Song of Solomon8
King James Version · Public Domain
1O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.
2I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.
3His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.
4I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.
5Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.
6Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
7Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
8We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
9If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
10I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.
11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal–hamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.
12My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.
13Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.
14Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Song of Solomon 8.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Desire for communion with Christ. (1-4) . The vehemence of this desire. (5-7) . The church pleads for others. (8-12) . And prays for Christ's coming. (13,14).
vv1-4
The church wishes for the constant intimacy and freedom with the Lord Jesus that a sister has with a brother. That they might be as his brethren, which they are, when by grace they are made partakers of a Divine nature. Christ is become as our Brother; wherever we find him, let us be ready to own our relation to him, and affection for him, and not fear being despised for it. Is there in us an ardent wish to serve Christ more and better? What then have we laid up in store, to show our affection to the Beloved of our souls? What fruit unto holiness? The church charges all her children that they never provoke Christ to withdraw. We should reason with ourselves, when tempted to do what would grieve the Spirit.
vv5-7
The Jewish church came up from the wilderness, supported by Divine power and favour. The Christian church was raised from a low, desolate condition, by the grace of Christ relied on. Believers, by the power of grace, are brought up from the wilderness. A sinful state is a wilderness in which there is no true comfort; it is a wandering, wanting state: There is no coming out of this wilderness, but leaning on Christ as our Beloved, by faith; not leaning to our own understanding, nor trusting in any righteousness of our own; but in the strength of him, who is the Lord our Righteousness. The words of the church to Christ which follow, entreat an abiding place in his love, and protection by his power. Set me as a seal upon thine heart; let me always have a place in thine heart; let me have an impression of love upon thine heart. Of this the soul would be assured, and without a sense thereof no rest is to be found. Those who truly love Christ, are jealous of every thing that would draw them from him; especially of themselves, lest they should do any thing to provoke him to withdraw from them. If we love Christ, the fear of coming short of his love, or the temptations to forsake him, will be most painful to us. No waters can quench Christ's love to us, nor any floods drown it. Let nothing abate our love to him. Nor will life, and all its comforts, entice a believer from loving Christ. Love of Christ, will enable us to repel and triumph over temptations from the smiles of the world, as well as from its frowns.
vv8-12
The church pleads for the Gentiles, who then had not the word of God, nor the means of grace. Those who are brought to Christ themselves, should contrive what they may do to help others to him. Babes in Christ are always seen among Christians, and the welfare of their weak brethren is an object of continual prayer with the stronger believers. If the beginning of this work were likened to a wall built upon Him the precious Foundation and Corner-stone, then the Gentile church would become as a palace for the great King, built of solid silver. If the first preaching of the gospel were as the making a door through the wall of partition, that door should be lasting, as cased with boards of durable cedar. She shall be carefully and effectually protected, enclosed so as to receive no damage. The church is full of care for those yet uncalled. Christ says, I will do all that is necessary to be done for them. See with what satisfaction we should look back upon the times and seasons, when we were in his eyes as those that find favour. Our hearts are our vineyards, which we must keep with all diligence. To Christ, and to his praise, all our fruits must be dedicated. All that work for Christ, work for themselves, and shall be unspeakable gainers by it.
Key Words
מִי: who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אָח: a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father))
יָנַק: to suck; causatively, to give milk
אֵם: a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father))
שַׁד: the breast of a woman or animal (as bulging)
מָצָא: properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
חוּץ: properly, separate by awall, i.e. outside, outdoors
נָשַׁק: to kiss, literally or figuratively (touch); also (as a mode of attachment), to equip with weapons
גַּם: properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
Cross References
Song of Solomon 8Scriptural symbol of a highly prized signet ring on the hand/arm, signifying constant love and remembrance.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Christ is not ashamed to call believers His brethren, matching the desire for a close brotherly bond.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrasting the secure signet ring on the hand or arm with judgment's removal.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Nothing can separate believers from Christ's love, demonstrating love stronger than death and unquenchable by waters.
Supported by JFB
The parable of the vineyard let out to wicked keepers, mirroring Solomon's leased vineyard.
Supported by JFB
Bringing the beloved into the mother's house/tent as a token of honor and marital intimacy.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The final urgent cry of the Church for Christ to hasten His return, matching the bridal departure.
Supported by JFB
Believers' love unto death, showing readiness to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.
Supported by JFB
Other sheep not of this fold, paralleling the concern for the little sister without breasts.
Supported by JFB
The prophetic song of the beloved's vineyard, echoing the theme of ownership, care, and yield.
Supported by JFB