Song of Solomon 7:4
in Song of Solomon 7Your neck is like a tower made of ivory; your eyes are like the pools of Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim; your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, facing toward Damascus.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Thy neck is like the tower of ivory; Thine eyes as the pools in Heshbon, By the gate of Bath-rabbim; Thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon Which looketh toward Damascus.
KJV
Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath–rabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.
⋯
This verse in Song of Solomon 7
Commentary
12 notes on this verseThy neck - as a tower of ivory - High, white, and ornamented with jewellery, as the tower of David was with bucklers. See on Son 4:4 (note). The fish - pools in Heshbon - Clear, bright, and serene. These must have been very beautiful to have been introduced here in comparison. These two fountains appear to have been situated at the gate that led from Heshbon to Rabba, or Rabboth Ammon. There is a propriety in this metaphor, because fountains are considered to be the eyes of the earth.
This site's exposition
Your neck is like a tower made of ivory
on Song of Solomon 7:4-5
Her eyes are "like the pools of Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim," real geography, Heshbon known for its pools. Her nose is "like the tower of Lebanon, facing toward Damascus," a known height borrowed for dignity. The one line about him follows: "the king is captured in your tresses".
The record, by era
The Medieval Church4 voices
Your neck is like an ivory tower. Because through the neck, both voice and speech proceed, and food, through which all the members of the body are nourished, usually enters; rightly through the neck, as we have previously admonished, the form of teachers is designated, …
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, etc. Because by the nose odors and stench are usually distinguished, the dispensers of the word of God, who had previously been designated for certain reasons to the neck and eyes of the Church; now also for …
Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon, etc. The same holy preachers, who were compared to the bride's neck for the nourishment of the word, are also designated in the eyes; this means the inspection of the mysteries, which they learn in secret so …
A commentator
Robert of TombelaineCommentary on the Song of Songs, Chapter 7 · Written in the 11th century.
proposed
The neck of the bride is said to be like a tower of ivory; because the preachers of the Church are considered both lofty through contemplation, and strong through the exercise of holy works, and precious through divine wisdom. Heshbon is interpreted as the girdle …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The tower - Which was in all probability built by Solomon in the mountain of Lebanon, the northern border of the land of Israel towards Damascus; and therefore a very fit place for a watch- tower. Which looketh - There was another tower or building in or near Jerusalem, which was called the house of the forest of Lebanon, 1 Kings vii, 2.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
The neck, which before was compared to the tower of David ( ch. iv. 4 ), is here compared to a tower of ivory, so white, so precious; such is the faith of the saints, by which they are joined to Christ their head. The name of the Lord, improved by faith, is to the saints as a strong and impregnable tower.
His design to visit the church, with the blessed effect thereof, ver. 8-9. She professes her faith, and desire, ver. 10. She invites him to communion with her, ver. 11.
quarantine:anchor (2026-07-29) — cites-ver-10/11-anchored-1-7
Thy neck is as a tower of ivory,.... Two things recommend the neck, erectness and whiteness; both are here expressed, the one by a "tower", the other by "ivory"; hence a fine beautiful neck is called an ivory one (t); and for the same reason it sometimes has the epithet of "snowy" (u), and sometimes of "marble" (w).
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Her eyes (So 4:1) are called by Jesus Christ, "doves' eyes," waiting on Him. But here, looked on by the daughters or Jerusalem, they are compared to a placid lake. She is calm even amidst the crowd (Pr 8:2;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
A tower of ivory - The tower of ivory, the allusion being to some particular tower, built probably by Solomon 1Ki 10:21. Fishpools in Heshbon - Or, simply pools. Among the ruins to the south of Heshbon still remain a number of deep wells cut in the rock, and a large reservoir of water. The simile well sets forth the appearance of a large clear liquid eye (compare Son 5:12 note). Gate of Bath-rabbim - Perhaps the gate looking toward Rabbath-Ammon on the north side of the city, though this does not agree with the wells above mentioned; or, the gate of the city “full of people” Lam 1:1; or, an expression indicating the gate itself as the scene of numerous gatherings. Nose - Better perhaps “face “or “brow.” The tower of Lebanon - Possibly “the house of the forest of Lebanon” or part of it 1Ki 7:2; 1Ki 9:19, built by Solomon in the early part of his reign; or possibly a watchtower erected by David to overawe Damascus after his war with Hadadezer 2Sa 8:6.
