King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
Complete Jewish Bible:
nard, saffron and aromatic cane, cinnamon and all kinds of frankincense trees, myrrh, aloes, all the best spices.
Berean Standard Bible:
with nard and saffron, with calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of frankincense tree, with myrrh and aloes, with all the finest spices.
American Standard Version:
Spikenard and saffron, Calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; Myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Spikenard{H5373} and saffron{H3750}; calamus{H7070} and cinnamon{H7076}, with all trees{H6086} of frankincense{H3828}; myrrh{H4753} and aloes{H174}, with all the chief{H7218} spices{H1314}:
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 30:23
- Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred [shekels], and of sweet cinnamon half so much, [even] two hundred and fifty [shekels], and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty [shekels],
Song of Solomon 4:6
- Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
Song of Solomon 6:2
- My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
Song of Solomon 3:6
- ¶ Who [is] this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?
Song of Solomon 1:12
- ¶ While the king [sitteth] at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
Ezekiel 27:19
- Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market.
Proverbs 7:17
- I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
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Commentary for Song Of Solomon 4:14
Song of Solomon 4:14 is a verse from a chapter often interpreted as a poetic expression of love and mutual admiration between two lovers. The book itself, also known as the Song of Songs, is a collection of lyrical poems that celebrate love, desire, and beauty, and is traditionally attributed to King Solomon, though modern scholarship often dates its composition later and questions Solomonic authorship.
The verse is part of a longer speech by the male lover, who is describing his beloved in lavish terms, using the imagery of rare and valuable spices to convey her beauty and allure. Spikenard, saffron, calamus, cinnamon, frankincense, myrrh, and aloes were all highly prized in the ancient world for their aromatic properties and were associated with luxury, royalty, and religious ceremonies. Their mention here serves to emphasize the woman's worth and the intensity of the lover's affection for her.
Historically, these spices would have been imported from various distant lands, such as India, Arabia, and East Africa, which underscores the global connections of the ancient Near East. The trade in such spices was a significant economic activity, and their use in this context also hints at the wealth and opulence of the society in which the poem was composed or circulated.
In summary, Song of Solomon 4:14 uses the metaphor of precious spices to poetically express the deep appreciation and admiration the lover has for his beloved's beauty and value. This verse reflects the broader themes of the book, which include the celebration of romantic love, physical attraction, and the joy of mutual desire, all set against the backdrop of a culture that valued the beauty of creation and the artistry of its description.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5373
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נֵרְדְּ
Transliteration: nêrd
Pronunciation: nayrd
Description: of foreign origin; nard, an aromatic; spikenard. - Strong's Number: H3750
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כַּרְכֹּם
Transliteration: karkôm
Pronunciation: kar-kome'
Description: probably of foreign origin; the crocus; saffron. - Strong's Number: H7070
There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָנֶה
Transliteration: qâneh
Pronunciation: kaw-neh'
Description: from קָנָה; a reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (especially for measuring), shaft, tube, stem, the radius (of the arm), beam (of a steelyard); balance, bone, branch, calamus, cane, reed, [idiom] spearman, stalk. - Strong's Number: H7076
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קִנָּמוֹן
Transliteration: qinnâmôwn
Pronunciation: kin-naw-mone'
Description: from an unused root (meaning to erect); cinnamon bark (as in upright rolls); cinnamon. - Strong's Number: H6086
There are 288 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵץ
Transliteration: ʻêts
Pronunciation: ates
Description: from עָצָה; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks); [phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood. - Strong's Number: H3828
There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לְבוֹנָה
Transliteration: lᵉbôwnâh
Pronunciation: leb-o-naw'
Description: or לְבֹנָה; from לָבָן; frankincense (from its whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke); (frank-) incense. - Strong's Number: H4753
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֹר
Transliteration: môr
Pronunciation: more
Description: or מוֹר; from מָרַר; myrrh (as distilling in drops, and also as bitter); myrrh. - Strong's Number: H174
There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲהָלִים
Transliteration: ʼăhâlîym
Pronunciation: a-haw-leem'
Description: or (feminine) אֲהָלוֹת (only used thus in the plural); of foreign origin; aloe wood (i.e. sticks); (tree of lign-) aloes. - Strong's Number: H7218
There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹאשׁ
Transliteration: rôʼsh
Pronunciation: roshe
Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top. - Strong's Number: H1314
There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֶּשֶׂם
Transliteration: besem
Pronunciation: beh'-sem
Description: or בֹּשֶׂם; from the same as בָּשָׂם; fragrance; by implication, spicery; also the balsam plant; smell, spice, sweet (odour).