Song of Songs 5:5-15

5 I rose up to open to my kinsman; my hands dropped myrrh, my fingers choice myrrh, on the handles of the lock.
6 I opened to my kinsman; my kinsman was gone: my soul failed at his speech: I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he answered me not.
7 The watchman that go their rounds in the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
8 I have charged you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the powers and the virtues of the field: if ye should find my kinsman, what are ye to say to him? That I am wounded with love.
9 What is thy kinsman than kinsman, O thou beautiful among women? what is thy kinsman than kinsman, that thou hast so charged us?
10 My kinsman is white and ruddy, chosen out from myriads.
11 His head is very fine gold, his locks are flowing, black as a raven.
12 His eyes are as doves, by the pools of waters, washed with milk, sitting by the pools.
13 His cheeks are as bowls of spices pouring forth perfumes: his lips are lilies, dropping choice myrrh.
14 His hands are as turned gold set with beryl: his belly is an ivory tablet on a sapphire stone.
15 His legs are marble pillars set on golden sockets: his form is as Libanus, choice as the cedars.

Song of Songs 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.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.