Song of Solomon5
New International Version
1 I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, friends, and drink; drink your fill of love.
2 I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.”
3 I have taken off my robe— must I put it on again? I have washed my feet— must I soil them again?
4 My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him.
5 I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the bolt.
6 I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer.
7 The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. They beat me, they bruised me; they took away my cloak, those watchmen of the walls!
8 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you— if you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him I am faint with love.
9 How is your beloved better than others, most beautiful of women? How is your beloved better than others, that you so charge us?
10 My beloved is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.
11 His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven.
12 His eyes are like doves by the water streams, washed in milk, mounted like jewels.
13 His cheeks are like beds of spice yielding perfume. His lips are like lilies dripping with myrrh.
14 His arms are rods of gold set with topaz. His body is like polished ivory decorated with lapis lazuli.
15 His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars.
16 His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.
Study
Song of Solomon 5Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Song of Solomon 5. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Christ's answer. (1) . The disappointments of the church from her own folly. (2-8) . The excellences of Christ. (9-16).
v1
See how ready Christ is to accept the invitations of his people. What little good there is in us would be lost, if he did not preserve it to himself. He also invites his beloved people to eat and drink abundantly. The ordinances in which they honour him, are means of grace.
vv2-8
Churches and believers, by carelessness and security, provoke Christ to withdraw. We ought to notice our spiritual slumbers and distempers. Christ knocks to awaken us, knocks by his word and Spirit, knocks by afflictions and by our consciences; thus, Rev. 3:20. When we are unmindful of Christ, still he thinks of us. Christ's love to us should engage ours to him, even in the most self-denying instances; and we only can be gainers by it. Careless souls put slights on Jesus Christ. Another could not be sent to open the door. Christ calls to us, but we have no mind, or pretend we have no strength, or we have no time, and think we may be excused. Making excuses is making light of Christ. Those put contempt upon Christ, who cannot find in their hearts to bear a cold blast, or to leave a warm bed for him. See the powerful influences of Divine grace. He put in his hand to unbolt the door, as one weary of waiting. This betokens a work of the Spirit upon the soul. The believer's rising above self-indulgence, seeking by prayer for the consolations of Christ, and to remove every hinderance to communion with him; these actings of the soul are represented by the hands dropping sweet-smelling myrrh upon the handles of the locks. But the Beloved was gone! By absenting himself, Christ will teach his people to value his gracious visits more highly. Observe, the soul still calls Christ her Beloved. Every desertion is not despair. Lord, I believe, though I must say, Lord, help my unbelief. His words melted me, yet, wretch that I was, I made excuses. The smothering and stifling of convictions will be very bitter to think of, when God opens our eyes. The soul went in pursuit of him; not only prayed, but used means, sought him in the ways wherein he used to be found. The watchmen wounded me. Some refer it to those who misapply the word to awakened consciences. The charge to the daughters of Jerusalem, seems to mean the distressed believer's desire of the prayers of the feeblest Christian. Awakened souls are more sensible of Christ's withdrawings than of any other trouble.
vv9-16
Even those who have little acquaintance with Christ, cannot but see amiable beauty in others who bear his image. There are hopes of those who begin to inquire concerning Christ and his perfections. Christians, who are well acquainted with Christ themselves, should do all they can to make others know something of him. Divine glory makes him truly lovely in the eyes of all who are enlightened to discern spiritual things. He is white in the spotless innocence of his life, ruddy in the bleeding sufferings he went through at his death. This description of the person of the Beloved, would form, in the figurative language of those times, a portrait of beauty of person and of grace of manners; but the aptness of some of the allusions may not appear to us. He shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all that believe. May his love constrain us to live to his glory.
Key Words
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
גַּן: a garden (as fenced)
אָחוֹת: a sister (used very widely (like brother), literally and figuratively)
כַּלָּה: a bride (as if perfect); hence, a son's wife
אָרָה: to pluck
מֹר: myrrh (as distilling in drops, and also as bitter)
עִם: adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English)
בָּשָׂם: the balsam plant
אָכַל: to eat (literally or figuratively)
יַעַר: a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees)
Cross References
Song of Solomon 5Direct verbal and conceptual parallel: the beloved knocking at the door asking to open.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Christ explicitly calling His disciples 'friends' to invite them to spiritual fellowship.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Peter's awakening conscience at Christ's look, matching 'my soul failed when he spake'.
Supported by JFB
Spiritual invitation to eat and drink milk and wine without money.
Supported by JFB
The conflict of the awake heart and sleeping flesh; Gethsemane sleep of the disciples.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The reluctant friend offering trivial excuses from bed, mirroring the bride's hesitation.
Supported by JFB
The Lord's bowels being troubled/moved for His people.
Supported by JFB
Christ's agony in Gethsemane; His head wet with the drops of the night.
Supported by JFB
The women bringing sweet spices and myrrh to the tomb to anoint Him.
Supported by JFB
God withdrawing His presence so that His people will seek Him in their affliction.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Messianic King described as fairer than the children of men.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The exalted Christ's head and hair described in glorious terms.
Supported by JFB
The mystery of the marriage union between Christ and the Church.
Supported by JFB
Peter weeping bitterly, parallel to the bride's soul failing when the beloved withdrew.
Supported by JFB
To believers, Christ is precious, chiefest among ten thousand, unlike to unbelievers.
Supported by Matthew Henry