Even if her hair is not literally dyed purple, according to the man her hair marks her as a queen, and he, totally captivated by her, has become her king (Song of Solomon 1:12). The king, however, is powerless before her as he has become obsessed with her beauty.1 The woman’s hair is no passive appendage to her body: it has the power to hold a king captive in its tresses. He is unable to escape her beauty, even if he wanted to.2
5 Your head crowns you like Carmel, and your flowing locks are like purple; a king is held captive in the tresses.