Song of Solomon 5:5-15

5 I rose, for to open to my darling; mine hands dropped myrrh, and my fingers were full of myrrh most proved. (I rose, to open the door for my darling; my hands dripped with myrrh, yea, my fingers were covered with the best myrrh.)
6 I opened the wicket of my door to my darling; and he had bowed away, and had passed forth. My soul was melted, as the darling spake; I sought, and I found not him; I called, and he answered not to me. (And I opened my door for my darling; but he had turned away, yea, he had gone forth. My soul had melted, as my darling had spoken; and now I sought him, but I could not find him; I called to him, but he did not answer me.)
7 The keepers that compassed the city found me; they smote me, and wounded me; the keepers of [the] walls took away my mantle. (But the guards, who went around the city, found me; and they struck me, and wounded me; yea, the guards on the walls took away my cloak.)
8 Ye daughters of Jerusalem, I beseech you by an holy thing, (that) if ye have found my darling, that ye tell to him, that I am sick for love. (Ye daughters of Jerusalem, I plead with you by a thing most holy, that if ye find my darling, that ye tell him, that I am weak, or that I faint, because of love.)
9 A! thou fairest of women, of what manner condition is thy darling of the beloved? of what manner condition is thy darling of a darling? for thou hast so besought us by an holy thing. (O! thou most beautiful of women, of what manner condition is thy darling more than any other beloved? of what manner condition is thy darling more than any other darling? for thou hast so besought us by such a holy thing.)
10 My darling is white and ruddy; chosen of thousands.
11 His head is best gold; his hairs be as the boughs of palm trees, and be black as a crow. (His face is smooth and bronzed; his hair is like the boughs of the palm trees, and it is as black as a crow.)
12 His eyes be as culvers on the strands of waters, that be washed in milk, and sit beside [the] fullest rivers. (His eyes be like the doves by the streams of water, that be washed with milk, and sit beside the fullest rivers.)
13 His cheeks be as gardens of sweet smelling spices, set of ointment makers; his lips be (as) lilies, dropping down the best myrrh. (His cheeks be like the gardens of sweet smelling spices, ready to be mixed by perfume makers; his lips be like lilies, dripping down the best myrrh.)
14 His hands be able to turn about, golden, and full of jacinths; his womb is of ivory (his belly is like ivory), adorned with sapphires.
15 His hips be pillars of marble, that be founded on foundaments of gold; his shapeliness is as the Lebanon, he is chosen as cedars. (His hips be like pillars of marble, that be founded on gold foundations; he is shapely like Lebanon/he is majestic, like the mountains of Lebanon, he is chosen, or favoured, like the cedars.)

Song of Solomon 5:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 5

This chapter begins with Christ's answer to the church's request; in which he informs her, that he was come into his garden, as she desired, and gives an account of what he had done there; and kindly invites his dear friends to feast with him there, So 5:1; Then she relates her case and circumstances, which followed upon this, her sleepy frame, and ungrateful carriage to her beloved; which he resenting, withdrew from her, and this gave her sensible pain, So 5:2-6; what treatment she met with from the watchmen; her charge to the daughters of Jerusalem; and the questions they asked about her beloved, So 5:7-9; which put her upon giving a large description of him, by each of his parts, head, hair So 5:10-15; And the chapter is concluded with a general commendation of him and his loveliness, and a claim of interest in So 5:16.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.