of the high priest, a type of Christ, Exodus 28:20; one of the pearl foundations of the New Jerusalem, Revelation 21:20; the appearance of the wheels in Ezekiel's vision was like it, Ezekiel 1:16; the body of the glorious person, seen by Daniel, is said to be as that, Daniel 10:6; so that it is no wonder the hands of Christ should be compared to gold rings set with it. The word "tarshish", here rendered by "beryl", is sometimes used for the "sea"; and naturalists a tell us, that the best beryl is that which most resembles the colour of the sea; so all the three Targums, on Exodus 28:20; call it כרום ימא, from its sea colour; and some versions have it here, "the sea coloured beryl" b. Some think the chrysolite is meant, so called from Tarshish, a city in the Indian sea, from whence it was brought, 1 Kings 10:22; which is a precious stone, of a golden colour. Others take it to be the "hyacinth", or "jacinth", which is of a violet or purple colour. Cocceius is of opinion that the "sardonyx" in intended, a composition of the "sardius" and "onyx" stones; and is of a white and ruddy colour, and much resembles the nail of a man's hand; which it was usual to set in rings wore on the hand; and a hand adorned with a ring set with a sardonyx, Martial calls "sardonychata manus" c. Now Christ's hands, which are the instruments of action, may be compared to "gold rings", set with one or other of these stones; because of the variety of his works in nature, providence, and grace; and because of the preciousness and value of them; and because of their perfection and completeness; the circular form being reckoned the most perfect: and never do the hands of Christ appear as thus described, and look more beautiful and lovely, than when he is beheld as grasping, holding, and retaining his people in his hands, out of which they never be plucked; and who are as so many gold rings, jewels, pearls, and precious stories, in his esteem; and as holding the bright stars, the ministers of the word, in there, who sparkle in their gifts and graces, like so many gems there: and particularly this may be expressive of the munificence and liberality of Christ, in the distribution of his gifts and graces to his people, so freely and generously, so largely and plenteously, and so wisely and faithfully, as he does; and a beautiful sight it is, to the eye of faith, to behold him with his hands full of grace, and a heart ready to distribute it;

his belly [is as] bright ivory, overlaid [with] sapphires: which most of the ancient interpreters understand of the human nature of Christ, described by one part of it, because of its frailty and weakness in itself; and is compared to bright ivory, partly because of its firmness and constancy in suffering, and partly because of its purity, holiness, and innocence; and is said to be "overlaid with sapphires", because of its exaltation and glory at the right hand of God. The words may be rendered, "his bowels are as bright ivory", c. d as in Song of Solomon 5:4; and may express the love, grace, mercy, pity, compassion of Christ to the sons of men; compared to "ivory", or the elephant's teeth, for the excellency of it, Christ's love being better than life itself; and for the purity and sincerity of it, there being no hypocrisy in it; and for the firmness, constancy, and duration of it, it being from everlasting to everlasting, without any change or variation; and to an overlay or enamel of "sapphires", for the riches, worth and value of it, it being preferable to all precious stones, or that can be desired. Some interpreters are of opinion, that not any part of the body, the belly or bowels, are here meant, but rather some covering of the same; for seems not so agreeable with the rules of decency, nor consistent with the spouse's modesty, to describe her beloved by those parts to the daughters of Jerusalem; nor with the scope of the narration, which is to give distinguishing marks and characters, by which they might know him from another. Aben Ezra thinks the girdle is meant; which either may be his royal girdle, the girdle of righteousness and faithfulness; or his priestly girdle, said to be of gold; see Isaiah 11:5; or his prophetic girdle, the girdle of truth. The allusion may be to the embroidered coat of the high priest: in the holes and incisures of which, as Jarchi says, were put jewels and precious stones: or rather to the ephod with the breastplate, in which were twelve precious stones, and among these the sapphire; and which may represent Christ, as the great High Priest, bearing all his elect upon his heart in heaven; having entered there, in their name, to take possession of it for them, until they are brought into the actual enjoyment of it.

z "Et solitum digito beryllum adederat ignis", Propert. l. 4. Eleg. 7. v. 9. a Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 37. c. 5. Solin. Polyhistor. c. 65. Ruaeus de Gemmis, l. 9. c. 8. De Boot Hist. Gemm. l. 2. c. 70. βηρυλλου

γλαυκην נסיiל, Dionys. Perieg. v. 1012. b בתרשיש "beryllo thalassio", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. c Epigr. l. 2. Ep. 25. d מעיו "viscera ejus", Marckius, Michaelis.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

His hands ... - Are golden rings or cylinders. The fingers of the bent or closed hand are compared to a massive ring or set of rings; or, if outstretched or straightened, to a row of golden rods or cylinders.

The beryl - The “tarshish” (compare Exodus 28:20), probably the chrysolite of the ancients (so called from its gold color), the modern topaz.

His belly ... - His body (the Hebrew term applies to the whole body, from the shoulders to the thighs) is a piece of ivory workmanship overlaid with sapphires. The sapphire of the ancients seems to have been the lapis lazuli.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. His hands - gold rings set with the beryl — This really seems to refer to gold rings set with precious stones on the fingers, and perhaps to circlets or bracelets about the wrists. Some suppose it to refer to the roundness and exquisite symmetry of the hand and fingers. תרשיש tarshish, which we translate beryl, a gem of a sea-green tint, had better be translated chrysolite, which is of a gold colour.

His belly - bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. — This must refer to some garment set with precious stones which went round his waist, and was peculiarly remarkable. If we take it literally, the sense is plain enough. His belly was beautifully white, and the blue veins appearing under the skin resembled the sapphire stone. But one can hardly think that this was intended.


 
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