The words behind it
16 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| צַוָּארֵ֖ךְ | tzavarekh | neck your | H6677 → | 42 times |
| כְּמִגְדַּ֣ל | kemigdal | [is] like [the] tower of | H4026 → | 48 times |
| הַשֵּׁ֑ן | hashen | <the> ivory | H8127 → | 55 times |
| עֵינַ֜יִךְ | ʾeinayikh | eyes your | H5869 → | 887 times |
| בְּרֵכ֣וֹת | berekhot | [are] pools | H1295 → | |
| בְּחֶשְׁבּ֗וֹן | becheshbon | in Heshbon | H2809 → | |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | at | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| שַׁ֙עַר֙ | shaar | [the] gate of | H8179 → | |
| בַּת־ | bat- | Bath- | H1337 → | |
| רַבִּ֔ים | rabim | Rabbim | H1337 → | |
| אַפֵּךְ֙ | ʾapekh | nose your | H639 → | |
| כְּמִגְדַּ֣ל | kemigdal | [is] like [the] tower of | H4026 → | 48 times |
| הַלְּבָנ֔וֹן | halevanon | <the> Lebanon | H3844 → | 71 times |
| צוֹפֶ֖ה | tzopeh | [which] watches | H6822 → | |
| פְּנֵ֥י | penei | [the] face of | H6440 → | |
| דַמָּֽשֶׂק׃ | damasek | Damascus | H1834 → |
צַוָּארֵ֖ךְneck your
tzavarekhH6677 →42 times
כְּמִגְדַּ֣ל[is] like [the] tower of
kemigdalH4026 →48 times
הַשֵּׁ֑ן<the> ivory
hashenH8127 →55 times
עֵינַ֜יִךְeyes your
ʾeinayikhH5869 →887 times
בְּרֵכ֣וֹת[are] pools
berekhotH1295 →
בְּחֶשְׁבּ֗וֹןin Heshbon
becheshbonH2809 →
עַל־at
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
שַׁ֙עַר֙[the] gate of
shaarH8179 →
בַּת־Bath-
bat-H1337 →
רַבִּ֔יםRabbim
rabimH1337 →
אַפֵּךְ֙nose your
ʾapekhH639 →
כְּמִגְדַּ֣ל[is] like [the] tower of
kemigdalH4026 →48 times
הַלְּבָנ֔וֹן<the> Lebanon
halevanonH3844 →71 times
צוֹפֶ֖ה[which] watches
tzopehH6822 →
פְּנֵ֥י[the] face of
peneiH6440 →
דַמָּֽשֶׂק׃Damascus
damasekH1834 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 54:4Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; do not be intimidated, for you will not be humiliated. For you will forget the shame of your youth and will remember…
it leads to
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- 1 Peter 2:6
For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
- Jeremiah 31:19
After I returned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’
- Isaiah 61:7
Instead of shame, My people will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation, they will rejoice in their share; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy…
- Isaiah 45:16–17
They will all be put to shame and humiliated; the makers of idols will depart together in disgrace.
- Isaiah 41:10
Through
Psalms 144:12Then our sons will be like plants nurtured in their youth, our daughters like corner pillars carved to adorn a palace.
it leads to
- Psalms 128:3
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine flourishing within your house, your sons like olive shoots sitting around your table.
- 1 Peter 3:3–6
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes,
- Isaiah 44:3–5
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.
- Psalms 128:3
About Song of Solomon
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on the Song of Songs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Robert of Tombelaine, Commentary on the Song of Songs, Chapter 7.