Bible Strands
Song of Solomon 5:11
His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The female speaker continues her systematic physical description of her beloved, positioned between the introductory praise of verse 10 and the detailed focus on his eyes in verse 12. She addresses the audience while cataloging his features in a structured, almost architectural manner.
The words — The Hebrew פָּז (Paz) translates literally to pure gold, and שְׁחֹרֹת (shechorot) denotes a black color. These terms anchor the description in specific material and visual qualities rather than abstract praise.
The thread — Head and hair imagery reappears in Song 7:5, which compares the beloved’s hair to purple threads and his head to Mount Carmel. Daniel 7:9 later employs head and hair imagery to depict divine majesty and ancient authority.
Why it lands — The text presents a concrete physical portrait using precise materials and colors. It asks the reader to observe how the description catalogs tangible features to establish the beloved’s distinct value and presence.
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
His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
Cross-references
- Song of Solomon 5:2 I sleep, but my heart is awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.”
- Song of Solomon 7:5 Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel, the hair of your head like purple threads; the king is captured in your tresses.
- Daniel 7:9 As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
- Ephesians 1:21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
- Revelation 1:14 The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire.
- Daniel 2:37 You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory.