by Englishman 11 Replies latest watchtower bible
..In town earlier today, I was walking towards a black lady who gave me a dazzling smile as we passed each other. She was a beautiful looking woman, and for some reason the old Bible verse from Song of Solomon came into my mind:
"I am black, but comely, O daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Look not upon me, because I am black; because the sun hath etc.."
But, why the "But"? Were black people looked down upon in Bible times?
If so, why?
Englishman.
I'll take a stab at this.
The context of the scripture shows that she was not dark by race but because her work in the vineyard kept her outdoors in the sun a great deal. So she must have had a terrific tan.
Culturally, women without tans were women would did not have to work outdoors and so were pale. It indicated they were wealthy and had servants/slaves to do the traditional women's work outdoors.
Women went to elaborate lengths not to get tan in later cultures, wearing long sleeves, big hats, etc, to protect their skin,.
Were the Jews prejudiced against darker races? The Jews were taught to consider themselves above any non-Israelite.
Is any group every free of prejudice? Probably not.
Blondie
Blondie,
Thank you! Just been doing a bit of research, indications are that the Queen of Sheba was also black, or maybe, heavily tanned.
Englishman.
Hey E-man...I think I can get behind this subject! Maverick Good info Blondie!
Yes, I always understood it to mean "swarthy" as opposed to black by race.
I always fancied the poet was in love with an exotically beautiful African....
Anyway, I love the Solomon Poem. Classic Romance.
The word has been translated as "but", "and", & "yet".
New American Standard Bible:
I am black but lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the tents of Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon.
"Do not stare at me because I am swarthy,
For the sun has burned me.
My mother's sons were angry with me;
They made me caretaker of the vineyards,
But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.
The Message:
I am weathered but still elegant,
oh, dear sisters in Jerusalem,
Weather--darkened like Kedar desert tents,
time-softened like Solomon's Temple hangings.
Don't look down on me because I'm dark,
darkened by the sun's harsh rays.
My brothers ridiculed me and sent me to work in the fields.
They made me care for the face of the earth,
but I had no time to care for my own face.
Amplified Bible:
I am so black; but [you are] lovely and pleasant [the ladies assured her].
O you daughters of Jerusalem, [I am as dark] as the tents of [the Bedouin tribe]
Kedar, like the [beautiful] curtains of Solomon!
[Please] do not look at me, [she said, for] I am swarthy.
[I have worked out] in the sun and it has left its mark upon me.
My stepbrothers were angry with me, and they made me keeper of the
Young's Literal Translation:
Dark [am] I, and comely, daughters of Jerusalem, As tents
of Kedar, as curtains of Solomon.
Fear me not, because I [am] very dark, Because the sun hath
scorched me, The sons of my mother were angry with me, They made
me keeper of the vineyards, My vineyard -- my own -- I have not kept.
Contemporary English Version:
Take me to your home.
We are happy for you!
And we praise your love
even more than wine.
Young women of Jerusalem,
it is only right
that you should adore him.
My skin is dark and beautiful,
like a tent in the desert
or like Solomon's curtains.
The Young Women Speak:
She Speaks:
Don't stare at me
just because the sun
has darkened my skin.
My brothers were angry with me;
they made me work in the vineyard,
and so I neglected
my complexion.
Don't let the other shepherds
think badly of me.
Geneva Bible:
Regard ye me not because I am blacke: for the sunne hath looked vpon mee.
The sonnes of my mother were angry against mee: they made me the keeper
of ye vines: but I kept not mine owne vine.
Basic English Bible:
I am dark, but fair of form, O daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar,
as the curtains of Solomon.
Let not your eyes be turned on me, because I am dark, because I was looked
on by the sun; my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the
keeper of the vine-gardens; but my vine-garden I have not kept.
New International Version:
Dark am I, yet lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
dark like the tents of Kedar,
like the tent curtains of Solomon.
Do not stare at me because I am dark,
because I am darkened by the sun.
My mother's sons were angry with me
and made me take care of the vineyards;
my own vineyard I have neglected.
I find "swarthy" to be a very under-utilized word.
That is all.
my own vineyard I have neglected.
Obviously she's not Brazilian.
Now this thread I would lock LOL
