Song of Solomon 1:16
What does Song of Solomon 1:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Song of Solomon 1:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Song of Solomon 1:16 means
She returns the compliment: he is fair and pleasant—good to look at and good to be with. “Our couch is green” evokes a verdant resting place, likely outdoors, suggesting that their union fits the created order, fresh and life-giving. The image stands in contrast to palace chambers: love flourishes not only in luxury but also under open skies. Their relationship is restful, fertile, and natural. The shared “our” highlights togetherness; the place they share mirrors the character of their bond—living, growing, and serene.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: Also our couch is green.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: Also our couch is green.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949See, you are fair, my loved one, and a pleasure; our bed is green.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Lo, thou <FI>art<Fi> fair, my love, yea, pleasant, Yea, our couch <FI>is<Fi> green,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The beams of our houses are of cedar, our rafters of cypress trees.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant; Also our bed is green.
Context
After his affirmation in verse 15, she echoes with her own and adds setting to substance: the environment of their love is as refreshing as their words. The pastoral imagery connects back to verses 7–8 and prepares for the final architectural metaphors in verse 17. The flow from eyes (verse 15) to couch (verse 16) to house (verse 17) moves from personal beauty to shared space, portraying love that not only sees and speaks but also dwells.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Zechariah 9:17
For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! grain shall make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins.
- Song of Solomon 5:10
My beloved is white and ruddy, The chiefest among ten thousand.
- Philippians 3:8
Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ,
- Song of Solomon 3:7
Behold, it is the litter of Solomon; Threescore mighty men are about it, Of the mighty men of Israel.
- Revelation 5:11
And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
- Psalms 45:2
Thou art fairer than the children of men; Grace is poured into thy lips: Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Song of Solomon 1
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Song of Solomon 1.