Your head crowns you like Mount CarmelMount Carmel is a significant geographical location in Israel, known for its beauty and lush vegetation. It is often associated with fertility and abundance, symbolizing the bride's beauty and grace. In biblical history, Mount Carmel is the site of Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18), representing a place of divine victory and revelation. The comparison of the bride's head to Mount Carmel suggests a regal and majestic appearance, emphasizing her dignity and honor. This imagery reflects the high esteem in which the bride is held, akin to the prominence of Mount Carmel in the landscape of Israel.
the hair of your head like purple threads
Purple is a color traditionally associated with royalty, wealth, and nobility in ancient cultures, including Israel. The mention of purple threads in the bride's hair signifies her royal status and the richness of her beauty. In the ancient world, purple dye was rare and expensive, often reserved for kings and the elite. This imagery highlights the bride's elevated status and the preciousness of her appearance. The use of purple also connects to the royal imagery found throughout the Song of Solomon, where the bride and groom are often depicted in kingly and queenly terms, symbolizing the divine love and covenant relationship between God and His people.
the king is captured in your tresses
The phrase suggests the king's deep admiration and captivation by the bride's beauty. In the context of the Song of Solomon, the king represents Solomon, but also serves as a type of Christ, the ultimate Bridegroom. The imagery of being "captured" indicates a voluntary and joyful surrender to love, reflecting the mutual affection and desire between the bride and groom. This can be seen as a metaphor for the relationship between Christ and the Church, where Christ is drawn to the beauty and devotion of His people. The tresses, or locks of hair, symbolize intimacy and personal connection, emphasizing the closeness and affection in the relationship. This imagery resonates with the theme of divine love and the transformative power of being loved by the King.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The BelovedThe woman being described in this verse, often interpreted as the Shulammite woman, who is the object of affection in the Song of Solomon.
2.
Mount CarmelA mountain range in Israel known for its beauty and lush vegetation, symbolizing majesty and splendor.
3.
The KingOften interpreted as Solomon, representing the lover or husband in the poetic dialogue.
4.
Royal TapestryA metaphor for the woman's hair, indicating beauty, richness, and intricacy.
5.
CaptivationThe emotional response of the king, symbolizing deep admiration and love.
Teaching Points
The Beauty of CreationJust as Mount Carmel is a testament to God's creative power, so is the beauty of a person. Recognize and appreciate the beauty in God's creation, including people.
Symbolism of HairIn biblical times, hair was often a symbol of glory and honor. Consider how our personal attributes can reflect God's glory in our lives.
Captivation by LoveThe king's captivation by the beloved's beauty is a reminder of the deep, personal love that God has for His people. Reflect on how we can be captivated by God's love and beauty.
Inner and Outer BeautyWhile this verse highlights physical beauty, it is important to balance this with the biblical emphasis on inner beauty and character.
The Role of Metaphor in ScriptureUnderstanding the use of metaphor in the Bible can deepen our appreciation of its messages. Consider how metaphors can convey deeper spiritual truths.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Song of Solomon 7:5?
2.How does Song of Solomon 7:5 illustrate the beauty of God's creation?
3.What cultural significance does "a king is held captive" have in biblical times?
4.How can we appreciate God's artistry in creation, as seen in Song 7:5?
5.How does Song 7:5 connect to the theme of love in Ephesians 5:25?
6.How can we honor God by valuing beauty in ourselves and others?
7.How does Song of Solomon 7:5 reflect the cultural views on beauty in biblical times?
8.What is the significance of comparing hair to "royal tapestry" in Song of Solomon 7:5?
9.How does Song of Solomon 7:5 fit into the overall theme of love in the book?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Song of Solomon 7?
11.Song of Solomon 7:5 – Is likening hair to royal purple historically or archaeologically supported in ancient Israel, and does it conflict with other scriptural cultural references?
12.If the setting is historical, why would the watchmen attack the beloved in Song of Solomon 5:7 instead of recognizing her station or status?
13.In Song of Solomon 2:1, is there any historical or botanical proof that the 'rose of Sharon' existed in ancient Israel?
14.What does 'Do not awaken love until it pleases' mean?What Does Song of Solomon 7:5 Mean
Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel“Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel”.
• Mount Carmel rises grandly above the Mediterranean, famed for lush vegetation and panoramic views (Isaiah 35:2;Jeremiah 50:19). The comparison lifts the bride’s dignity and presence to something stately and awe-inspiring.
• In Scripture the head often represents authority, honor, and identity (1 Corinthians 11:7). The groom sees in his bride not merely outward beauty but a noble bearing that signals strength of character.
• Just as a crown sits atop a ruler, the bride’s poise crowns her entire person. Her husband rejoices in that splendor, echoing the delight ofProverbs 31:23, 28 where a virtuous wife brings honor to her household.
the hair of your head like purple threads“the hair of your head like purple threads”.
• Purple was the color of royalty and rare luxury (Luke 16:19;Esther 8:15). By likening her hair to purple threads, the groom treats even the smallest feature of his bride as something regal.
