What Does Song of Solomon 6:8 Mean in the King James?
There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The court’s women are ranked and counted, until the final group exceeds counting.
THE MEANING
The scene arrays queens, concubines, and an uncounted multitude of virgins. You see status and desire divided into ranks, while the final group exceeds measure.
THE ROOT
מִסְפָּר
mispar
GROWS FROM
ספר
s-p-r
to count, number, recount, or relate
“without number” in this verse is mispar. The root behind “number” also carries the sense of recounting, while its branch for a book or record preserves what is counted. The last group exceeds not only a tally but the limits of an account.
ALSO GROWS
sāphar: to count, recount, or tell
סָפַר
The shared root links a numerical tally with an account told aloud.
sēfer: book or written record
סֵפֶר
A count can be preserved in a record; this multitude is described as beyond counting.
מְלָכוֹת
melakhot
GROWS FROM
מלך
m-l-k
to rule or reign
“queens” in this verse is melakhot. The count begins with women whose status is bound to rule, then names concubines and an uncounted multitude. The root makes the first tier a position of power within the scene’s hierarchy.
ALSO GROWS
melekh: king
מֶלֶךְ
The related title names the ruler whose court the hierarchy evokes.
malkhut: kingship, reign, or kingdom
מַלְכוּת
This branch names the sphere or exercise of rule that gives the queens their rank.
THE PATTERN
Scripture uses what exceeds counting to make abundance visible at the edge of human measure.
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;THE THREAD
My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.Verse 8 multiplies the court by rank and number; verse 9 answers it with one beloved, then names the queens and concubines again as witnesses to her singularity. The contrast shows that the list measures the crowd, while the beloved stands apart.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us