Song of Solomon 8:1-11

1 Oh that you were like my brother, Who sucked the breasts of my mother! If I found you outside, I would kiss you; Yes, and no one would despise me.

2 I would lead you, bringing you into my mother's house, Who would instruct me. I would have you drink spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate.

3 His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me.

4 I adjure you, daughters of Yerushalayim, That you not stir up, nor awaken love, Until it so desires. Friends

5 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, Leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I aroused you. There your mother conceived you. There she was in labor and bore you.

6 Set me as a seal on your heart, As a seal on your arm; For love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as She'ol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, A very flame of the LORD.

7 Many waters can't quench love, Neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, He would be utterly scorned. Friends

8 We have a little sister. She has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister In the day when she is to be spoken for?

9 If she is a wall, We will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar. Beloved

10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, Then I was in his eyes like one who found shalom.

11 Shlomo had a vineyard at Baal-hamon. He leased out the vineyard to keepers. Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.

Song of Solomon 8:1-11 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.