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World English Bible

Song of Solomon 7:4

Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim; Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Bath-Rabbim;   Fish;   Fishpool;   Heshbon;   Ivory;   Lebanon;   Pool;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ivory;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Fishes;   Towers;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Lebanon;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Fish-Pools;   Heshbon;   Pool;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Bathrabbim Gate;   Heshbon;   Lebanon;   Solomon;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Bath-Rabbim;   Fish, Fishing;   Heshbon;   Pool;   Sex, Biblical Teaching on;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Bath-Rabbim;   Damascus;   Fish;   Heshbon;   Ivory;   Lebanon;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Bathrabbim ;   Ivory;   Lebanon, Tower of;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Nose;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Heshbon;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Bath-Rab'bim;   Hesh'bon;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Fishpools;   Ate;   Ivory;   Nose;   Tower;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bath-Rabbim, the Gate of;   Fishpools;   Heshbon;   Ivory;   Ivory, Tower of;   Lebanon;   Neck;   Pool;   Song of Songs;   Tower of Ivory;   Tower of Lebanon;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Bath-Rabbim;   Ivory;   Tower;  

Parallel Translations

Legacy Standard Bible
Your neck is like a tower of ivory,Your eyes like the pools in HeshbonBy the gate of Bath‑rabbim;Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon,Which faces toward Damascus.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Your neck is like a tower of ivory, Your eyes like the pools in Heshbon By the gate of Bath-rabbim; Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, Which faces toward Damascus.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Thy necke is as it were a towre of iuorie: thine eyes also are lyke the water pooles that are in Hesebon, beside the port of Bathrabbim, thy nose is lyke the towre of Libanus, which loketh towarde Damascus.
Darby Translation
Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; Thine eyes, [like] the pools in Heshbon, By the gate of Bath-rabbim; Thy nose like the tower of Lebanon, Which looketh toward Damascus;
New King James Version
Your neck is like an ivory tower, Your eyes like the pools in Heshbon By the gate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon Which looks toward Damascus.
Literal Translation
Your neck is like an ivory tower; your eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose is like a tower of Lebanon, peering toward the face of Damascus.
Easy-to-Read Version
Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon near the gate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon that looks toward Damascus.
King James Version (1611)
Thy necke is as a towre of yuory: thine eyes like the fish pooles in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the towre of Lebanon, which looketh toward Damascus.
King James Version
Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thy neck is as it were a tower of yuery: Thyne eyes are like ye water poles in Hesebon, besyde the porte of Bathrabbim: Thy nose is like the tower of Libanus, which loketh towarde Damascus:
Amplified Bible
"Your neck is like a tower of ivory, Your eyes the [sparkling] pools of Heshbon By the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon Which looks toward Damascus.
American Standard Version
Thy neck is like the tower of ivory; Thine eyes as the pools in Heshbon, By the gate of Bath-rabbim; Thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon Which looketh toward Damascus.
Bible in Basic English
Your neck is as a tower of ivory; your eyes like the waters in Heshbon, by the doorway of Bath-rabbim; your nose is as the tower on Lebanon looking over Damascus:
Update Bible Version
Your neck is like the tower of ivory; Your eyes [as] the pools in Heshbon, By the gate of Bath-rabbim; Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon Which looks toward Damascus.
Webster's Bible Translation
Thy neck [is] as a tower of ivory; thy eyes [like] the fish-pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim: thy nose [is] as the tower of Lebanon which looketh towards Damascus.
New English Translation
Your neck is like a tower made of ivory. Your eyes are the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-Rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon overlooking Damascus.
Contemporary English Version
Your neck is like ivory, and your eyes sparkle like the pools of Heshbon by the gate of Bath-Rabbim. Your nose is beautiful like Mount Lebanon above the city of Damascus.
Complete Jewish Bible
Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Thy necke is like a towre of yuorie: thine eyes are like the fishe pooles in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim: thy nose is as the towre of Lebanon, that looketh toward Damascus.
George Lamsa Translation
Your neck is like a tower of ivory; your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of a princess; your nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus.
Hebrew Names Version
Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim; Your nose is like the tower of Levanon which looks toward Dammesek.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Thy two breasts are like two fawns that are twins of a gazelle.
New Living Translation
Your neck is as beautiful as an ivory tower. Your eyes are like the sparkling pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose is as fine as the tower of Lebanon overlooking Damascus.
New Life Bible
Your neck is like a tower of ivory. Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, which looks toward Damascus.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Thy neck is as an ivory tower; thine eyes are as pools in Esebon, by the gates of the daughter of many: thy nose is as the tower of Libanus, looking toward Damascus.
English Revised Version
Thy neck is like the tower of ivory; thine eyes [as] the pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath–rabbim; thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.
Berean Standard Bible
Your neck is like a tower made of ivory; your eyes are like the pools of Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim; your nose is like the tower of Lebanon facing toward Damascus.
New Revised Standard
Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose is like a tower of Lebanon, overlooking Damascus.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thy neck, is like a tower of ivory, - Thine eyes, are pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim, Thy nose, is like the tower of Lebanon, which looketh towards Damascus:
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thy neck as a tower of ivory. Thy eyes like the fishpools in Hesebon, which are in the gate of the daughter of the multitude. Thy nose is as the tower of Libanus, that looketh toward Damascus.
Lexham English Bible
Your neck is like a tower of ivory; your eyes are pools in Heshbon at the gate of Beth Rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon looking out over Damascus.
English Standard Version
Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose is like a tower of Lebanon, which looks toward Damascus.
New American Standard Bible
"Your neck is like a tower of ivory, Your eyes like the pools in Heshbon By the gate of Bath-rabbim; Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, Which looks toward Damascus.
New Century Version
Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon near the gate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose is like the mountain of Lebanon that looks down on Damascus.
Good News Translation
Your neck is like a tower of ivory. Your eyes are like the pools in the city of Heshbon, near the gate of that great city. Your nose is as lovely as the tower of Lebanon that stands guard at Damascus.
Christian Standard Bible®
Your neck is like a tower of ivory, your eyes like pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon looking toward Damascus.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Thi necke is as a tour of yuer; thin iyen ben as cisternes in Esebon, that ben in the yate of the douyter of multitude; thi nose is as the tour of Liban, that biholdith ayens Damask.
Revised Standard Version
Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rab'bim. Your nose is like a tower of Lebanon, overlooking Damascus.
Young's Literal Translation
Thy neck as a tower of the ivory, Thine eyes pools in Heshbon, near the gate of Bath-Rabbim, Thy face as a tower of Lebanon looking to Damascus,

