Skip to Content

Song of Solomon

Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.

Song of Solomon 2

1I am a rose of Sharon, A lily of the valleys.

1I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.

Commentary · verse 1

Sharon was in North Palestine, between Mount Tabor and Lake Tiberias (1 Chronicles 5:16). The word "Sharon" meant "a plain." One thought here was that she was using this as a symbol of her humility. Next, the groom spoke...

2As a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.

2As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

Commentary · verse 2

The groom saw her as outgrowing her surroundings like a lily outgrew the thorns. The bride spoke...

3As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, So is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

3As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

Commentary · verse 3

She saw her man as a tree that produced fruit among wild trees...wild men. She appreciated the fruit of his life.

4He brought me to the banqueting-house, And his banner over me was love.

4He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

Commentary · verse 4

He provided protection with a banner of love.

5Stay ye me with raisins, refresh me with apples; For I am sick from love.

5Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.

Commentary · verse 5

"Stay me with raisins" refers to her looking for nourishment. The word "stay" meant "strengthen."

6His left hand is under my head, And his right hand doth embrace me.

6His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.

Commentary · verse 6

Next, the bride was separated from the groom and back in Solomon's tents speaking to the ladies of his court...

7I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes, or by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, Until he please.

7I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

Commentary · verse 7

In the original manuscripts, the word "my" was not present. This verse ought to read: "That ye stir not, up, nor awake love..." She told the women not to encourage her to be passionate towards Solomon.

8The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh, Leaping upon the mountains, Skipping upon the hills.

8The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

Commentary · verse 8

She was hugely energized by his voice, remembering the first time she met her groom (the shepherd).

9My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: Behold, he standeth behind our wall; He looketh in at the windows; He glanceth through the lattice.

10My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

9My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.

10My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

Commentary · verses 9-10

The groom called her away.

11For, lo, the winter is past; The rain is over and gone; 12The flowers appear on the earth; The time of the singing of birds is come, And the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land; 13The fig-tree ripeneth her green figs, And the vines are in blossom; They give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

11For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

12The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

13The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

Commentary · verses 11-13

She presented his reason (WHY) he called her away. He saw the profitable season as the time for union with her, his proposal. Next, she spoke of her groom...

14O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, In the covert of the steep place, Let me see thy countenance, Let me hear thy voice; For sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

14O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

Commentary · verse 14

She called him a dove.

15Take us the foxes, the little foxes, That spoil the vineyards; For our vineyards are in blossom.

15Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

Commentary · verse 15

She spoke of her brothers who hindered her time with her groom by giving her work.

16My beloved is mine, and I am his: He feedeth his flock among the lilies.

17Until the day be cool, and the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart Upon the mountains of Bether.

16My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

17Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

Commentary · verses 16-17

Despite the distractions, she had faith they were joined. "Until the day be cool" had not happened yet. According to Hebrews 11:1, faith was a belief in something that had not happened or something you couldn't see. Next, she explained what happened when she went to look for her groom at night...

Up and down arrows move between verses, Enter selects one, Shift with an arrow takes in a run. Tab then reaches Save, Add Note and Copy.