Song of Solomon8
World English Bible · Public Domain
1 Oh that you were like my brother, who nursed from the breasts of my mother! If I found you outside, I would kiss you; yes, and no one would despise me.
2 I would lead you, bringing you into the house of my mother, who would instruct me. I would have you drink spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate.
3 His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me.
4 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.
5 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother conceived you. There she was in labor and bore you.
6 Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of Yah.
7 Many waters can’t quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned.
8 We have a little sister. She has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is to be spoken for?
9 If she is a wall, we will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then I was in his eyes like one who found peace.
11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He leased out the vineyard to keepers. Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.
12 My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon, two hundred for those who tend its fruit.
13 You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice!
14 Come away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!
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Song of Solomon 8Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Song of Solomon 8. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
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