O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.

SONG OF SOLOMON 8:1KJV
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Song of Solomon 8:1 (KJV)

What does Song of Solomon 8:1 mean?

Song of Solomon 8:1 expresses the longing of the woman for her beloved, wishing he were like her brother so she could openly show affection for him without shame or judgment. The verse highlights her desire for freedom to express love in public, which was only acceptable between close family members in her culture.

In this verse, the woman is speaking to her beloved, imagining a situation where social customs would allow her to greet him with a kiss in public. In ancient Israel, public displays of affection between lovers were frowned upon, but such gestures between siblings were normal. Her words reveal both the intensity of her love and the constraints placed on it by society.

The Hebrew behind Song of Solomon 8:1

  • "brother" (אָח, ’ach): This word means a male sibling, and its use here shows the speaker's wish for a relationship that allows public closeness without suspicion.
  • "sucked" (יָנַק, yanaq) and "breasts" (שַׁד, shad): These words point to a shared upbringing and the intimacy of siblings who nursed from the same mother, emphasizing natural, innocent closeness.
  • "without" (חוץ, chuts): This word means "outside" or "in public," making it clear that the woman is thinking about how she could act if seen by others.
  • "kiss" (נָשַׁק, nashaq): This word means to kiss, and in this context, it refers to a gesture of affection that would be acceptable if the beloved were her brother.
  • "despised" (בּוּז, buz): This word means to be looked down on or shamed, underlining the social risk of showing romantic affection in public.

Why Song of Solomon 8:1 matters

  • Song of Solomon 8:1 clears up that the longing in this verse is not for a sibling relationship, but for the freedom to express love without social barriers.
  • The verse emphasizes the strong social customs of the time, helping readers understand the cultural background of the Song of Solomon.
  • This longing connects to the wider theme of the book: the tension between private passion and public restraint, showing the real challenges faced by the lovers.

Where else these words appear

“despised” Hebrew H936 · used in 11 verses

  • Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
  • Proverbs 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
  • Proverbs 23:22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

“breasts” Hebrew H7699 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 49:25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
  • Song of Solomon 7:7 This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.
  • Lamentations 4:3 Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

“sucked” Hebrew H3243 · used in 30 verses

  • Genesis 21:7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
  • Deuteronomy 33:19 They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.
  • Isaiah 11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.

“kiss” Hebrew H5401 · used in 35 verses

  • Genesis 27:26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
  • Exodus 4:27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.
  • 1 Kings 19:20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?