Song Of Solomon - The Song of Songs - What's it about?

[lamplady]

Is this weird to you?: -

'I am dark but* beautiful ... don't look down on me because of my colour ....' 1.5-6

What!???


*some say 'and'.

 

[Danus]

Is this weird to you?: -

'I am dark but* beautiful ... don't look down on me because of my colour ....' 1.5-6

What!???


*some say 'and'.

Dark: Deeply browned by the sun...see verse 6. Not considered desirable.

Don't let this bother you. It's not a racist statement. It's speaking more of a weathered look of one who is exposed to the long day as that of a laborer.


<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17544">6</sup> Do not stare at me because I am dark,
because I am darkened by the sun.
My mother’s sons were angry with me
and made me take care of the vineyards;
my own vineyard I had to neglect.
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17545">7</sup> Tell me, you whom I love,
where you graze your flock
and where you rest your sheep at midday.
Why should I be like a veiled woman
beside the flocks of your friends?

 

[Sparkey]

There are only two words written in the Hebrew there.
שחר shachor (pronounced shä·khōre') & נאוה na'veh (pronounced nä·veh')

The first (shachor) is translated to: "Dark" or "black" (often used in reference to hair)

• 1) black

The second word is translated to: "Comely" or "Beautiful"

• 1) comely, beautiful, seemly
  [*]
  a) comely, beautiful
  [*]b) seemly​

Think back to their times. Compare the meaning of the word, "Fair"

• 1) fair, beautiful, handsome (used of both genders)

It doesn't seem strange to me. The Song begins with the voice of the Shulamite. She speaks of her desire for his kiss, the kiss of his mouth. Then, typical of all women, she speaks of her appearance. He reassures her in his reply.

Young's Literal Translations puts it this way:

Dark [am] I, and comely, daughters of Jerusalem, As tents of Kedar, as curtains of Solomon.

As the Shulamite speaks, I can almost imagine her eyelids slightly lowered as she speaks the first word "dark", then her chin is lifted ever so slightly and her eyelids raise, her glance causes others to catch their breath and she speaks, "and lovely"... She is speaking to other women, the daughters of Jerusalem. The dramatic moment within those two words also sets the stage for the future conversations.


_________________________________
*Images from "Gesenius's Lexicon"

 

[lamplady]

Thanks guys for your replies but it still sound like she is apologising - so what if she's been out in the sun all day - why would that be problem? Not considered desirable? I thought that was a European thing?

'Then, typical of all women, she speaks of her appearance.' loool!

 

[theLords]

Thanks guys for your replies but it still sound like she is apologising - so what if she's been out in the sun all day - why would that be problem? Not considered desirable? I thought that was a European thing?

'Then, typical of all women, she speaks of her appearance.' loool!

it's not because of race, but status. the reason pale skin was so popular was because it signified that a women was rich and wealthy and didn't have to go out to labor, she had hired help to do that for her.

the shulamite is dark because she doesn't have much, she's just a poor girl in love, she doesn't have much to offer, only her :heart (awwwww)

 

[Sparkey]

Thanks guys for your replies but it still sound like she is apologising - so what if she's been out in the sun all day - why would that be problem? Not considered desirable? I thought that was a European thing?

'Then, typical of all women, she speaks of her appearance.' loool!

I very much like to listen to the song of the romance between the King and the Shulamite as an analogy. It speaks of the romance between God and His people, the church. "Dark [am] I, and comely, daughters of Jerusalem..."

And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ... [Ephesians 3:9 KJV]

... This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.... [Ephesians 5:32 KJV]

As we continue with our Lord, we are changed. I don't want anybody to look too closely at me but when it serves to show the changes that have and are taking place in me because of my walk with Jesus? Then yes. Boldly she compares herself even to the curtains of Shlomo, the King of Israel.

I am dark, but lovely, You daughters of Yerushalayim, Like Kedar's tents, Like Shlomo's curtains. Don't stare at me because I am dark, Because the sun has scorched me. My mother's sons were angry with me. They made me keeper of the vineyards. I haven't kept my own vineyard. Tell me, you whom my soul loves, Where you graze your flock, Where you rest them at noon; For why should I be as one who is veiled Beside the flocks of your companions? Lover

I desire the Presence of God and would also ask, "Why should I be like those who have a veil between?" Where should I go to find You, Lord God?"

If you don't know, O most fair amongst women...

Of course, like any analogy, it lines up in certain points but not all. But maybe I will be able to see her, maybe we are counted amongst all men, most blessed; to be found in the time when THE mystery, the purpose of His heart shall be seen? Is it you? There will come a time of revealing, and we shall know.

 

[sherri2]

If you just keep reading or look closely, the bible usually explains itself.

It's speaking more of a weathered look of one who is exposed to the long day as that of a laborer.

Tanned, dark. As already said, pale complexions have always been preferred where there's an option. Because as already stated, it means you've taken care of your skin. What's romantic about a peasent labouring in the fields? Not your average sterotype for a beautiful woman.

It's not the peasent girl who gets tied up for the dragon. It's the princess.


