His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.
Parallel translations
- WEB His hands are like rings of gold set with beryl. His body is like ivory work overlaid with sapphires.
- BSB His arms are rods of gold set with beryl. His body is an ivory panel bedecked with sapphires.
- NKJV His hands are rods of gold Set with beryl. His body is carved ivory Inlaid with sapphires.
- NASB “His hands are rods of gold Set with topaz; His abdomen is panels of ivory Covered with sapphires.
- NLT His arms are like rounded bars of gold, set with beryl. His body is like bright ivory, glowing with lapis lazuli.
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 hands and body are likened to gold set with gems and polished ivory adorned with sapphires, picturing strength, splendor, and worth. The beloved is admired as precious and majestic.
Overview
The imagery of gold, beryl, ivory, and sapphire piles up to convey richness and dignity. The bride sees her beloved as costly and magnificent in every part. In the broader biblical pattern, such language of glory and beauty anticipates the surpassing worth of Christ, in whom believers find every treasure.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Exod 24:10And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.
- Isa 54:11O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
- Exod 28:20And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.
- Song 7:2Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies.
- Isa 9:7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
- Isa 52:13Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
- Ezek 1:26–28And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
- Ezek 1:16The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
- Ps 99:4The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.
- Exod 39:13And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings.
- Exod 15:6Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
- Ps 44:4–7Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.
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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 5:14 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.