Song of Solomon 6
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The companions of the bride inquire after the bridegroom, Sol 6:1-3. A description of the bride, Sol 6:4-13.
Open source ↗Historically, at Jesus Christ's crucifixion and burial, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, and others, joined with His professed disciples. By speaking of Jesus Christ, the bride does good not only to her own soul, but to others (see on Sol 1:4; Mal 3:16; Mat 5:14-16). Compare the hypocritical use of similar words (Mat 2:8).
Open source ↗INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 6 The discourse between the church and the daughters of Jerusalem is continued in this chapter: they inquire whither her beloved was gone, in order to seek him with her, Sol 6:1; she tells them where he was gone, and for what purpose he went thither, and what he was doing there; and claims and asserts her interest in him, Sol 6:2; Then follows a commendation of the church by Christ, who admires her beauty, and describes her by her eyes, hair, &c. Sol 6:4; and prefers her to all others; being a singular and choice one to him, and the praise of others, Sol 6:8; and next he gives an account of his going into his garden, and his design in it, and of what happened to him there, Sol 6:11. And the chapter is concluded with a charge to the Shulamite, to turn herself, that she might be looked upon; which occasions a question, to which an answer is returned, Sol 6:13.
Open source ↗6:1-3 The conversation that ends this poem indicates that it is not an actual event. The dream ends as the young women of Jerusalem ask the woman where her man has gone. The woman tells them not to concern themselves with finding him—he is back in bed with her, enjoying his garden with its spice beds and lilies, a description of sexual intimacy.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
דּוֹד (dôwd, H1730) — (figuratively) to love; by implication, a love-token, lover, friend; specifically an uncle הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) יָפֶה (yâpheh, H3303) — beautiful (literally or figuratively) אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman פָּנָה (pânâh, H6437) — to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. appear, look, etc. בָּקַשׁ (bâqash, H1245) — to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to…
Open source ↗דּוֹד (dôwd, H1730) — (figuratively) to love; by implication, a love-token, lover, friend; specifically an uncle יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… גַּן (gan, H1588) — a garden (as fenced) עֲרוּגָה (ʻărûwgâh, H6170) — something piled up (as if (figuratively) raised by mental aspiration), i.e. a paterre בֶּשֶׂם (besem, H1314) — fragrance; by implication, spicery; also the balsam plant רָעָה (râʻâh, H7462) — to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);… לָקַט (lâqaṭ, H3950) — properly, to pick up, i.e. (generally) to gather; specifically, to glean שׁוּשַׁן (shûwshan, H7799) — a lily (from its whiteness), as aflower of architectural ornament; also a (straight)…
Open source ↗דּוֹד (dôwd, H1730) — (figuratively) to love; by implication, a love-token, lover, friend; specifically an uncle רָעָה (râʻâh, H7462) — to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);… שׁוּשַׁן (shûwshan, H7799) — a lily (from its whiteness), as aflower of architectural ornament; also a (straight)…
Open source ↗יָפֶה (yâpheh, H3303) — beautiful (literally or figuratively) רַעְיָה (raʻyâh, H7474) — a female associate תִּרְצָה (Tirtsâh, H8656) — Tirtsah, a place in Palestine; also an Israelitess נָאוֶה (nâʼveh, H5000) — suitable, or beautiful יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine אָיֹם (ʼâyôm, H366) — frightful דָּגַל (dâgal, H1713) — to flaunt, i.e. raise a flag; figuratively, to be conspicuous
Open source ↗סָבַב (çâbab, H5437) — to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) הֵם (hêm, H1992) — they (only used when emphatic) רָהַב (râhab, H7292) — to urge severely, i.e. (figuratively) importune, embolden, capture, act insolently שֵׂעָר (sêʻâr, H8181) — hair (as if tossed or bristling) עֵדֶר (ʻêder, H5739) — an arrangement, i.e. muster (of animals) עֵז (ʻêz, H5795) — a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for… גָּלַשׁ (gâlash, H1570) — probably to caper (as a goat) גִּלְעָד (Gilʻâd, H1568) — Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites
