Song of Solomon 6:11-13

The Journey to the Valley

11 I went down to the orchard of the walnut trees to look at the blossoms of the valley, to see [whether] the vine[s] have sprouted, [whether] the pomegranates have blossomed.

12 I did not know my {heart} set me [in] a chariot of my princely people.

13 Turn, turn, O Shulammite! Turn, turn so that we may look upon you! Why do you look upon the Shulammite as [at] a dance of the two armies?

Song of Solomon 6:11-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 6

The discourse between the church and the daughters of Jerusalem is continued in this chapter: they inquire whither her beloved was gone, in order to seek him with her, So 6:1; she tells them where he was gone, and for what purpose he went thither, and what he was doing there; and claims and asserts her interest in him, So 6:2,3; Then follows a commendation of the church by Christ, who admires her beauty, and describes her by her eyes, hair So 6:4-7; and prefers her to all others; being a singular and choice one to him, and the praise of others, So 6:8-10; and next he gives an account of his going into his garden, and his design in it, and of what happened to him there, So 6:11,12. And the chapter is concluded with a charge to the Shulamite, to turn herself, that she might be looked upon; which occasions a question, to which an answer is returned, So 6:13.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "soul"
• [b]. Or "Before I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib" (KJV, ASV) or "Before I knew it, my desire set me mid the chariots of Ammi-nadib" (JPS) or "Before I was aware, my soul set me over the chariots of my noble people" (NASB) or "Before I realized it, my desire set me among the royal chariots of my people" (NIV) or "... among the chariots of Amminadab" (NIV margin) or "... among the chariots of the people of the prince" (NIV margin)
• [c]. Song of Songs 6:13-7:13 in the English Bible is 7:1-14 in the Hebrew Bible
• [d]. Or "Return, return ...!"
• [e]. Or "O perfect one," "O peaceful one," "O bride." Many interpreters take this moniker as suggesting the maiden was from the village of Shulem (alternately called Shunem)
• [f]. Or "Return, return ...!"