Contextual Overview

1 How beautiful are your feet in sandals, prince's daughter! Your rounded thighs are like jewels, The work of the hands of a skillful workman. 2 Your body is like a round goblet, No mixed wine is wanting. Your waist is like a heap of wheat, Set about with lilies. 3 Your two breasts are like two fawns, That are twins of a roe. 4 Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim; Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus. 5 Your head on you is like Carmel, The hair of your head like purple; The king is held captive in its tresses. 6 How beautiful and how pleasant are you, Love, for delights! 7 This, your stature, is like a palm tree, Your breasts like its fruit. 8 I said, "I will climb up into the palm tree. I will take hold of its fruit." Let your breasts be like clusters of the vine, The smell of your breath like apples, Beloved 9 Your mouth like the best wine, That goes down smoothly for my beloved, Gliding through the lips of those who are asleep.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

neck: Song of Solomon 1:10, Song of Solomon 4:4

ivory: Song of Solomon 5:14, 1 Kings 10:18, 1 Kings 10:22, 1 Kings 22:39, Psalms 45:8, Psalms 144:12

thine eyes: That is, "Thine eyes are dark, deep, clear, and serene, as the fish-pools in Heshbon. " Song of Solomon 4:1, Song of Solomon 4:9, Song of Solomon 6:5, Ephesians 1:17, Ephesians 1:18, Ephesians 3:18, Ephesians 3:19

