Song of Solomon 5:1-9

The Torment of Separation

1 "I have 1come into my garden, 2my sister, my bride; I have gathered my 3myrrh along with my balsam. I have eaten my honeycomb and my 4honey; I have 5drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, 6friends; Drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers."
2 "I was asleep but my heart was awake. A voice! My beloved was knocking: 'Open to me, 7my sister, my darling, 8My dove, my perfect one! For my head is drenched with dew, My 9locks with the damp of the night.'
3 "I have 10taken off my dress, How can I put it on again? I have 11washed my feet, How can I dirty them again?
4 "My beloved extended his hand through the opening, And my 12feelings were aroused for him.
5 "I arose to open to my beloved; And my hands 13dripped with myrrh, And my fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the bolt.
6 "I opened to my beloved, But my beloved had 14turned away and had gone! My heart went out to him as he 15spoke. I 16searched for him but I did not find him; I 17called him but he did not answer me.
7 "The 18watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, They struck me and wounded me; The guardsmen of the walls took away my shawl from me.
8 "I 19adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, As to what you will tell him: For 20I am lovesick *."
9 "What kind of beloved is your beloved, O 21most beautiful among women? What kind of beloved is your beloved, That thus you adjure us?"

Song of Solomon 5:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 5

This chapter begins with Christ's answer to the church's request; in which he informs her, that he was come into his garden, as she desired, and gives an account of what he had done there; and kindly invites his dear friends to feast with him there, So 5:1; Then she relates her case and circumstances, which followed upon this, her sleepy frame, and ungrateful carriage to her beloved; which he resenting, withdrew from her, and this gave her sensible pain, So 5:2-6; what treatment she met with from the watchmen; her charge to the daughters of Jerusalem; and the questions they asked about her beloved, So 5:7-9; which put her upon giving a large description of him, by each of his parts, head, hair So 5:10-15; And the chapter is concluded with a general commendation of him and his loveliness, and a claim of interest in So 5:16.

Cross References 21

  • 1. Song of Songs 6:2
  • 2. Song of Songs 4:9
  • 3. Song of Songs 1:13; Song of Songs 4:14
  • 4. Song of Songs 4:11
  • 5. Proverbs 9:5; Isaiah 55:1
  • 6. Judges 14:11, 20; John 3:29
  • 7. Song of Songs 4:9
  • 8. Song of Songs 2:14; Song of Songs 6:9
  • 9. Song of Songs 5:11
  • 10. Luke 11:7
  • 11. Genesis 19:2
  • 12. Jeremiah 31:20
  • 13. Song of Songs 5:13
  • 14. Song of Songs 6:1
  • 15. Song of Songs 5:2
  • 16. Song of Songs 3:1
  • 17. Proverbs 1:28
  • 18. Song of Songs 3:3
  • 19. Song of Songs 2:7; Song of Songs 3:5
  • 20. Song of Songs 2:5
  • 21. Song of Songs 1:8; Song of Songs 6:1

Footnotes 13

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