Song of Solomon
Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
Song of Solomon 6
Song of Solomon 6
1Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? Whither hath thy beloved turned him, That we may seek him with thee?
1Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.
Commentary · verse 1
2My beloved is gone down to his garden, To the beds of spices, To feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
3I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: He feedeth his flock among the lilies.
2My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
3I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.
Commentary · verses 2-3
The bride ignored their request and restated that she and her groom were united. Next, Solomon approached the bride...
4Thou art fair, O my love, as Tirzah, Comely as Jerusalem, Terrible as an army with banners.
5Turn away thine eyes from me, For they have overcome me. Thy hair is as a flock of goats, That lie along the side of Gilead.
4Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.
5Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.
Commentary · verses 4-5
Solomon was overcome by her beauty.
6Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes, Which are come up from the washing; Whereof every one hath twins, And none is bereaved among them.
7Thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate Behind thy veil.
8There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, And virgins without number.
9My dove, my undefiled, is but one; She is the only one of her mother; She is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed; Yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
6Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them.
7As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks.
8There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
9My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
Commentary · verses 6-9
Solomon also called her "dove." There were queens, concubines, and virgins but his undefiled bride was only one. He saw this woman as more excellent than any of these other women. Solomon was offering her the role of "queen of queens." The bride would be Solomon's pre-eminent wife. Solomon, who had hundreds of wives and hundreds of concubines, wanted the Shulamite more than any other woman...and Solomon had everything.
10Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, Fair as the moon, Clear as the sun, Terrible as an army with banners?
10Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?
Commentary · verse 10
Solomon finished his proposal. The bride responded...
11I went down into the garden of nuts, To see the green plants of the valley, To see whether the vine budded, And the pomegranates were in flower.
12Before I was aware, my soul set me Among the chariots of my princely people.
11I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded.
12Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib.
Commentary · verses 11-12
Her answer was: "I was doing my work and not trying to meet you. I did not intend to become your queen. Everything happened so fast I did not have the opportunity to tell you sooner." Next, Solomon responded to her refusal...
13Return, return, O Shulammite; Return, return, that we may look upon thee. Why will ye look upon the Shulammite, As upon the dance of Mahanaim?
13Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.
Commentary · verse 13
Solomon wanted her to stay with him. Solomon called her a Shulammite. The Bible also recorded other women from Shunem, but they were referred to as Shunammites. Abishag was a Shunammite. At the beginning of Solomon's reign, he was upset when his mother (Bathsheba) agreed to let Abishag become Adonijah's wife (1 Kings 2:22). The woman who took care of Elisha was a Shunammite (2 Kings 4). The final verse was translated differently in almost every major translation. "As upon the dance of the Mahanaim" referred to two armies that worked or "danced" together. Solomon continued with his plea...
The women were so impressed with the description, they wanted to see him. Would the bride tell them where to find her groom?