“His eyes are like doves Beside streams of water, Bathed in milk, And perched in their setting.
Parallel translations
- WEB His eyes are like doves beside the water brooks, washed with milk, mounted like jewels.
- KJV His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.
- BSB His eyes are like doves beside the streams of water, bathed in milk and mounted like jewels.
- NKJV His eyes are like doves By the rivers of waters, Washed with milk, And fitly set.
- NLT His eyes sparkle like doves beside springs of water; they are set like jewels washed in milk.
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
His eyes are compared to gentle doves by streams, washed and beautifully set. The image conveys tenderness, purity, and gracious attention.
Overview
Doves were emblems of gentleness and faithfulness, and eyes 'washed with milk' suggest clarity and calm. The bride sees in her beloved a tender, attentive gaze rather than harshness. Such imagery reminds Christians of the gracious, watchful eyes of the Lord, who looks upon his people with steadfast love.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Song 4:1Behold, you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is as a flock of goats, that descend from Mount Gilead.
- Song 1:15Behold, you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are doves.
- Heb 4:13There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
Resources, by level
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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 5:12 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.