Song of Solomon 4:10
What does Song of Solomon 4:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Song of Solomon 4:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Song of Solomon 4:10 means
He declares her love “better than wine” and her anointing oils more fragrant than the finest spices. Wine symbolizes joy and celebration; her love surpasses these by far. The emphasis falls on quality and effect: her love does him more good than any feast or festivity, and the scent that clings to her is richer than rare perfumes. This is love that satisfies both heart and senses with purity and delight. The verse joins affection and aroma, suggesting that intimacy, rightly ordered, is both emotionally and sensorially good. It affirms that the person and the relationship—not luxury—are the true treasures that bring surpassing gladness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000How fair is thy love, my sister, my bride! How much better is thy love than wine! And the fragrance of thine oils than all manner of spices!
KJV
King James Version · 1611How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901How fair is thy love, my sister, my bride! How much better is thy love than wine! And the fragrance of thine oils than all manner of spices!
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949How fair is your love, my sister! How much better is your love than wine, and the smell of your oils than any perfume!
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862How wonderful have been thy loves, my sister-spouse, How much better have been thy loves than wine, And the fragrance of thy perfumes than all spices.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752How beautiful are thy breasts, my sister, my spouse! thy breasts are more beautiful than wine, and the sweet smell of thy ointments above all aromatical spices.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890How fair is thy love, my sister, [my] spouse! How much better is thy love than wine! And the fragrance of thine ointments than all spices!
Context
This builds on verse 9’s confession of being captivated. After telling her what she does to his heart, he extols what her love is like—surpassing wine—and how her presence smells—surpassing spices. Verse 11 will continue with sweetness and freshness, completing a picture of full delight. The context is a crescendo of praise before shifting to sealed-garden imagery (verses 12–15), which will restrict the delights to covenant boundaries. Thus, delight and exclusivity are held together.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Song of Solomon 1:12
While the king sat at his table, My spikenard sent forth its fragrance.
- Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Philippians 4:18
But I have all things, and abound: I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.
- Revelation 5:8
And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
- Song of Solomon 3:6
Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all powders of the merchant?
- Song of Solomon 5:5
I rose up to open to my beloved; And my hands dropped with myrrh, And my fingers with liquid myrrh, Upon the handles of the bolt.
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