Song of Songs 1:5-7·~1 min
The Bride
The bride says she is dark yet lovely, comparing herself to the tents of Kedar and the curtains of Solomon. She explains that the sun has marked her because her brothers set her to vineyard work, and then she turns directly to the beloved, asking where he feeds his flock so she will not wander among strangers.
I5 am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, 6Do not stare because I am dark, 7Tell me, O one I love,
Section summaryThe bride acknowledges her darkened appearance and explains it as the result of labor imposed by others, not a lack of beauty. She then asks the one she loves where he pastures his flock, expressing a desire to find him openly and not wander like one left outside his presence.
Role in the chapterThis section combines vulnerability, dignity, and seeking, showing the bride's self-knowledge and desire for nearness.