His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

SONG OF SOLOMON 5:15KJV
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Song of Solomon 5:15 (KJV)

What does Song of Solomon 5:15 mean?

Song of Solomon 5:15 describes the beloved’s legs as strong and beautiful, comparing them to marble pillars set on bases of fine gold, and says his appearance is as majestic as Lebanon’s cedars. This verse uses vivid, poetic imagery to express admiration for the beloved’s physical strength, stability, and noble presence.

In this verse, the woman is speaking about her beloved, describing his body in detail to her friends as part of a larger poetic exchange. The language draws on well-known symbols of beauty and grandeur from the ancient world—marble, gold, the mountains of Lebanon, and its famous cedar trees—to communicate how impressive and attractive she finds him.

The Hebrew behind Song of Solomon 5:15

  • "legs" (שׁוֹקִים, shoqim): This word refers specifically to the lower legs or shins, highlighting the beloved’s sturdy foundation.
  • "pillars" (עַמּוּדִים, ammudim): Pillars suggest strength, support, and dignity, emphasizing the beloved’s reliability and uprightness.
  • "marble" (שֵׁשׁ, shesh): Marble was a precious, smooth, and beautiful stone in the ancient world, used here to evoke a sense of elegance and lasting beauty.
  • "countenance" (מַרְאֶה, mareh): This word means appearance or overall look, not just the face, so the verse is describing the beloved’s whole presence as striking and impressive.

Why Song of Solomon 5:15 matters

  • The verse clears up that the woman’s admiration is not only for her beloved’s inner qualities but also for his outward appearance, which she describes with honor and delight.
  • The use of imagery like marble, gold, and Lebanon’s cedars connects the beloved’s qualities to things valued for their beauty and strength in the ancient world, deepening the sense of admiration.
  • This verse fits into a larger poetic section where the woman is defending and praising her beloved to others, showing the depth of her affection and the high regard in which she holds him.

Where else these words appear

“gold” Hebrew H6337 · used in 9 verses

  • Job 28:17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
  • Psalms 21:3 For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.
  • Song of Solomon 5:11 His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.

“legs” Hebrew H7785 · used in 19 verses

  • Exodus 29:22 Also thou shalt take of the ram the fat and the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and the right shoulder; for it is a ram of consecration:
  • Leviticus 8:26 And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder:
  • Deuteronomy 28:35 The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.

“marble” Hebrew H8336 · used in 37 verses

  • Genesis 41:42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
  • Exodus 28:39 And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.
  • Exodus 39:2 And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

“sockets” Hebrew H134 · used in 39 verses

  • Exodus 26:19 And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
  • Exodus 27:18 The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass.
  • Exodus 38:17 And the sockets for the pillars were of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver; and the overlaying of their chapiters of silver; and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver.