Song of Solomon 6:9
What does Song of Solomon 6:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Song of Solomon 6:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Song of Solomon 6:9 means
He declares, “My dove, my undefiled, is but one,” the only one of her mother, the “choice one” of her who bore her. Queens, concubines, and daughters all praise her. Her uniqueness is moral and relational—“undefiled” points to purity, integrity, and wholehearted devotion. She is not interchangeable; she is singular. The public acclamation confirms what his love already knows: excellence recognized by all. Love here is discerning and faithful; it chooses and stays. For Christians, this can picture Christ’s singular love for His people, whom He calls pure and beloved, not because they outnumber others, but because He has set His love upon them and made them His own.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000My dove, my undefiled, is but one; She is the only one of her mother; She is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed; Yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
KJV
King James Version · 1611My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901My dove, my undefiled, is but one; She is the only one of her mother; She is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed; Yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949My dove, my very beautiful one, is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the dearest one of her who gave her birth. The daughters saw her, and gave her a blessing; yes, the queens and the servant-wives, and they gave her praises.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862One is my dove, my perfect one, One she <FI>is<Fi> of her mother, The choice one she <FI>is<Fi> of her that bare her, Daughters saw, and pronounce her happy, Queens and concubines, and they praise her.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890My dove, mine undefiled, is but one; She is the only one of her mother, She is the choice one of her that bore her. The daughters saw her, and they called her blessed; The queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
Context
This verse resolves the contrast introduced in verse 8: though many surround, she alone is the chosen and praised one. It reaches a crescendo in the beloved’s praise, which prompts the chorus’s wonder in verse 10. The progression—from personal features (5–7), to public context (8), to unique status (9)—underscores that her beauty is comprehensive: personal, moral, and social. Next, the gaze shifts from statements about her to an exclamatory question (verse 10), then transitions to her own narration about the garden (verses 11–12).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 126:2
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing: Then said they among the nations, Jehovah hath done great things for them.
- Song of Solomon 5:2
I was asleep, but my heart waked: It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; For my head is filled with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.
- Genesis 30:13
And Leah said, Happy am I! for the daughters will call me happy: and she called his name Asher.
- Proverbs 31:28
Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husbandalso, and he praiseth her, saying:
- Numbers 23:9
For from the top of the rocks I see him, And from the hills I behold him: Lo, it is a people that dwelleth alone, And shall not be reckoned among the nations.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:10
when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day.
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