Song of Solomon 8:5-7

5 1Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother was in labor with you; there she who bore you was in labor.
6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as 2a seal upon your arm, for 3love is strong as death, 4jealousy[a] is fierce as the grave.[b] Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very 5flame of the LORD.
7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his 6house, he[c] would be utterly despised.

Song of Solomon 8:5-7 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.

Cross References 6

  • 1. See Song of Songs 3:6
  • 2. Isaiah 49:16; Jeremiah 22:24; Haggai 2:23
  • 3. [Romans 8:35]
  • 4. [Exodus 34:14]; Deuteronomy 4:24
  • 5. [Job 1:16]
  • 6. Proverbs 6:35

Footnotes 3

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.