Song of Solomon 8:8-14

Maiden’s Virtuous Chastity and Voluptuous Beauty

8 {We have a little sister}, {and she does not yet have any breasts}. What should we do for our sister {on the day when she is betrothed}?

9 If she [is] a wall, {we will adorn her with a turret of silver}; but if she [is] a door, we will barricade her with boards of cedar.

10 I [was] a wall, and my breasts [were] like the towers, {so [my betrothed] viewed me with great delight}.

Solomon’s Vineyard and the Maiden’s Gift

11 {Solomon had a vineyard} at Baal-hamon; {he entrusted his vineyard to the keepers}; {people paid a thousand silver [pieces] for its fruit}.

12 {My own "vineyard" belongs to me}; the "thousand" are for you, O Solomon, {and "two hundred" for those who tend its fruit}.

Closing Words of Mutual Love

13 O you who dwell in the garden, [my] companions are listening to your voice. Let me hear [it]!

14 Flee, my beloved! {Be like a gazelle} or {a young stag} upon {the perfumed mountains}!

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.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "a little sister for us"
• [b] Literally "and there is no breast for her"
• [c] Literally "on the day when it is spoken of her"
• [d] Or "on the day when she is spoken for"
• [e] Literally "we will build upon her a camp of silver"
• [f] The term translated "turret" refers to the decorative parapet adorning the top of a building. This image is likely figurative for a silver tiara set upon the head
• [g] Or "we will enclose her"
• [h] Literally "then I was in his eyes as [one who] finds peace"
• [i] Literally "A vineyard was for Solomon"
• [j] Literally "he gave the vineyard to the keepers"
• [k] Literally "each one brought a thousand silver [pieces] for his fruit"
• [l] Literally "My vineyard that for me before my face"
• [m] Literally "and two hundred for [the] keepers [of] his fruit"
• [n] Literally "and be like for you to a gazelle"
• [o] Literally "to the fawn of the stag"
• [p] Literally "the mountains of spices"