Song of Songs 8:8-14

Brothers

8 Our sister is young; she has no breasts. What will we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for?

9 If she is a wall, we will build a silver parapet on it. If she is a door, we will enclose it with cedar planks.^[a]

Woman

10 I am^[b] a wall and my breasts like towers. So in his eyes I have become like one who finds peace.^[c]

11 Solomon owned a vineyard in Baal-hamon. He leased the vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for his fruit 1,000 pieces of silver.

12 I have my own vineyard.^[d][e] The 1,000 are for you, Solomon, but 200 for those who guard its fruits.

Man

13 You^[f] who dwell in the gardens- companions^[g] are listening for your voice- let me hear you!^[h]

Woman

14 Hurry [to me], my love, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.^[i]

Song of Songs 8:8-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 8

This chapter begins with an ardent wish of the church for a free and intimate converse with Christ; declaring what she would do to him, and for him, should she have such an interview with him, So 8:1,2; what familiarity should be between them, So 8:3; charging the daughters of Jerusalem not to give him any disturbance, So 8:4. Upon which they inquire who she was that was in such a posture they saw her in, So 8:5; when the church, instead of giving them an answer, says some things concerning her beloved, on whom they saw her leaning; and makes some requests to him for more nearness to him, and manifestations of his love to her; urged from the strength her love and affections to him, which was invincible, So 8:6,7. Next follows a speech of the church about her little sister; expressing a concern for her, and what she would do to her and with her, So 8:8,9; and the answer of the little sister, declaring what she, was, and what she enjoyed, So 8:10; then the words of the church again, concerning her husband's vineyard; the place, keepers, and profit of it, So 8:11,12. And the chapter, and with it the Song, is concluded with a request of Christ to the church, that he might hear her voice, So 8:13; and with a petition of hers to him, that he would come quickly to her, So 8:14.

Footnotes

• [a] Vv. 8-9 may record what the girl's brothers (Sg 1:6) used to say; Gn 24:29; 34:6-18.
• [b] Or was
• [c] Shalom, the Hb word for peace, sounds similar to Solomon and Shulammite in Hb.
• [d] Lit My vineyard, which is mine, is before me; Sg 1:6
• [e] Sg 1:6
• [f] You is feminine in Hb.
• [g] Sg 1:7
• [h] Sg 2:14
• [i] Sg 2:17