Heshbon: Numbers 21:25, Isaiah 54:4

thy nose: That is, "Thy nose is as finely formed as the tower of Lebanon." Philippians 1:9, Philippians 1:10, Hebrews 5:14

the tower: Song of Solomon 4:8, Song of Solomon 5:15, 1 Kings 7:2, 1 Kings 9:19, 2 Chronicles 8:6

Damascus: Genesis 15:2, 2 Samuel 8:6

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 6:81 - Heshbon Ecclesiastes 2:6 - pools Song of Solomon 8:10 - my

Cross-References

Genesis 2:5
No plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for Yahweh God had not caused it to rain on the earth. There was not a man to till the ground,
Genesis 6:3
Yahweh said, "My spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; yet will his days be one hundred twenty years."
Genesis 6:7
Yahweh said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground; man, along with animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."
Genesis 6:13
God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Genesis 6:17
I, even, I do bring the flood of waters on this earth, to destroy all flesh having the breath of life from under the sky. Everything that is in the earth will die.
Genesis 7:10
It happened after the seven days, that the waters of the flood came on the earth.
Genesis 7:11
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep were burst open, and the sky's windows were opened.
Genesis 7:12
The rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights.
Genesis 7:17
The flood was forty days on the earth. The waters increased, and lifted up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth.
Genesis 7:21
All flesh died that moved on the earth, including birds, cattle, animals, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Thy neck [is] as a tower of ivory,.... Two things recommend the neck, erectness and whiteness; both are here expressed, the one by a "tower", the other by "ivory"; hence a fine beautiful neck is called an ivory one t; and for the same reason it sometimes has the epithet of "snowy" u, and sometimes of "marble" w. Of the church's neck, as it may design either the ministers of the word, or the Scriptures of truth, :-; where it is compared to "the tower of David", and here to "a tower of ivory": Marckius conjectures that they may be the same, or that this is the name of, vine ancient structure known at this time; however, it is used as expressive of the purity of the lives of Gospel ministers, and the evenness of their doctrines, and of the purity, beauty, glory, axial harmony of the Scriptures;

thine eyes [like] the fish pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim; Heshbon was formerly the seat of Sihon, king of the Amorites, Numbers 22:26; of which Bathrabbim was one of its gates; so called, either because it led to Rabbath, a city near it, and mentioned with it, Jeremiah 49:3; or because of the great numbers that went in and out by it; for it may be rendered, "the daughter of many", or "of great ones" x: near this gate, it seems, were very delightful fish pools, to which the eyes of the church are compared. In the Hebrew language, the word for eyes and fountains is the same; the eyes having humours in them, and so fitly compared to fish pools. Of the eyes of the church, as they may design either the ministers of the word, or the eyes of her understanding, particularly faith, Jeremiah 49:3- :; here they are said to be like "fish pools", whose waters are clear, quiet, constant and immovable; and, seen at a distance, between trees and groves, look very beautiful: and, if applied to ministers, may denote the clearness of their sight in discerning the truths of the Gospel; and their being filled with the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ; and their being blessings to the churches of Christ, and to the souls of men the word for "fish pools" comes from a word which signifies "to bless" y; and such being observed as were near the gate of Bathrabbim, may have respect to the multitude that attend their ministry, and receive benefit by it; in which they are constant and invariable, and all of a piece, and appear very beautiful to those to whom they are useful. And if applied to the church's eyes of understanding, those of faith and knowledge, may denote the perspicuity of them, in the discernment of spiritual things; and the fixedness and immovableness of them on the person, blood, and righteousness of Christ; looking alone to him, and off of every other object, and so very attractive to him, and beautiful in his sight, as well as their abounding with the waters of evangelic repentance and humiliation; see Song of Solomon 4:9;

