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Song of Songs 4:3

Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon, and your mouth is lovely. Your brow behind your veil is like a slice of pomegranate.
Song of Songs 4:3 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Your lips are like scarlet thread. Your mouth is lovely. Your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your veil.
  • KJV Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.
  • NKJV Your lips are like a strand of scarlet, And your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil Are like a piece of pomegranate.
  • NASB “Your lips are like a scarlet thread, And your mouth is beautiful. Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate Behind your veil.
  • NLT Your lips are like scarlet ribbon; your mouth is inviting. Your cheeks are like rosy pomegranates behind your veil.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

He praises her scarlet lips, lovely mouth, and pomegranate-like temples. It continues his delight in her features.

Overview

Her lips like scarlet thread, her gracious speech, and her cheeks like pomegranate halves all draw his admiration. The varied images celebrate her beauty and pleasantness. Such loving, specific praise models how love honors the beloved, as the Lord delights in and beautifies His own (Ps. 45:11).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 28

  • Song 6:7Your brow behind your veil is like a slice of pomegranate.
  • Josh 2:18unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother and brothers and all your family into your house.
  • Song 5:16His mouth is most sweet; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
  • Matt 12:35The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.
  • Heb 9:19For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people,
  • Lev 14:49–52He is to take two birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop to purify the house;
  • Song 5:13His cheeks are like beds of spice, towers of perfume. His lips are like lilies, dripping with flowing myrrh.
  • Num 19:6The priest is to take cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer.
  • Song 4:11Your lips, my bride, drip sweetness like the honeycomb; honey and milk are under your tongue, and the fragrance of your garments is like the aroma of Lebanon.
  • Lev 14:4the priest shall order that two live clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop be brought for the one to be cleansed.
  • Song 7:9and your mouth like the finest wine. May it flow smoothly to my beloved, gliding gently over lips and teeth.
  • Ps 37:30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
  • Prov 31:26She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
  • Ps 45:2You are the most handsome of men; grace has anointed your lips, since God has blessed you forever.
  • Ezra 9:6and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.
  • Luke 4:22All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.
  • Prov 10:13Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.
  • Eph 4:29Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
  • Prov 10:20–21The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth.
  • Ps 119:13With my lips I proclaim all the judgments of Your mouth.
  • Num 4:8And they shall spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with fine leather, and insert the poles.
  • Col 4:6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
  • Col 3:16–17Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
  • Gen 32:10I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant. Indeed, with only my staff I came across the Jordan, but now I have become two camps.
  • Lev 14:6And he is to take the live bird together with the cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop, and dip them into the blood of the bird that was slaughtered over the fresh water.
  • Ezek 16:63so that when I make atonement for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your disgrace, declares the Lord GOD.”
  • Prov 16:21–24The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
  • 2 Cor 5:18–21All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

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Christ at the center

The poetry of covenant love between bride and bridegroom pictures, at its highest, the love of Christ for his church — the Bridegroom who gave himself for his bride.

How Song of Songs 4:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.