Song-of-solomon 5:12
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.
American King James Version (AKJV)
His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.
American Standard Version (ASV)
His eyes are like doves beside the water-brooks, Washed with milk, and fitly set.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the water streams, washed with milk, and rightly placed.
Webster's Revision
His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.
World English Bible
His eyes are like doves beside the water brooks, washed with milk, mounted like jewels.
English Revised Version (ERV)
His eyes are like doves beside the water brooks; washed with milk, and fitly set.
Clarke's Song-of-solomon 5:12 Bible Commentary
His eyes are as the eyes of doves - See on Sol 4:1((note).
Washed with milk - The white of the eye, exceedingly white. By the use of stibium, in the East, the eye is rendered very beautiful; and receives such a lustre from the use of this article, that, to borrow the expression of a late traveler, "their eyes appear to be swimming in bliss." I believe this expression to be the meaning of the text.
Fitly set - Or, as the margin, very properly, sitting in fullness; not sunk, not contracted.
Barnes's Song-of-solomon 5:12 Bible Commentary
Or, His eyes are doves. The comparison is to doves seen by streams of water washing in milk (i. e., milk-white), and sitting on fulness (i. e., on the full or abundant water-flood).
Fitly set - This rendering supposes that the eyes within their sockets are compared to precious stones set in the foil of a ring (see the margin); but the other rendering is preferable. The milk-white doves themselves, sitting by full streams of water, or reflected in their flittings athwart the glassy surface, present images of the calm repose and vivid glances of the full pure lustrous eyes of the beloved.
Wesley's Song-of-solomon 5:12 Bible Commentary
5:12 Of doves - Lovely and pleasant, chaste and innocent.Rivers - Where they delight to abide. Milk - Doves of a milk white colour.
