Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
6:4-10 The man again describes the physical beauty of the woman. He repeats parts of the description from ch 4 almost verbatim, showing the same high regard for his wife. 6:4 Tirzah was a city-state as early as Joshua’s time; it eventually became great enough to be the capital of the northern kingdom (Josh 12:24; 1 Kgs 15:33). The town’s name means “pleasant.” • Jerusalem was the capital of David’s and Solomon’s united kingdom and after that, the most important city of Judah.
Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
6:4-10 The man again describes the physical beauty of the woman. He repeats parts of the description from ch 4 almost verbatim, showing the same high regard for his wife. 6:4 Tirzah was a city-state as early as Joshua’s time; it eventually became great enough to be the capital of the northern kingdom (Josh 12:24; 1 Kgs 15:33). The town’s name means “pleasant.” • Jerusalem was the capital of David’s and Solomon’s united kingdom and after that, the most important city of Judah.
Literal English (Darby)ⓘThe Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.The Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.
Thou art fair, my love, as Tirzah, Comely as Jerusalem, Terrible as troops with banners:
Hebrew (Masoretic Text)ⓘThe Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.The Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.
King James VersionⓘKing James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
King James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
¶ Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.
American Standard VersionⓘAmerican Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.American Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.
Thou art fair, O my love, as Tirzah, Comely as Jerusalem, Terrible as an army with banners.
World English BibleⓘWorld English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.World English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.
You are beautiful, my love, as Tirzah, lovely as Jerusalem, awesome as an army with banners.
Bible in Basic EnglishⓘBible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.Bible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.
You are beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, as fair as Jerusalem; you are to be feared like an army with flags.