Open source ↗שֵׁן (shên, H8127) — a tooth (as sharp); specifically ivory; figuratively, a cliff עֵדֶר (ʻêder, H5739) — an arrangement, i.e. muster (of animals) רָחֵל (râchêl, H7353) — a ewe (the females being the predominant element of a flock) (as a good traveller) עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… רַחְצָה (rachtsâh, H7367) — a bathing place תָּאַם (tâʼam, H8382) — to be (causatively, make) twinned, i.e. (figuratively) duplicate or (architectural)… שַׁכּוּל (shakkûwl, H7909) — bereaved
Open source ↗פֶּלַח (pelach, H6400) — a slice רִמּוֹן (rimmôwn, H7416) — a pomegranate, the tree (from its upright growth) or the fruit (also an artificial… רַקָּה (raqqâh, H7541) — properly, thinness, i.e. the side of the head בְּעַד (bᵉʻad, H1157) — in up to or over against; generally at, beside, among, behind, for, etc. צַמָּה (tsammâh, H6777) — a veil
Open source ↗שִׁשִּׁים (shishshîym, H8346) — sixty מַלְכָּה (malkâh, H4436) — a queen שְׁמֹנִים (shᵉmônîym, H8084) — eighty, also eightieth פִּילֶגֶשׁ (pîylegesh, H6370) — a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour עַלְמָה (ʻalmâh, H5959) — a lass (as veiled or private) מִסְפָּר (miçpâr, H4557) — a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also…
Open source ↗יוֹנָה (yôwnâh, H3123) — a dove (apparently from the warmth of their mating) תָּם (tâm, H8535) — complete; usually (morally) pious; specifically, gentle, dear אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first אֵם (ʼêm, H517) — a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively… בַּר (bar, H1249) — beloved; also pure, empty יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… אָשַׁר (ʼâshar, H833) — to be straight (used in the widest sense, especially to be level, right, happy);… מַלְכָּה (malkâh, H4436) — a queen פִּילֶגֶשׁ (pîylegesh, H6370) — a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour הָלַל (hâlal, H1984) — to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make ashow, to…
Open source ↗שָׁקַף (shâqaph, H8259) — properly, to lean out (of a window), i.e. (by implication) peep or gaze (passively, be a… שַׁחַר (shachar, H7837) — dawn (literal, figurative or adverbial) יָפֶה (yâpheh, H3303) — beautiful (literally or figuratively) לְבָנָה (lᵉbânâh, H3842) — properly, (the) white, i.e. the moon בַּר (bar, H1249) — beloved; also pure, empty חַמָּה (chammâh, H2535) — heat; by implication, the sun אָיֹם (ʼâyôm, H366) — frightful דָּגַל (dâgal, H1713) — to flaunt, i.e. raise a flag; figuratively, to be conspicuous
Open source ↗יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… גִּנָּה (ginnâh, H1594) — {a garden} אֱגוֹז (ʼĕgôwz, H93) — a nut רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… אֵב (ʼêb, H3) — a green plant נַחַל (nachal, H5158) — a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a… גֶּפֶן (gephen, H1612) — a vine (as twining), especially the grape פָּרַח (pârach, H6524) — to break forth as a bud, i.e. bloom; generally, to spread; specifically, to fly (as… רִמּוֹן (rimmôwn, H7416) — a pomegranate, the tree (from its upright growth) or the fruit (also an artificial… נוּץ (nûwts, H5132) — properly, to flash; hence, to blossom (from the brilliancy of color); also, to fly away…
Open source ↗יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… מֶרְכָּבָה (merkâbâh, H4818) — a chariot עַמִּי נָדִיב (ʻAmmîy Nâdîyb, H5993) — Ammi-Nadib, probably an Israelite
Open source ↗שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… שׁוּלַמִּית (Shûwlammîyth, H7759) — peaceful (with the article always prefixed, making it a pet name); the Shulammith, an… חָזָה (châzâh, H2372) — to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specifically, to have… מְחֹלָה (mᵉchôlâh, H4246) — a dance מַחֲנֶה (machăneh, H4264) — an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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How is your beloved better than others, O most beautiful among women? How is your beloved better than another, that you charge us so?
If you do not know, O fairest of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds.
O Hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress, why are You like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays but a night?
May the LORD repay your work, and may you receive a rich reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have taken refuge.”
Like a lily among the thorns is my darling among the maidens.
Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Take me away with you—let us hurry! May the king bring me to his chambers. We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. It is only right that they adore you.
You are as beautiful, my darling, as Tirzah, as lovely as Jerusalem, as majestic as troops with banners.
I opened for my beloved, but he had turned and gone. My heart sank at his departure. I sought him, but did not find him. I called, but he did not answer.