1.8 If you do not know, O fairest among women,
go forth on the trail of the flock and graze your flock of female kids
by the dwellings of the shepherds.
1.9 To my mare among the chariots of Pharaoh
I liken you, my darling companion.
1.10 lovely are your cheeks with ornaments
and your neck with strings of jewels.
1.11 Ornaments of gold we will make for you with beads of silver.
Below are some selections from other versions
8 If you yourself do not know, [e] Most beautiful among women [r] NASB
8 If thou know not, O thou fairest among women ASV
9 I compare you, my darling, [p] Pharaoh’s chariot horses were stallions.
9 “To me, [s] my darling, you are like
My [t] mare among the chariots of Pharaoh. NASB
9 You are my love.
You are like a mare that pulls one of Pharaoh’s chariots. NIRV
10 Thy cheeks are comely with plaits of hair, … 11 We will make thee plaits of gold With studs of silver. ASV
10 Your face is beautiful with the objects you wear, and your neck with the beautiful chain around it. NLV
10 Your earrings make your cheeks even more beautiful.
Your strings of jewels make your neck even more lovely.” NIRV
The NIV version uses , ‘most beautiful of women’ and that is
the one I tend to remember.
One time I asked a roommate what he was looking for in a girl.
His answer was very helpful to me. He said he was looking for a girl
who was beautiful to him. Not one that met the current standards of
breast size, hair length, or other physical attributes. And it included
her personality, the way she acted, the type of clothes and accessories
that she had. But he wanted a girl that HE thought was beautiful.
What he said really made sense, and that is what I started looking for.
I even wrote a little song about her — the only one I ever wrote
Eileen you’re a beautiful girl,
not bound by sin but free.
You’re a light reflecting God’s love to all
Eileen you are beautiful to me.
After 30+ years she still is beautiful to me.
Guys — one of the things you will probably find extremely beautiful
in the women you are with is the way she feels about you even after
she learns what you are really like — the good, the bad and the ugly.
I’ve strayed off topic.
To get back some versions think this line was said by the friends — NIV, GLK
others think the guy said it ESU, KNJV, NASB
several don’t suggest who said it KJV, RVS, ASV
The phrase is used twice later in the Song of Solomon.
In these two cases it is definitely the friends who are saying it.
My opinion — He said it. And whether he meant to do it at the time, he drew a line in the sand.
He said that she was the most beautiful.
That meant that her friends were not the most beautiful.
Girls don’t deal with that real well.
And I think they were throwing this back at her later in Song of Solomon.
YOUR TURN — you get to decide who said it.
Remember, any of the titles that name who is speaking, any of the numbers
that are used for chapters and verses were not in the original text.
They have been added to help you.
When they are a help, make use of them.
But don’t confuse them with the actual text of the Bible.
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