Song of Solomon 8:1-7

Listen to Song of Solomon 8:1-7

Longing for Her Beloved

1 Oh that you were like a brother to me who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I found you outside, I would kiss you, and none would despise me.
2 I would lead you and 1bring you into the house of my mother—she who used to teach me. I would give you 2spiced wine to drink, the juice of my pomegranate.
3 3His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me!
4 I 4adjure you, O 5daughters of Jerusalem, 6that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.
5 7Who 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 8a seal upon your arm, for 9love is strong as death, 10jealousy[a] is fierce as the grave. [b] Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very 11flame 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 12house, he[c] would be utterly despised.

Song of Solomon 8:1-7 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.

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Cross References 12

  • 1. 8:2 ch. 3:4
  • 2. 8:2 [Prov. 9:2, 5]
  • 3. 8:3 ch. 2:6, 7
  • 4. 8:4 See ch. 2:7
  • 5. 8:4 See ch. 1:5
  • 6. 8:4 [ch. 2:7]
  • 7. 8:5 See ch. 3:6
  • 8. 8:6 Isa. 49:16; Jer. 22:24; Hag. 2:23
  • 9. 8:6 [Rom. 8:35]
  • 10. 8:6 [Ex. 34:14]; Deut. 4:24
  • 11. 8:6 [Job 1:16]
  • 12. 8:7 Prov. 6:35

Footnotes 3

  • [a] 8:6 Or 'ardor'
  • [b] 8:6 Hebrew 'as Sheol'
  • [c] 8:7 Or 'it'
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025