And she's in love. Of course she's going to be concerned about her appearence. It's natural.

 

[lamplady]

Do you think I don't know about those? I do. But I still think the original people there were all 'black'.

*Incidentally they do look 'black' to me - they're not white are they?

Anyway getting back to topic. I still find it strange that this woman would be aplogising for her colour. Regardless of whether she is talking about the sun - does it sound like natural speech to you?

You're living in your white world, going to your white school/work and you're among your white friends and family, suddenly you get up and declare, "I am white." or "I'm sorry I'm white", - wouldn't that be a little strange to anyone?

 

[Sparkey]

- wouldn't that be a little strange to anyone?

Asked and answered.

No, I don't find it strange at all. It's not about race. It's about the song that flowed between a man and a woman.
This is more about Christ and the Church than anything else.

 

[lamplady]

Asked and answered.

No, I don't find it strange at all. It's not about race. It's about the song that flowed between a man and a woman.
This is more about Christ and the Church than anything else.

Even in a song, even between a man and a woman, even between Christ and the church, - it's strange. No-one goes around talking about colour, (of skin), amongst the same people ...

 

[handy]

Thanks guys for your replies but it still sound like she is apologising - so what if she's been out in the sun all day - why would that be problem? Not considered desirable? I thought that was a European thing?

I think that women of higher rank, no matter where in the world, would not have labored in the sun. Historically, across all civilizations, class was determined in part because of the type of clothing one wore, and the type of skin one had. Not necessarily the racial color, but rather the fact that aristocratic types were able to stay out of the sun and have umbrellas over their heads and be protected by clothing, soft clothing of fine fabrics. Class distinctions were very important, and this did indeed cut across all cultures and civilizations. I remember in my dim past studying cultural anthropology, and I remember this being a big chapter during the course.

Solomon, of course, was first prince and then king. About as aristocratic as one gets. The whole thing reads much more like the Shulammite was worried about the differences in their rank, which in that day and time was most certainly exposed by her sun-burned skin, than any skin pigmentation.

I am curious as to why you seem somewhat taken aback by it all? Is your question more of what seems to be a racist statement in the Bible (thus God sanctioned racism) or more of a question as to whether or not the KJV translators wove racism into their translation?

 

[lamplady]

I think that women of higher rank, no matter where in the world, would not have labored in the sun. Historically, across all civilizations, class was determined in part because of the type of clothing one wore, and the type of skin one had. Not necessarily the racial color, but rather the fact that aristocratic types were able to stay out of the sun and have umbrellas over their heads and be protected by clothing, soft clothing of fine fabrics. Class distinctions were very important, and this did indeed cut across all cultures and civilizations. I remember in my dim past studying cultural anthropology, and I remember this being a big chapter during the course.

Solomon, of course, was first prince and then king. About as aristocratic as one gets. The whole thing reads much more like the Shulammite was worried about the differences in their rank, which in that day and time was most certainly exposed by her sun-burned skin, than any skin pigmentation.

I am curious as to why you seem somewhat taken aback by it all? Is your question more of what seems to be a racist statement in the Bible (thus God sanctioned racism) or more of a question as to whether or not the KJV translators wove racism into their translation?

Because it does seem sooo odd. And reading it today naturally would bring about racism alerts because that's exactly how it reads.

If you can barely read and you're in the middle of a desert and there's a book saying: 'God will save you' and 'Please excuse my colour' which one are you likely to misinterpret?

This idea about rank - of course it has to be the lighter skin that's considered the 'highest'.

Coincidence that it fits in accordance with old european style of ranking?

I definitely can't accuse God of anything so ...

 

[handy]

But it's not just an old European style of ranking. Again, reaching back to that Cultural Anthropology class I took way back in '81, I remember the discussion of how rank has been determined largely by clothing and skin type (in how soft and protected from the sun it was) by almost all civilizations. Even in cultures where skin is quite dark, the higher ranking people were lighter skinned because they were able to stay out of the sun, unlike ordinary laborers. This held true even in African tribes which had rank (not all tribes held to this kind of rank) and the chieftain was able to sit under a tree or a canopy out of the sun. No matter how dark one's skin is, skin will become even darker if exposed to the sun.

Again, it isn't a racial issue, but a class issue.

As for which would be misinterpreted, well, the Bible is what it is, and people have been misinterpreting it for millenniums now. But, it would be a misinterpretation to say SoS 1:6 is a racist statement.

 

[lamplady]

But it's not just an old European style of ranking. Again, reaching back to that Cultural Anthropology class I took way back in '81, I remember the discussion of how rank has been determined largely by clothing and skin type (in how soft and protected from the sun it was) by almost all civilizations. Even in cultures where skin is quite dark, the higher ranking people were lighter skinned because they were able to stay out of the sun, unlike ordinary laborers. This held true even in African tribes which had rank (not all tribes held to this kind of rank) and the chieftain was able to sit under a tree or a canopy out of the sun. No matter how dark one's skin is, skin will become even darker if exposed to the sun.

Again, it isn't a racial issue, but a class issue.

Can't dispute all I will say - first thought it seemed suss to me ...

....