There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
There are threescore {H8346} queens {H4436}, and fourscore {H8084} concubines {H6370}, and virgins {H5959} without number {H4557}.
There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, as well as young women beyond number;
There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and maidens without number,
There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, And virgins without number.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
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Psalms 45:14
She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. -
1 Kings 11:3
And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. -
1 Kings 11:1
¶ But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, [and] Hittites; -
2 Chronicles 11:21
And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.) -
Psalms 45:9
Kings' daughters [were] among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. -
Revelation 7:9
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Song of Solomon 6:8 (KJV)
"There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number."
Context and Background
This verse is part of a section where the daughters of Jerusalem or the king himself describe the vastness of the king's royal court and harem. It sets a dramatic contrast for the following verse, which highlights the unique and unparalleled beauty and value of the Shulamite woman in the midst of this multitude. Ancient Near Eastern kings often had large numbers of wives and concubines as a display of wealth, power, and political alliances.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
"Threescore" means sixty, and "fourscore" means eighty. These are straightforward KJV translations of the Hebrew numbers שִׁשִּׁים (shishim) and שְׁמֹנִים (shmonim). The terms "queens" (מְלָכוֹת, melakhot) and "concubines" (פִּילַגְשִׁים, pilagshim) denote different ranks within the royal household, with queens holding higher status. "Virgins without number" (עֲלָמוֹת אֵין מִסְפָּר, 'alamot 'ein mispar) emphasizes an uncountable multitude of young women, further underscoring the vastness of the king's resources and options.
Cross-Reference
The concept of a king having many wives and concubines is historically attested, for example, concerning Solomon himself in 1 Kings 11:3.
Practical Application
This verse, especially when read in conjunction with Song of Solomon 6:9, can remind us that true value and deep affection are not about having countless options or comparing one person to many others. It's about recognizing and cherishing the unique worth of an individual above all others, regardless of how many alternatives might exist. It speaks to the nature of exclusive, devoted love.