Song of Solomon 8:1
What does Song of Solomon 8:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Song of Solomon 8:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Song of Solomon 8:1 means
The woman longs for a kind of public freedom in affection that ancient custom allowed only among family. If her beloved were as a brother raised by her own mother, she could greet him with kisses openly without being shamed. She is not wishing to change their relationship’s nature, but to live their love without fear of scorn. Her desire reveals both the strength of their bond and the cultural restraints around courtship. True love seeks to be known and honored, not hidden in secrecy. She yearns for a world where what is good between them is welcomed, not watched with suspicion.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Oh that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breasts of my mother! WhenI should find thee without, I would kiss thee; Yea, and none would despise me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Oh that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breasts of my mother! WhenI should find thee without, I would kiss thee; Yea, and none would despise me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Oh that you were my brother, who took milk from my mother's breasts! When I came to you in the street, I would give you kisses; yes, I would not be looked down on.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Who doth make thee as a brother to me, Sucking the breasts of my mother? I find thee without, I kiss thee, Yea, they do not despise me,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who shall give thee to me for my brother, sucking the breasts of my mother, that I may find thee without, and kiss thee, and now no man may despise me?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Oh that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breasts of my mother! Should I find thee without, I would kiss thee; And they would not despise me.
Context
The chapter opens with the Shulamite’s yearning for unashamed displays of affection. This sets a tone of mature, established love seeking social recognition. It follows the developing intimacy and mutual delight of earlier sections and moves toward the book’s climactic assertions about love’s strength. What comes next (verses 2–4) develops the theme: a desire to bring love home into family space, the embrace of the beloved, and a solemn charge to respect love’s timing. The reader should see this first verse as the doorway into the chapter’s closing meditations on enduring, honorable love.
v.1This passage
v.2I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother’s house, Who would instruct me; I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 9:26
For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in his own glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.
- John 7:46
The officers answered, Never man so spake.
- Luke 7:45
Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
- Luke 18:9
And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought:
- Matthew 13:16
But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.
- John 9:25
He therefore answered, Whether he is a sinner, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
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