This verse from the Song of Solomon (also called the Song of Songs) is part of a passionate and metaphorical love poem. Let's break down its meaning:
"Turn away your eyes from me, for they have overcome me." This expresses the overwhelming power of the beloved's gaze. The speaker (traditionally understood as King Solomon speaking to his beloved) is so captivated and perhaps even weakened or undone by her eyes that he asks her to look away. The eyes are portrayed as having a potent, almost magical, effect.
"Your hair is like a flock of goats, that lie along the side of Gilead." This is a simile, comparing the woman's hair to a flock of goats descending a hillside in the Gilead region. Gilead was known for its lush, green hills and goat herding. The imagery evokes:
Abundance: A large flock suggests that the woman's hair is thick and plentiful.
Darkness: Mountain goats are often dark in color, suggesting the woman's hair is dark.
Waviness/Undulation: The image of the goats lying or moving down the hillside conveys a sense of the hair's waves or curls.
Luster/Sheen: Healthy goat's hair has a sheen to it, suggesting that the woman's hair is lustrous and shiny.
Natural Beauty: The reference to a natural landscape emphasizes the woman's natural beauty.
Overall Meaning:
The verse conveys the speaker's profound infatuation and admiration for the woman. He is so struck by her beauty, particularly her eyes, that he is almost overwhelmed. The comparison of her hair to a flock of goats on Gilead is a poetic and evocative way to describe its abundance, darkness, waviness, and natural beauty. The verse is less about precise physical description and more about expressing intense emotion and romantic idealization.
Symbolic Interpretations:
Some interpretations extend the verse's meaning beyond the literal:
Eyes as Windows to the Soul: The power of the eyes might suggest a deep connection between the lovers on a spiritual or emotional level.
Goats as Symbols of Fertility/Vitality: The imagery of goats and the lush Gilead landscape could be interpreted as symbols of fertility, vitality, and life.
In essence, the verse is a powerful expression of love, admiration, and the captivating beauty of the beloved. It uses vivid imagery and metaphorical language to convey the speaker's intense feelings.
This verse from the Song of Solomon (also called the Song of Songs) is part of a passionate and metaphorical love poem. Let's break down its meaning:
"Turn away your eyes from me, for they have overcome me." This expresses the overwhelming power of the beloved's gaze. The speaker (traditionally understood as King Solomon speaking to his beloved) is so captivated and perhaps even weakened or undone by her eyes that he asks her to look away. The eyes are portrayed as having a potent, almost magical, effect.
"Your hair is like a flock of goats, that lie along the side of Gilead." This is a simile, comparing the woman's hair to a flock of goats descending a hillside in the Gilead region. Gilead was known for its lush, green hills and goat herding. The imagery evokes:
Abundance: A large flock suggests that the woman's hair is thick and plentiful.
Darkness: Mountain goats are often dark in color, suggesting the woman's hair is dark.
Waviness/Undulation: The image of the goats lying or moving down the hillside conveys a sense of the hair's waves or curls.
Luster/Sheen: Healthy goat's hair has a sheen to it, suggesting that the woman's hair is lustrous and shiny.
Natural Beauty: The reference to a natural landscape emphasizes the woman's natural beauty.
Overall Meaning:
The verse conveys the speaker's profound infatuation and admiration for the woman. He is so struck by her beauty, particularly her eyes, that he is almost overwhelmed. The comparison of her hair to a flock of goats on Gilead is a poetic and evocative way to describe its abundance, darkness, waviness, and natural beauty. The verse is less about precise physical description and more about expressing intense emotion and romantic idealization.
Symbolic Interpretations:
Some interpretations extend the verse's meaning beyond the literal:
Eyes as Windows to the Soul: The power of the eyes might suggest a deep connection between the lovers on a spiritual or emotional level.
Goats as Symbols of Fertility/Vitality: The imagery of goats and the lush Gilead landscape could be interpreted as symbols of fertility, vitality, and life.
In essence, the verse is a powerful expression of love, admiration, and the captivating beauty of the beloved. It uses vivid imagery and metaphorical language to convey the speaker's intense feelings.