His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
Parallel translations
- WEB His head is like the purest gold. His hair is bushy, black as a raven.
- BSB His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven.
- NKJV His head is like the finest gold; His locks are wavy, And black as a raven.
- NASB “His head is like gold, pure gold; His locks are like clusters of dates And black as a raven.
- NLT His head is finest gold, his wavy hair is black as a raven.
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
The bride likens her beloved's head to pure gold and his hair to a raven's black, picturing his nobility and youthful vigor. Love delights to dwell on every detail of the beloved.
Overview
This verse begins a head-to-foot portrait (a 'wasf') celebrating the beloved's worth. Gold connotes preciousness and royalty, while dark, full hair signals strength and youth. The lavish imagery shows that godly love honors and esteems its object; believers similarly find Christ supremely precious and worthy of every praise.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Dan 7:9I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
- Eph 1:21–22Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
- Song 5:2I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.
- Rev 1:14His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
- Song 7:5Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries.
- Dan 2:37–38Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 5:11 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.