Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

SONG OF SOLOMON 1:6KJV
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Song of Solomon 1:6 (KJV)

What does Song of Solomon 1:6 mean?

Song of Solomon 1:6 describes a woman asking others not to judge her for her darkened skin, which has been tanned by the sun because she was made to work outside by her family. She explains that her brothers were angry with her and put her in charge of tending vineyards, so she has not been able to care for her own appearance.

The speaker is the young woman, addressing either the women of Jerusalem or her beloved. She feels self-conscious about her appearance, which was affected by hard outdoor labor forced upon her by her mother’s sons (her brothers). The verse gives a glimpse into her family situation and the social pressures she faces, as well as her vulnerability and honesty.

The Hebrew behind Song of Solomon 1:6

  • "Look" (רָאָה, ra'ah): This word means to gaze or look upon. The woman is asking others not to stare at her, highlighting her discomfort with being scrutinized.
  • "Black" (שָׁחֹר, shachor): This word means dark or black, referring to her sun-darkened skin rather than ethnicity. It emphasizes the effects of working outdoors.
  • "Sun" (שֶׁמֶשׁ, shemesh) and "looked" (שָׁזַף, shazaf): "Looked" here means to scorch or burn. The phrase means the sun has tanned or darkened her skin, not just shone on her.
  • "Keeper" (נָטַר, natar) and "vineyards" (כֶּרֶם, kerem): She was made the caretaker of vineyards, a demanding outdoor job. The word for "keeper" carries the sense of guarding or watching over, showing her responsibility.

Why Song of Solomon 1:6 matters

  • This verse clears up the misunderstanding that her "blackness" is about ethnicity; it is about sun-darkened skin from hard work, not race.
  • The verse highlights the woman's humility and honesty, showing she is not from a life of luxury but has faced hardship and family conflict.
  • Song of Solomon 1:6 sets up a contrast between outward appearance and inner worth, which is a recurring theme in the book, and helps readers understand the social and emotional background of the woman’s love story.

Where else these words appear

“looked” Hebrew H7805 · used in 3 verses

  • Job 20:9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.
  • Job 28:7 There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen:

“keeper” Hebrew H5201 · used in 8 verses

  • Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
  • Song of Solomon 8:11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.
  • Jeremiah 3:5 Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.

“angry” Hebrew H2787 · used in 11 verses

  • Job 30:30 My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.
  • Proverbs 26:21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
  • Ezekiel 15:4 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?

“vineyards” Hebrew H3754 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 9:20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
  • 1 Kings 21:1 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
  • Isaiah 1:8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.