• Hair in Scripture can symbolize glory and allure (1 Corinthians 11:15). Here its fine texture, shimmering hue, and graceful movement communicate refinement.
• While external adornment is celebrated, the imagery invites the inward beauty that never fades (1 Peter 3:3-4). Her outer loveliness harmonizes with a heart devoted to her beloved.
the king is captured in your tresses“the king is captured in your tresses”.
• The groom (often styled “king,” cf. Songs 1:4, 12) confesses that her beauty arrests him. Love’s power is portrayed as a deliberate surrender, not a loss of control.
• This echoes Songs 4:9: “You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride.” The marriage bond is designed to be captivating (Proverbs 5:18-19).
• Far from superficial infatuation, his captivation celebrates God-given intimacy in marriage; the union of husband and wife pictures wholehearted devotion (Ephesians 5:28-29).
summarySong of Solomon 7:5 paints a threefold portrait of the bride: her noble bearing, royal beauty, and irresistible charm. Together they showcase God’s good design for marriage—where honor, aesthetic delight, and deep affection meet in a covenant that mirrors Christ’s loyal love for His people.
(5)
Carmel.--Marg.,
crimson,from reading
charmil,which preserves the parallelism with the next clause better. But the whole passage deals in the author's favourite figures from localities; and certainly the comparison of a finely-set head to a mountain is at least as apt as that in the preceding verse, of the nose to a "tower in Lebanon." Besides, there may be a play on words, which in turn may have suggested the allusion to
purplein the next clause, or possibly the vicinity of
Carmelto
Tyremay have led to the thought of its famous dyes.
Hair.--Heb.dallath,most probably = flowing tresses. For comparison--
"Carmine purpurea est Nisi coma."
"Et pro purpureo dat p?nas Scylla capillo.
(Comp.????????? ???????? in Lucian., and???????? ?????? in Anacreon.) So Collins:--
"The youths whose locks divinely spreading,
Like vernal hyacinths in sullen hue."
Ode to Liberty.
The king is held(Marg.,bound)in the galleries.--Forgalleries,see Note onSong of Solomon 1:17. Translate "A king caught and bound by thy tresses,"i.e.,they are so beautiful that a monarch would be caught by them.
(Comp.-- . . .
Verse 5. -
Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held captive in the tresses thereof. Carmel is called the "Nose of the mountain range" (
Arf-ef-jebel). It is a promontory. The meaning, no doubt, is the exquisite fitness of the head upon the neck, which is one of the most lovely traits of personal beauty. Some, however, think that the reference is to colour - Carmel being derived from the Persian, and meaning "crimson." This is rejected by Delitzsch, as the Persian would be
carmile, not
carmel. The transition is natural from the position and shape of the head and neck to the hair. The purple shellfish is found near Carmel (cf. Lucian's
πορφύρεος πλόκαμος and Anacreon's
πορφυραῖ χαῖται, and similar expressions in Virgil's 'Georgics,' 1:405, and Tibullus, 1:4, 63). The locks of hair are a glistening purple colour,
i.e. their black is purple as they catch the lights. Hengstenberg, however, thinks that the reference is to the temples, and not to the hair itself; but the use of the term in classical poets is decisive. The lovely head shaking the locks as the body moves gracefully in the dance fills the king with delight and admiration. He is quite captivated, and the ladies, having finished their description of the bride, look at the bridegroom, and behold him quite lost in the fascination - "held captive in the tresses." Delitzsch quotes a similar expression from Goethe, in the 'West Ostliche Divan,' "There are more than fifty hooks in each lock of thy hair." The idea of taking captive is frequent in Hebrew poetry (cf.
Proverbs 6:25; Sirach 9:3, 4). Thus ends the song of the ladies in praise of the bride. We must suppose that the king, who is probably present, then takes up the word, and pours out his heart.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Your headרֹאשֵׁ֤ךְ(rō·šêḵ)Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 7218:The headcrowns youעָלַ֙יִךְ֙(‘ā·la·yiḵ)Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstlike Mount Carmel,כַּכַּרְמֶ֔ל(kak·kar·mel)Preposition-k, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3760:Carmel -- a mountain promontory on the Mediterranean, also a city near Hebronthe hairוְדַלַּ֥ת(wə·ḏal·laṯ)Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1803:Something dangling, a loose thread, hair, indigentof your headרֹאשֵׁ֖ךְ(rō·šêḵ)Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 7218:The headlike purple [threads];כָּאַרְגָּמָ֑ן(kā·’ar·gā·mān)Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 713:Purple, red-purplethe kingמֶ֖לֶךְ(me·leḵ)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428:A kingis capturedאָס֥וּר(’ā·sūr)Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 631:To yoke, hitch, to fasten, to join battlein your tresses.בָּרְהָטִֽים׃(bā·rə·hā·ṭîm)Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7298:A channel, watering-box, ringlet of hair
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OT Poetry: Song of Solomon 7:5 Your head on you is like Carmel (Song Songs SS So Can) 
