Song of Solomon 8:8-14

Final Advice

8 We have a little sister, and she 1has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for?
9 If she is a wall, we will build on her a battlement of silver, but if she is a door, we will enclose her with 2boards of cedar.
10 3I was a wall, and my 4breasts were like towers; then I was in his eyes as one who finds[a] peace.
11 Solomon had 5a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he 6let out the vineyard to 7keepers; each one was to bring for its fruit 8a thousand pieces of silver.
12 My vineyard, my very own, is before me; you, O Solomon, may have the thousand, and 9the keepers of the fruit two hundred.
13 10O you who dwell in the gardens, with 11companions listening for your voice; 12let me hear it.
14 13Make haste, my beloved, and be 14like a gazelle or a young stag on 15the mountains of spices.

Song of Solomon 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.

Cross References 15

  • 1. [Ezekiel 16:7]
  • 2. [1 Kings 6:15]
  • 3. [Song of Songs 4:12, 13]
  • 4. [Song of Songs 4:5; Song of Songs 7:3]
  • 5. Ecclesiastes 2:4
  • 6. [Matthew 21:33]
  • 7. Song of Songs 1:6
  • 8. [Isaiah 7:23]
  • 9. See Proverbs 27:18
  • 10. [Song of Songs 5:1]
  • 11. Song of Songs 1:7
  • 12. Song of Songs 2:14
  • 13. [Revelation 22:17, 20]
  • 14. See Song of Songs 2:9
  • 15. [Song of Songs 4:6]

Footnotes 1

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