Song of Solomon 6:5

Turn your eyes away from me, for they have overcome me. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down from Gilead.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The speaker addresses a beloved woman during a poetic exchange focused on physical beauty. The moment occurs between two verses that compare her features to majestic natural and military imagery.

The words — הָסֵבִּי (ha.se.bi) means "turn" and עֵינַיִךְ (einaikh) means "your eyes," forming the direct command to look away. The verb הִרְהִיבֻנִי (hirhiVuni) literally renders "they have confused me" or "they have overcome me" regarding the effect of her gaze.

The thread — Commands to turn away or set aside appear in Genesis 32:26 and Exodus 32:10, where figures plead for divine attention or request a pause in divine action. The imagery of overwhelming sight also parallels the unyielding stance in Jeremiah 15:1.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition of how direct observation can disarm a person, requiring the reader to acknowledge the power of focused attention in human relationships. It asks the reader to consider how visual engagement can temporarily suspend control or composure.

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

הָסֵ֤בִּיha.Se.biturn עֵינַ֙יִךְ֙'ei.Na.yi/kheyes/ your מִנֶּגְדִּ֔יmi./neg.D/ifrom/ before/ me שֶׁ֥הֵ֖םshe./Hemthat/ they הִרְהִיבֻ֑נִיhir.hi.Vu./nithey have confused/ me שַׂעְרֵךְ֙sa'.re/Khhair/ your כְּעֵ֣דֶרke./'E.der[is] like/ [the] flock of הָֽעִזִּ֔יםha./'i.Zim<the>/ she-goats שֶׁגָּלְשׁ֖וּshe./gal.Shuthat/ they have descended מִן־min-from הַגִּלְעָֽד׃ha./gil.'Ad<the>/ Gilead

King James Version

Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.

Cross-references

Genesis 32:26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
Exodus 32:10 Now leave Me alone, so that My anger may burn against them and consume them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”
Jeremiah 15:1 Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before Me, My heart would not go out to this people. Send them from My presence, and let them go!
Song of Solomon 4:1 How beautiful you are, my darling—how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead.
Matthew 15:27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”