Bible Strands
Song of Solomon 1:8
If you do not know, O fairest of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The speaker addresses a woman as the "fairest among women," directing her to follow the flock's tracks to locate the shepherds' tents.
The words — The Hebrew phrase בְּעִקְבֵי הַצֹּאן (be'ikvei hatzon) literally means "in the footprints of the flock," denoting the path left behind by the animals.
The thread — The title "fairest of women" recurs in Song 5:9 and 6:1 as the community addresses the same figure.
Why it lands — The text commands practical movement toward a specific location rather than abstract longing, requiring the reader to pursue the subject through observable signs.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.
Cross-references
- Song of Solomon 6:1 Where has your beloved gone, O most beautiful among women? Which way has he turned? We will seek him with you.
- Song of Solomon 5:9 How is your beloved better than others, O most beautiful among women? How is your beloved better than another, that you charge us so?
- Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
- James 2:21 Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
- James 5:10 Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
- Psalms 16:3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellence in whom all my delight resides.
- Psalms 45:11 and the king will desire your beauty; bow to him, for he is your lord.
- Psalms 45:13 All glorious is the princess in her chamber; her gown is embroidered with gold.
- Proverbs 8:34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
- Song of Solomon 1:15 How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves.