Hebrew Word Studies (9 words)
31,37 (P), so feminine pluralשְׁחֹרוֺתSongs 5:11; of skin, feminine singularשְׁחוֺרָהSongs 1:5; of horses, masculine pluralשְׁחֹרִיםZechariah 6:2,6.Topical LexiconConcept and Imageryשָׁחֹר conveys the 31,37 (P), so feminine pluralשְׁחֹרוֺתSongs 5:11; of skin, feminine singularשְׁחוֺרָהSongs 1:5; of horses, masculine pluralשְׁחֹרִיםZechariah 6:2,6.Topical LexiconConcept and Imageryשָׁחֹר conveys the
- look early (semantic_range)
- diligently for (semantic_range)
- seeks him early (semantic_range)
- discipline (semantic_range)
17;Genesis 9:9,12 + often Following a participle as its subject (to express mostly either a true present or the futurum instans [immanent future])Genesis 18:17הַמְכַסֶּה אֲנִיAmos I hidingfrom Abraham 17;Genesis 9:9,12 + often Following a participle as its subject (to express mostly either a true present or the futurum instans [immanent future])Genesis 18:17הַמְכַסֶּה אֲנִיAmos I hidingfrom Abraham
- ships (semantic_range)
- fleet (semantic_range)
143t.; feminineנָאוָהPsalm 33:14t.,נָוָהJeremiah 6:2; —1comely, beautiful, of womanSongs 1:5;Songs 6:4(""יָפָה) of faceSongs 2:14(מַרְאֶה) soנָוָהJeremiah 6:2(figurative of Jerusalem; ""מְעֻנָּגָה); o 143t.; feminineנָאוָהPsalm 33:14t.,נָוָהJeremiah 6:2; —1comely, beautiful, of womanSongs 1:5;Songs 6:4(""יָפָה) of faceSongs 2:14(מַרְאֶה) soנָוָהJeremiah 6:2(figurative of Jerusalem; ""מְעֻנָּגָה); o
- seemly (semantic_range)
16+; constructGenesis 11:29+; suffixבִּתִּיDeuteronomy 22:16+;בִּתְּךָGenesis 29:18+;בִּתֵּנוּGenesis 34:17etc.; pluralבָּנוֺתGenesis 5:4+; constructבְּנוֺתGenesis 6:2+; suffixבְּנֹתַיGenesis 31:26+;ב 16+; constructGenesis 11:29+; suffixבִּתִּיDeuteronomy 22:16+;בִּתְּךָGenesis 29:18+;בִּתֵּנוּGenesis 34:17etc.; pluralבָּנוֺתGenesis 5:4+; constructבְּנוֺתGenesis 6:2+; suffixבְּנֹתַיGenesis 31:26+;ב
- bath (semantic_range)
10+;יְרוּשָׁלָ֑םִ1 Samuel 17:54+;לַ֫יִם-5t. according to Masora (see FrensdorffMass. Magna, 293), namelyJeremiah 26:18;1 Chronicles 3:5; 2Chronicles 25:1; 32:9 (withהlocative),Esther 2:6, (butלָ֑֫םִ-1 10+;יְרוּשָׁלָ֑םִ1 Samuel 17:54+;לַ֫יִם-5t. according to Masora (see FrensdorffMass. Magna, 293), namelyJeremiah 26:18;1 Chronicles 3:5; 2Chronicles 25:1; 32:9 (withהlocative),Esther 2:6, (butלָ֑֫םִ-1
- Jerusalem (semantic_range)
3tent(compare Assyrianâlu, above, Arabic,fellow-dwellers, family, SabeanאהלDHMZMG 1883, 341and others, also in proper names Sabean & Phoenician seeאהליאב) — absolute׳אGenesis 4:20+; constructid.Exodus 3tent(compare Assyrianâlu, above, Arabic,fellow-dwellers, family, SabeanאהלDHMZMG 1883, 341and others, also in proper names Sabean & Phoenician seeאהליאב) — absolute׳אGenesis 4:20+; constructid.Exodus
- aloe (semantic_range)
1tribe of nomads in Arabian desertIsaiah 21:16;Isaiah 42:11(with verb feminine),Isaiah 60:7,Jeremiah 2:10;Jeremiah 49:28(twice in verse);Ezekiel 27:21;׳בְּנֵיקֿIsaiah 21:17;׳אָהֳלֵי קPsalm 120:5;Songs 1tribe of nomads in Arabian desertIsaiah 21:16;Isaiah 42:11(with verb feminine),Isaiah 60:7,Jeremiah 2:10;Jeremiah 49:28(twice in verse);Ezekiel 27:21;׳בְּנֵיקֿIsaiah 21:17;׳אָהֳלֵי קPsalm 120:5;Songs
- swarthy (semantic_range)
- black (semantic_range)
224t.; plural absoluteיְרִיעֹתExodus 26:117t.;יְרִיעוֺת1 Chronicles 17:1; constructיְרִיעֹתExodus 26:74t.;יְרִיעוֺתHabakkuk 3:72t.; suffixיְרִיעֹתָ֑יJeremiah 4:20;Jeremiah 10:20;יְרִיעוֺתֵיהֶםJeremiah 224t.; plural absoluteיְרִיעֹתExodus 26:117t.;יְרִיעוֺת1 Chronicles 17:1; constructיְרִיעֹתExodus 26:74t.;יְרִיעוֺתHabakkuk 3:72t.; suffixיְרִיעֹתָ֑יJeremiah 4:20;Jeremiah 10:20;יְרִיעוֺתֵיהֶםJeremiah
- curtain (semantic_range)
24;1 Kings 1:11+ [name 2 t. Samuel; 162 t. Kings; 109 t. Chronicles; 7 t. Ezra Nehemiah]; born in Jerusalem2 Samuel 5:14;1 Chronicles 3:5;1 Chronicles 14:4; designated by David as successor, anointed 24;1 Kings 1:11+ [name 2 t. Samuel; 162 t. Kings; 109 t. Chronicles; 7 t. Ezra Nehemiah]; born in Jerusalem2 Samuel 5:14;1 Chronicles 3:5;1 Chronicles 14:4; designated by David as successor, anointed
