Song of Solomon1
New American Standard
1 The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.
2 “May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is sweeter than wine.
3 Your oils have a pleasing fragrance, Your name is like purified oil; Therefore the young women love you.
4 Draw me after you and let’s run together! The king has brought me into his chambers.” “We will rejoice in you and be joyful; We will praise your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you.”
5 “I am black and beautiful, You daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Do not stare at me because I am dark, For the sun has tanned me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; They made me caretaker of the vineyards, But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.
7 Tell me, you whom my soul loves, Where do you pasture your flock, Where do you have it lie down at noon? For why should I be like one who veils herself Beside the flocks of your companions?”
8 “If you yourself do not know, Most beautiful among women, Go out on the trail of the flock, And pasture your young goats By the tents of the shepherds.
9 “To me, my darling, you are like My mare among the chariots of Pharaoh.
10 Your cheeks are delightful with jewelry, Your neck with strings of beads.”
11 “We will make for you jewelry of gold With beads of silver.”
12 “While the king was at his table, My perfume gave forth its fragrance.
13 My beloved is to me a pouch of myrrh Which lies all night between my breasts.
14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms In the vineyards of Engedi.”
15 “How beautiful you are, my darling, How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves.”
16 “How handsome you are, my beloved, And so delightful! Indeed, our bed is luxuriant!
17 The beams of our house are cedars, Our rafters, junipers.
People in this chapter — 3
All people →Study
Song of Solomon 1Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Song of Solomon 1. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The title. (1) . The church confesses her deformity. (2-6) . The church beseeches Christ to lead her to the resting-place of his people. (7,8) . Christ's commendation of the church, Her esteem for Him. (9-17).
v1
This is "the Song of songs," excellent above any others, for it is wholly taken up with describing the excellences of Christ, and the love between him and his redeemed people.
vv2-6
The church, or rather the believer, speaks here in the character of the spouse of the King, the Messiah. The kisses of his mouth mean those assurances of pardon with which believers are favoured, filling them with peace and joy in believing, and causing them to abound in hope by the power of the Holy Ghost. Gracious souls take most pleasure in loving Christ, and being loved of him. Christ's love is more valuable and desirable than the best this world can give. The name of Christ is not now like ointment sealed up, but like ointment poured forth; which denotes the freeness and fulness of the setting forth of his grace by the gospel. Those whom he has redeemed and sanctified, are here the virgins that love Jesus Christ, and follow him whithersoever he goes, Rev. 14:4. They entreat him to draw them by the quickening influences of his Spirit. The more clearly we discern Christ's glory, the more sensible shall we be that we are unable to follow him suitably, and at the same time be more desirous of doing it. Observe the speedy answer given to this prayer. Those who wait at Wisdom's gate, shall be led into truth and comfort. And being brought into this chamber, our griefs will vanish. We have no joy but in Christ, and for this we are indebted to him. We will remember to give thanks for thy love; it shall make more lasting impressions upon us than any thing in this world. Nor is any love acceptable to Christ but love in sincerity, Eph. 6:24. The daughters of Jerusalem may mean professors not yet established in the faith. The spouse was black as the tents of the wandering Arabs, but comely as the magnificent curtains in the palaces of Solomon. The believer is black, as being defiled and sinful by nature, but comely, as renewed by Divine grace to the holy image of God. He is still deformed with remains of sin, but comely as accepted in Christ. He is often base and contemptible in the esteem of men, but excellent in the sight of God. The blackness was owing to the hard usage that had been suffered. The children of the church, her mother, but not of God, her Father, were angry with her. They had made her suffer hardships, which caused her to neglect the care of her soul. Thus, under the emblem of a poor female, made the chosen partner of a prince, we are led to consider the circumstances in which the love of Christ is accustomed to find its objects. They were wretched slaves of sin, in toil, or in sorrow, weary and heavy laden, but how great the change when the love of Christ is manifested to their souls!
vv7-8
Observe the title given to Christ, O Thou whom my soul loveth. Those that do so, may come to him boldly, and may humbly plead with him. Is it with God's people a noon-time of outward troubles, inward conflicts? Christ has rest for them. Those whose souls love Jesus Christ, earnestly desire to share in the privileges of his flock. Turning aside from Christ is what gracious souls dread more than anything else. God is ready to answer prayer. Follow the track, ask for the good old way, observe the footsteps of the flock, look what has been the practice of godly people. Sit under the direction of good ministers; beside the tents of the under shepherds. Bring thy charge with thee, they shall all be welcome. It will be the earnest desire and prayer of the Christian, that God would so direct him in his worldly business, and so order his situation and employment, that he may have his Lord and Saviour always before him.
Key Words
שִׁיר: a song; abstractly, singing
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
שְׁלֹמֹה: Shelomah, David's successor
נָשַׁק: to kiss, literally or figuratively (touch); also (as a mode of attachment), to equip with weapons
נְשִׁיקָה: a kiss
פֶּה: the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
דּוֹד: (figuratively) to love; by implication, a love-token, lover, friend; specifically an uncle
טוֹב: good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
Cross References
Song of Solomon 1Believers, as spiritually pure virgins, are identified by their devotion and love for Christ the Lamb.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The Messiah is anointed with the oil of gladness, matching the savor of His good ointments.
Supported by JFB
The divine drawing of the soul; no one can come unless the Father draws them.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Abrupt use of the pronoun 'him' without an antecedent, showing a heart full of one object.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
A good name is better than precious ointment; Christ's name is the ultimate sweet ointment.
Supported by JFB
God draws His people with lovingkindness, illustrating the bride's plea to be drawn.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God draws His people with cords of a man, with bands of love.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The King's bride and her virgin companions are brought into the King's palace.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The father kisses the returning prodigal, representing the kiss of peace and reconciliation.
Supported by JFB
The holy anointing oil of the tabernacle typifies the unique fragrance of Christ's spirit.
Supported by JFB
The apostle espouses believers as chaste virgins to one husband, Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity (the upright).
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Lord is the Shepherd who feeds His flock and leads them to rest.
Supported by JFB
Christ presents the church to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle.
Supported by JFB
Historical record of Solomon composing 1,005 songs, of which this is the preeminent one.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Messiah's garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia, matching the bride's praise of His name.
Supported by JFB
Mary's spikenard fills the house with fragrance, echoing the name of Christ poured out.
Supported by JFB
Christ had no form or comeliness to the world, mirroring the bride's outward blackness.
Supported by Matthew Henry