SONG OF SOLOMON

SONG OF SOLOMON 1

THE BRIDEGROOM AND HIS BRIDE DELIGHT IN EACH OTHER

In the opening chapter, the woman is referenced as the bride, and she confesses her love to her future husband. She starts the book by saying “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!” And describes his love as better than wine. 

Besides the man and the woman, the other voices in this book are referenced as “others” or “friends.” These friends respond to the couple in support of the relationship, rejoicing in their love for each other. 

The woman acknowledges that her skin is darker than others because she has been in the sun working in the vineyard. The man responds by telling her that she is the most beautiful among women. 

SONG OF SOLOMON 2

THE BRIDE ADORES HER BELOVED

The bride tells of her admiration for her husband-to-be and how he treats her with love and abundance. The woman uses descriptions of animals and nature to describe the delight she finds in her man.  

In verse seven, the woman warns the women of Jerusalem to not stir up or awaken love before the time is right. Because she is about to be married, many interpret this as the woman warning others not to entertain sex before marriage because the desire and longing will become too much to abstain. 

SONG OF SOLOMON 3

THE BRIDE SEARCHES FOR HER BELOVED

The bride wakes one night, unable to find her man, and goes to look for him. Throughout the book, the couple is separated multiple times and they long to find each other again. Although this could be literal and descriptive of a couple in love, many interpretations of this song believe that this is an image of God's love for the Israelites, and ultimately Christ’s love for the Church. 

The time has come for the wedding, and Solomon makes a grand entrance. In Ephesians 5, Paul compares God’s love for the Church to a groom’s love for his bride. Whether this wedding is literal or symbolic, love is shown as a beautiful gift from God.

Song of Solomon 3:4 - I found him whom my soul loves.

SONG OF SOLOMON 4

SOLOMON ADMIRES HIS BRIDE’S BEAUTY

The groom sees his bride and admires her beauty. He compliments her using metaphors, describing her hair, teeth, lips, cheeks, neck, and breasts. The groom tells his bride “You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you” (v 7).  

The groom describes his bride as “a garden locked,” and the chapter ends with the bride responding, “let my beloved come to his garden and eat its choicest fruits” (v 16). Throughout the poem, there are references to gardens. In this example, the locked garden is most likely a reference to the woman's virginity. This illusion of purity points back to the Garden of Eden when the world was pure from sin. If this song is about God’s love for His people, it shows us that His love is pure and He is endlessly pursuing us. 

Song of Solomon 4:7 - You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.

SONG OF SOLOMON 5

THE BRIDE SEARCHES FOR HER BELOVED AGAIN

The friends encourage the couple to be drunk with love and enjoy each other. Like chapter three, the woman searches for her husband with longing and desire when they are separated. 

She describes her husband using similar language that he used to describe her in the previous chapter. Throughout their descriptions, they both make many references that can be reminiscent of both the building of the Tabernacle and the Temple. She describes the man’s body as polished ivory and his legs as alabaster columns set on bases of gold. She also describes the man’s appearance as choice cedar wood, which was used in the construction of the temple. Descriptions of pomegranates and flowers blooming are used to describe the couple and were also details included in the Tabernacle recorded in Exodus 25–27. 

SONG OF SOLOMON 6

I AM HIS, AND HE IS MINE

When the couple is reunited, they delight in each other. The bride declares “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” (v 3). The man describes the woman as the only one for him, comparing her to queens, concubines, and virgins. He tells her that she is perfect and calls her his dove.   

SONG OF SOLOMON 7

THE BRIDE GIVES HER LOVE

The man continues his description of his bride, detailing her feet, thighs, navel, neck, nose, eyes, and hair. Throughout this poem, there are consistent themes of sexual desire and passion. In this chapter, the man describes the bride’s stature like a palm tree and her breasts like coconuts, saying he will climb the tree and hold its fruit. The woman leads the man to the vineyard where she will give him her love. 

This chapter mentions mandrakes, which are believed to aid in fertility. These are mentioned in Genesis 30 when Leah and Rachel make an exchange that includes mandrakes. 

SONG OF SOLOMON 8

LONGING FOR HER BELOVED

The couple is separated again and the woman longs for her beloved. For the third and final time, she advises others to not awaken love early. In verse six, she claims that love is as strong as death and jealousy as fierce as the grave. Although the author would not have known this, this wording points to Jesus, whose love was stronger than death and who overcame the grave. 

The poem ends rather abruptly with the man calling out to the woman, and the woman responding, “make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices” (v 14).

At first glance, this book can appear confusing or odd, but it speaks to the beauty and importance of knowing and being fully known. God knows us fully and He blesses His people with His Word, allowing us to know Him better and discover more about His character. Although God is only briefly mentioned in this book (8:6), His creation and goodness are abundant throughout.