- Solomon (semantic_range)
Interlinear data not available for this verse yet.
Commentary
Gill's Exposition
I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem,.... The church having obtained of Christ, what she wanted, turns to the daughters of Jerusalem, the same perhaps with the virgins her companions; they seem to be young converts, it may be not yet members of the visible church, but had a great respect for the church, and she for them; and who, though they had but a small knowledge of Christ her beloved, yet were desirous of knowing more of him, and seeking him with her; see Sol 3:9 ; to these she gives this character of herself, that she was "black" in herself (x), through original sin and actual transgression; in her own eyes, through indwelling sin, and many infirmities, spots, and blemishes in life; and in the eyes of the world, through afflictions,
persecutions, and reproaches, she was attended with, and so with them the offscouring of all things: "but comely" in the eyes of Christ, called by him his "fair one", the "fairest among women", and even "all fair", Sol 1:8 ; through his comeliness put upon her, the imputation of his righteousness to her; through the beauties of holiness upon her; through, the sanctifying influences of his Spirit; and, being in a church state, walking in Gospel order, attending to the commands and ordinances of Christ; and so beautiful as Tirzah, and comely as Jerusalem, Sol 6:4 ; and upon all accounts "desirable" (y) to Christ, and to his people, as the word may be rendered; as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon: each of which are thought by some to refer to both parts of her character; and suppose that the tents of Kedar, though they might look poor on the outside, were full of wealth and riches within; and Solomon's curtains, or hangings, might have an outward covering not so rich and beautiful as they were on the inside; but rather the blackness of the church is designed by the one, and her comeliness by the other. With respect to her blackness, she compares herself to the tents of Kedar, to the inhabitants of those tents, who were of a black or swarthy complexion; Kedar signifies the name of a man whose posterity these were, that dwelt in tents, even of Kedar the second son of Ishmael, and who inhabited some part of Arabia; and, their employment being to feed cattle, moved from place to place for the sake of pasturage, and so dwelt in tents, which they could easily remove, and hence were called Scenites; and the tents they dwelt in being made of hair cloth, and continually exposed to the sun and rain, were very black, and yet a number of them made a fine appearance, as Dr. Shaw relates (z); though black, yet were beautiful to behold; he says, "the Bedouin Arabs at this day live in tents called "hhymes", from the shelter which they afford the inhabitants; and "beet el shaar", that is, "houses of hair", from the materials or webs of goats' hair whereof they were made; and are such hair cloth as our coal sacks are made of; the colour of them is beautifully alluded to, Sol 1:5 ; for nothing certainly can afford (says he) a more delightful prospect than a large extensive plain, whether in its verdure, or even scorched up by the sunbeams, than, these movable habitations pitched in circles upon them; of which (he says) he has seen from three to three hundred.'' And for her comeliness the church compares herself either to the curtains of Solomon, about his bed, or to the rich hangings of tapestry in the several apartments of his palace, which no doubt were very costly and magnificent. (x) "Nigra per naturam, formosa per gratiam", Aug. de Tempore, serm. 201. p. 354. tom. 10. "Fusca per culpam, decora per gratiam", Ambros. in Psal. cxviii. octon. 2. col. 881. tom. 2. (y) "optabilis", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Mercerus; so Aben Ezra. (z) Travels, p. 220. edit. 2. See Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 28. Solin. Polyhist. c. 46.