Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries.

SONG OF SOLOMON 7:5KJV
Know the Bible

Song of Solomon 7:5 (KJV)

What does Song of Solomon 7:5 mean?

Song of Solomon 7:5 describes the beloved’s head as majestic like Mount Carmel and her hair as rich and striking as purple, with the king captivated by her beauty. The verse uses poetic comparisons to praise the woman’s appearance and express the deep admiration of the speaker.

In this verse, the man is speaking to his beloved, using vivid imagery from nature and royal colors to highlight her beauty and dignity. Mount Carmel was known for its grandeur and lushness, while purple was a color associated with royalty and luxury. The phrase about the king being "held in the galleries" suggests that her beauty has a powerful, almost mesmerizing effect on him.

The Hebrew behind Song of Solomon 7:5

  • כַּרְמֶל (Karmel, "Carmel"): This refers to Mount Carmel, a prominent and beautiful mountain in Israel. Comparing the woman’s head to Carmel emphasizes nobility, height, and natural beauty.
  • אַרְגָּמָן (’argaman, "purple"): Purple dye was rare and expensive in the ancient world, symbolizing wealth, royalty, and distinction. Describing her hair as "like purple" highlights its richness and allure.
  • הַמֶּלֶךְ (ha-melekh, "the king"): The use of "the king" can be literal or poetic, suggesting that even someone as important as a king is captivated by her.
  • אָסוּר (’asur, "held"): This word carries the sense of being bound or captivated, showing the strong effect her beauty has on the king.

Why Song of Solomon 7:5 matters

  • This verse clears up that the descriptions are not literal but poetic, using grand and luxurious imagery to communicate admiration and love.
  • The focus on the king being "held" by her beauty highlights the power and influence of love and attraction in the relationship.
  • Understanding the references to Carmel and purple connects the reader to the cultural and historical context, showing how beauty was celebrated in ancient Israel.

Where else these words appear

“galleries” Hebrew H7298 · used in 4 verses

  • Genesis 30:38 And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.
  • Genesis 30:41 And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.
  • Exodus 2:16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.

“hair” Hebrew H1803 · used in 8 verses

  • Genesis 41:19 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
  • 2 Kings 25:12 But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.
  • Jeremiah 40:7 Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon;

“Carmel” Hebrew H3760 · used in 25 verses

  • Joshua 12:22 The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one;
  • 1 Kings 18:19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
  • Isaiah 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

“purple” Hebrew H713 · used in 38 verses

  • Exodus 25:4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,
  • Exodus 35:25 And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.
  • Exodus 39:24 And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen.