Song of Solomon 2
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
A description of the bridegroom, and his love to the bride, Sol 2:1-9. A fine description of spring, Sol 2:10-13. The mutual love of both, Sol 2:14-17.
Open source ↗rose--if applied to Jesus Christ, it, with the white lily (lowly, Co2 8:9), answers to "white and ruddy" (Sol 5:10). But it is rather the meadow-saffron: the Hebrew means radically a plant with a pungent bulb, inapplicable to the rose. So Syriac. It is of a white and violet color [MAURER, GESENIUS, and WEISS]. The bride thus speaks of herself as lowly though lovely, in contrast with the lordly "apple" or citron tree, the bridegroom (Sol 2:3); so the "lily" is applied to her (Sol 2:2), Sharon-- (Isa 35:1-2). In North Palestine, between Mount Tabor and Lake Tiberias (Ch1 5:16). Septuagint and Vulgate translate it, "a plain"; though they err in this, the Hebrew Bible not elsewhere favoring it, yet the parallelism to valleys shows that, in the proper name Sharon, there is here a tacit reference to its meaning of lowliness. Beauty, delicacy, and lowliness, are to be in her, as they were in Him (Mat 11:29).
Open source ↗INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 2 Here begins a new colloquy between Christ and his church; in which they alternately set forth the excellencies of each other; and express their mutual affection for, and delight and pleasure they take in, each other's company. Christ seems to begin, in an account of himself and his own excellencies, and of the church in her present state, Sol 2:1; then she, in her turn, praises him, and commends him above all others relates some choice proofs she had had of his love to her, and of communion with him in his house and ordinances, to such a degree as to overcome her, Sol 2:3; and then either he or she gives a charge to the daughters of Jerusalem, not to disturb either the one or the other in their sweet repose, Sol 2:7. Next the church relates how she heard the voice of Christ, and had a sight of him on the hills and mountains, at some distance; then more nearly, behind her wall, and through the lattices, Sol 2:8; and expresses the very words in which he spake to her, and gave her a call to come away with him; making use of arguments from the season of the year, the signs of which are beautifully described, Sol 2:10; and requests that she would come out of her solitude, that he might enjoy her company, whose countenance and voice are so delightful to him; and gives a charge to her and her friends, to seize on such as were harmful and prejudicial to their mutual property, Sol 2:14. And she closes the chapter with expressing her faith of interest in Christ; and with a petition for his speedy approach to her, and continued presence with her, Sol 2:16.
Open source ↗2:1-7 In this short poem, the man and the woman exchange compliments. Using metaphors of flowers and trees, they describe the nature of their loving relationship, emphasizing his role as protector and provider. • The poem ends (2:6) with the man and the woman in an intimate embrace. 2:1-2 the lily of the valley:the lily of the valleys: The Hebrew shows the woman’s modesty and humility, as she claims to be but one flower among many in Sharon and in the expansive valleys of Israel. • The man affirms her comparison to a lily, but says that her beauty is far from common; she is a lily among thistles. • my darling (literally my companion): They are in love, and they are also friends.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
חֲבַצֶּלֶת (chăbatstseleth, H2261) — probably meadow-saffron שָׁרוֹן (Shârôwn, H8289) — plain, Sharon, the name of a place in Palestine שׁוּשַׁן (shûwshan, H7799) — a lily (from its whiteness), as aflower of architectural ornament; also a (straight)… עֵמֶק (ʻêmeq, H6010) — a vale (i.e. broad depression)
Open source ↗שׁוּשַׁן (shûwshan, H7799) — a lily (from its whiteness), as aflower of architectural ornament; also a (straight)… חוֹחַ (chôwach, H2336) — a thorn; by analogy, a ring forthe nose רַעְיָה (raʻyâh, H7474) — a female associate בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and…
Open source ↗תַּפּוּחַ (tappûwach, H8598) — an apple (from its fragrance), i.e. the fruit or the tree (probably includ. others of the… עֵץ (ʻêts, H6086) — a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks) יַעַר (yaʻar, H3293) — a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees) דּוֹד (dôwd, H1730) — (figuratively) to love; by implication, a love-token, lover, friend; specifically an uncle בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… צֵל (tsêl, H6738) — shade, whether literal or figurative חָמַד (châmad, H2530) — to delight in פְּרִי (pᵉrîy, H6529) — fruit (literally or figuratively) מָתוֹק (mâthôwq, H4966) — sweet חֵךְ (chêk, H2441) — properly, the palate or inside of the mouth; hence, the mouth itself (as the organ of…
Open source ↗בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) יַיִן (yayin, H3196) — wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) דֶּגֶל (degel, H1714) — a flag אַהֲבָה (ʼahăbâh, H160) — {affection (in a good or a bad sense)}
Open source ↗סָמַךְ (çâmak, H5564) — to prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively, to lean upon or take hold of (in a… אֲשִׁישָׁה (ʼăshîyshâh, H809) — something closely pressed together, i.e. a cake of raisins or other comfits רָפַד (râphad, H7502) — to spread (a bed); by implication, to refresh תַּפּוּחַ (tappûwach, H8598) — an apple (from its fragrance), i.e. the fruit or the tree (probably includ. others of the… חָלָה (châlâh, H2470) — properly, to be rubbed or worn; hence (figuratively) to be weak, sick, afflicted; or… אַהֲבָה (ʼahăbâh, H160) — {affection (in a good or a bad sense)}
Open source ↗שְׂמֹאול (sᵉmôʼwl, H8040) — properly, dark (as enveloped), i.e. the north; hence (by orientation), the left hand רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of… יָמִין (yâmîyn, H3225) — the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more… חָבַק (châbaq, H2263) — to clasp (the hands or in embrace)
Open source ↗שָׁבַע (shâbaʻ, H7650) — to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times) בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine צְבִי (tsᵉbîy, H6643) — splendor (as conspicuous); also a gazelle (as beautiful) אוֹ (ʼôw, H176) — desire (and so probably in Proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if אַיָּלָה (ʼayâlâh, H355) — a doe or female deer שָׂדֶה (sâdeh, H7704) — a field (as flat) עוּר (ʻûwr, H5782) — to wake (literally or figuratively) אַהֲבָה (ʼahăbâh, H160) — {affection (in a good or a bad sense)} חָפֵץ (châphêts, H2654) — properly, to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend; figuratively, to…
Open source ↗קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound דּוֹד (dôwd, H1730) — (figuratively) to love; by implication, a love-token, lover, friend; specifically an uncle בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) דָּלַג (dâlag, H1801) — to spring הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) קָפַץ (qâphats, H7092) — to draw together, i.e. close; by implication, to leap (by contracting the limbs);… גִּבְעָה (gibʻâh, H1389) — a hillock
Open source ↗דּוֹד (dôwd, H1730) — (figuratively) to love; by implication, a love-token, lover, friend; specifically an uncle דָּמָה (dâmâh, H1819) — to compare; by implication, to resemble, liken, consider צְבִי (tsᵉbîy, H6643) — splendor (as conspicuous); also a gazelle (as beautiful) עֹפֶר (ʻôpher, H6082) — a fawn (from the dusty color) אַיָּל (ʼayâl, H354) — a stag or male deer עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… כֹּתֶל (kôthel, H3796) — a wall (as gathering inmates) שָׁגַח (shâgach, H7688) — to peep, i.e. glance sharply at חַלּוֹן (challôwn, H2474) — a window (as perforated) צוּץ (tsûwts, H6692) — to twinkle, i.e. glance; by analogy, to blossom (figuratively, flourish) חֶרֶךְ (cherek, H2762) — properly, a net, i.e. (by analogy) lattice
Open source ↗דּוֹד (dôwd, H1730) — (figuratively) to love; by implication, a love-token, lover, friend; specifically an uncle עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) רַעְיָה (raʻyâh, H7474) — a female associate יָפֶה (yâpheh, H3303) — beautiful (literally or figuratively) יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
Open source ↗סְתָו (çᵉthâv, H5638) — winter (as the dark season) עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… גֶּשֶׁם (geshem, H1653) — a shower חָלַף (châlaph, H2498) — properly, to slide by, i.e. (by implication) to hasten away, pass on, spring up, pierce… הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
Open source ↗נִצָּן (nitstsân, H5339) — a blossom רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) עֵת (ʻêth, H6256) — time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc. זָמִיר (zâmîyr, H2158) — a song to be accompanied with instrumental music נָגַע (nâgaʻ, H5060) — properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound תּוֹר (tôwr, H8449) — a ring-dove, often (figuratively) as a term of endearment שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,…
Open source ↗תְּאֵן (tᵉʼên, H8384) — the fig (tree or fruit) חָנַט (chânaṭ, H2590) — to spice; by implication, to embalm; also to ripen פַּג (pag, H6291) — crude; an unripe fig גֶּפֶן (gephen, H1612) — a vine (as twining), especially the grape סְמָדַר (çᵉmâdar, H5563) — a vine blossom; used also adverbially, abloom נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) רֵיחַ (rêyach, H7381) — odor (as if blown) קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) רַעְיָה (raʻyâh, H7474) — a female associate יָפֶה (yâpheh, H3303) — beautiful (literally or figuratively) יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
Open source ↗יוֹנָה (yôwnâh, H3123) — a dove (apparently from the warmth of their mating) חֲגָו (chăgâv, H2288) — a rift in rocks סֶלַע (çelaʻ, H5553) — a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress) סֵתֶר (çêther, H5643) — a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense) מַדְרֵגָה (madrêgâh, H4095) — properly, a step; by implication, a steep or inaccessible place רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… מַרְאֶה (marʼeh, H4758) — a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound עָרֵב (ʻârêb, H6156) — pleasant נָאוֶה (nâʼveh, H5000) — suitable, or beautiful
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.
I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.
His cheeks are like beds of spice, towers of perfume. His lips are like lilies, dripping with flowing myrrh.
I belong to my beloved and he belongs to me; he pastures his flock among the lilies.
My beloved is mine and I am his; he pastures his flock among the lilies.
Faithfulness sprouts from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.