The attractiveness of the gazelle invited petting and
8:6 "seal over your heart..seal on your arm" - The seal of a king was commonly a
Should that prove to be the case, they will take a different
4:10 "wine" - symbol of supreme pleasure. 6:13 "Shulamite" - a feminine form of Solomon and, therefore, part of the royal
Judges 4:21-22, describe more generally the side of the face. that I have stored up for you, I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates, Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, ...your mouth like the best wine. trees in clusters among the leaves. 2:7 "Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases" = The experience of lovemaking
...the one my heart loves (3:1)
Her pleasures are secret and hidden from all but her husband - the rightful owner of the garden. feast has been completed. 1:14 "henna" - a fragrant bush which grows and intertwines itself among the vines in
His body is like polished ivory (5:14)
asking her spouse to stimulate her garden with caresses to promote the growth of her sexual passion. 4:16 "Awake, O north wind and come, O south!" His mouth is sweetness itself (5:16)
Just as a battlement of silver increases the beauty of the wall and attractiveness of the
city, they will increase her good character by adding to her dowry (which was worn around the neck). secure the door of a house by a cross bar or by a bolt, which at night was fastened with a little
We think that perhaps Solomon now wants her to become his wife.
twice used without door in Hebrew as object. Your navel is a rounded goblet (7:2)
He compares himself to the rose and lily, for fragrancy and beauty. Your neck is like an ivory tower (7:3)
There is, however, another possibility. 4:4 "shields" - tiered or layered coins or ornaments of precious metal that adorned
8:10 "breasts were like towers" - The towers on the walls of the city were the first
Extra-biblical
7:2 "set about with lilies" - pubic hair that guards and graces the "banquet bowl"
place of his strength or protection. 2:7 "Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases", 4:5 "Thy two breasts" "two fawns," "twins of a gazelle", 4:11 "honey and milk are under your tongue", 4:16 "Awake, O north wind and come, O south! things an enemy saw. Thus, to climb the palm tree is to fertilize it. with her and protect her from men's advances. 2:17 "until the day breaks" - she wants it to last until the morning. affectionate touching. ...lovely as Jerusalem (6:4)
The coins or ornaments were her dowry. its extravagant descriptions of royal largesse expended in the services of love. Thus to describe his wife's vulva
Because
The picture of the processional with
shape of a half moon." 8:11,12 "my own vineyard is before me" - The man probably speaks this. Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon (4:3)
bunch of the pollen-bearing male flowers. O my dove — So the church is called, for her dove-like temper, and for her dove-like condition, because she is weak, and exposed to persecution, and therefore forced to hide herself in rocks; in the secret places of the stairs — In the holes of craggy and broken rocks, which resemble stairs. The attraction and articulation of beauty, Dark am I, yet lovely (1:5)
experience. abounds in delights to his senses. ... there is no flaw in you (4:7)
4:12 "a spring shut up" - its precious liquid is reserved for private use. She is
Essential Keys to the Song of Songs. flowers has been practiced from the earliest times. Your neck is like the tower of David (4:4)
I liken you, my darling, to a mare (1:9)
(4:1)
and king.
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon (7:4)
Solomon is a kind of code name for the lover
its entourage and trappings is hyperbolic, deliberately exaggerated to heighten the significance of
It signified something of great value. In a similar way, the beloved's fully
Your cheeks are beautiful with ear-rings (1:10)
..show me your face...(2:14)
While the Hebrew word could take that meaning,
is too powerful to be aroused before the couple have committed themselves in marriage. 2:6 "embrace" - fondle her vulva(pelvic region). The
beloved's reluctance to inconvenience herself and respond to his overture (v. 3). your temples...like the halves of a pomegranate (4:3)
7:2 "navel" - incorrect translation.
The true marriage
Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn (4:2)
In the upper part of the door, there was a round hole (a keyhole) through which any
2:5 "lovesick" - overcome with sexual passion. developed breasts, ready for love, were inaccessible. Go To Song of Solomon Index. stand. One then ascends the female tree and ties among its flowers, a
grape clusters for breasts, which seems more appropriate. He visits her again. Song of Solomon 2:14. 4:11 "your lips drip with honey" - speaks of the sweetness of her kisses. Hence "cheeks" is meant. gentle beauty of its eyes was proverbial. Your eyes behind your veil are doves (4:1)
The Song of Songs is from Solomon.
She tries to put
In these
penis. 1. as Shulamite (see 6:13, i.e., "Solomoness") is for the beloved. his wife, with Solomon's vineyard at Baal Hamon. Who is this that appears like the dawn? You have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes (4:9)
4:12 "garden" - The garden refers to her vulva(pelvic region). 7:12 "vine has budded," "grape blossoms are open," "pomegranates are in bloom" - all
7:2 "round goblet" - The Hebrew for "round goblet" should be rendered "a bowl in the
May the wine go straight to my lover, flowing gently over
delicacy served at Solomon's table (1 Kings 4:23). easily entered, easily seduced.
Palestine, coolness and sultriness, cold and heat, would promote the growth of the garden. ", 4:16 "Let my beloved come to his garden" - The Hebrew word (literally, "enter", 5:1 "I have come into...have gathered....have eaten...have drunk", 5:6 "my beloved had turned away and was gone", 7:2 "round goblet" - The Hebrew for "round goblet" should be rendered ", 7:2 "set about with lilies" - pubic hair that guards and graces the "banquet bowl", 7:8 "climb the palm trees" - To "climb the palm tree", 7:12 "vine has budded," "grape blossoms are open," "pomegranates are in bloom", 8:6 "seal over your heart..seal on your arm", Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes, ...your love [caresses] is more delightful than wine, His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me (2:6; also at 8:3). 1:12 "at his table" - banqueting was done in a reclining position. She soon felt sorry. water was scarce in the East, owners of fountains sealed the fountain with clay which quickly
Song of Solomon 2:3. 4:13 "pleasant fruits" - Her vulva(vaginal region) is a source of sexual refreshment for him to
4:13 "orchard of pomegranates" - depicts the beauty and colortone of her vulva which
approach. and "hand" (which can be euphemisms for genitals) -- all of these point to double meanings.
rubbed, thus hinting at some erotic connotations. locked, he is saying it has never been entered; she is a virgin. city, the sight of those towers discouraged an attack.
(1:15)
are a clear clue to what has happened. 2:15 The meaning of the whole verse is: Let us give full expression to our love now
were molded in the form of a female goddess. ...majestic as troops with banners (6:4)
Your breasts are like two fawns (7:3)
stag on the rugged hills, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of incense, ...my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the lock. The five senses are brought into play in the Song: A general state of arousal underlies the following verses: 1:9 "like my mare" - at that time in the Orient the horse was not a beast of burden,
His hair is wavy (5:11)
5:4 "hand by the latch" - "Latch" is literally keyhole. They will barricade her with planks of cedar.
a vineyard. You are beautiful, my darling, as Tirzah (6:4)
1:15 "dove" - symbol of innocence, gentleness and purity - indicating that the
His cheeks are like beds of spice (5:13)
person from the outside might thrust his arm and remove the bar, unless the hole was sealed up. Your mouth is lovely (4:3)
The fullness of covenant-love ("my sister, my spouse") has been experienced. (6:10)
(1:16)
Song of Songs 2:2 The emblem of a lily was engraved on the upper part of the pillars of Solomon’s temple. "Hand" is often a euphemism for genitals. But because of the ability of the tower to provide a defense for the wall and
Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel (7:5)
The word "open" is
5:1 "wine and milk" - readily understood in that culture as fertility symbols.