thy nose [is] as the tower of Lebanon, which looketh towards Damascus; a tower on that part of Mount Lebanon which faced Damascus, which lay in a plain, and so open to view, as well as exposed to winds; hence called, by Lucan z, Ventosa Damascus; which tower was so high, as Adrichomius a says, that from thence might be numbered the houses in Damascus: by which also may be meant the ministers of the word; nor need it seem strange that the same should be expressed by different metaphors, since the work of ministers is of different parts; who, as they are as eyes to see, so like the nose to smell; and having a spiritual discerning of Gospel truths, both savour them themselves, and diffuse the savour of them to others; and are both the ornament and defence of the church: the former is signified by the "nose", which is an ornament of the face, and the latter by the "tower of Lebanon", and this is looking towards Damascus, the inhabitants of which were always enemies to the people of Israel; and so may denote the vigilance and courage of faithful ministers, who watch the church's enemies, and their motions, and, with a manful courage, face and attack them. Moreover, this description may respect the majesty and magnanimity of the church herself; the former may be intimated by her nose, which, when of a good size, and well proportioned, adds much grace and majesty to the countenance; and the latter by its being compared to the impregnable tower of Lebanon, looking towards Damascus, signifying that she was not afraid to look her worst enemies in the face: or the whole may express her prudence and discretion in spiritual things: by which she can distinguish truth from error, and espy dangers afar off, and guard against them.

t "Eburnea cervix", Ovid. Epist. 20. v. 57. "Eburnea colla", ib. Metamorph. l. 3. Feb. 6. v. 422. l. 4. Fab. 5. v. 335. u Ovid. Amor. l. 2. Eleg. 4. v. 41. w Ib. Fasti, l. 4. v. 135. Virgil. Georgic. 4. in fine. x בת רבים θυγατρος πολλων Sept. "filiae muititudinis", V. L. "magnatum", Montanus "nobilium", Pagninus. y ברכות a rad. ברך "benedixit". z Pharsal. l. 3. v. 215. a Theatrum Terrae Sanctae, p. 100.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A tower of ivory - The tower of ivory, the allusion being to some particular tower, built probably by Solomon 1 Kings 10:21.

Fishpools in Heshbon - Or, simply pools. Among the ruins to the south of Heshbon still remain a number of deep wells cut in the rock, and a large reservoir of water. The simile well sets forth the appearance of a large clear liquid eye (compare Song of Solomon 5:12 note).

Gate of Bath-rabbim - Perhaps the gate looking toward Rabbath-Ammon on the north side of the city, though this does not agree with the wells above mentioned; or, the gate of the city “full of people” Lamentations 1:1; or, an expression indicating the gate itself as the scene of numerous gatherings.

Nose - Better perhaps “face “or “brow.”

The tower of Lebanon - Possibly “the house of the forest of Lebanon” or part of it 1 Kings 7:2; 1 Kings 9:19, built by Solomon in the early part of his reign; or possibly a watchtower erected by David to overawe Damascus after his war with Hadadezer 2 Samuel 8:6.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Song of Solomon 7:4. Thy neck - as a tower of ivory — High, white, and ornamented with jewellery, as the tower of David was with bucklers. See on Song of Solomon 4:4.

The fish - pools in Heshbon — Clear, bright, and serene. These must have been very beautiful to have been introduced here in comparison. These two fountains appear to have been situated at the gate that led from Heshbon to Rabba, or Rabboth Ammon. There is a propriety in this metaphor, because fountains are considered to be the eyes of the earth.

Thy nose - as the tower of Lebanon — There was doubtless a propriety in this similitude also, which cannot now be discerned. If we are to understand the similitude as taken from the projecting form of the nose, even here I see nothing striking in the metaphor; for surely the tower of Lebanon did not project from the mountain as the human nose does from the face. It is better to acknowledge that there was undoubtedly some fit resemblances; but in what circumstance we know not. But some commentators are always extolling the correctness of the imagery in those very difficult places, where no soul sees the similitude but themselves.


 
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