Song of Solomon 6
The Beloved Found in His Garden
1Where has your beloved gone, you fairest among women? Where has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you? Beloved
2My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to pasture his flock in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
3I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine. He browses among the lilies. Lover
The Bride's Incomparable Beauty
4You are beautiful, my love, as Tirzah, lovely as Jerusalem, awesome as an army with banners.
5Turn away your eyes from me, for they have overcome me. Your hair is like a flock of goats, that lie along the side of Gilead.
6Your teeth are like a flock of ewes, which have come up from the washing, of which every one has twins; not one is bereaved among them.
7Your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your veil.
8There are sixty queens, eighty concubines, and virgins without number.
9My dove, my perfect one, is unique. She is her mother’s only daughter. She is the favorite one of her who bore her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed. The queens and the concubines saw her, and they praised her.
10Who is she who looks out as the morning, beautiful as the moon, clear as the sun, and awesome as an army with banners?
The Walnut Garden and the Shulammite
11I went down into the nut tree grove, to see the green plants of the valley, to see whether the vine budded, and the pomegranates were in flower.
12Without realizing it, my desire set me with my royal people’s chariots. Friends
13Return, return, Shulammite! Return, return, that we may gaze at you. Lover Why do you desire to gaze at the Shulammite, as at the dance of Mahanaim?
Chapter 6 depicts the reunion and renewed intimacy between the lovers after their temporary separation. The beloved affirms her exclusive devotion to her lover, while he responds with elaborate praise of her incomparable beauty, declaring her unique among all women. The chapter concludes with the community calling for the Shulammite to return, highlighting her celebrated status and the public nature of their love.
Context
This chapter follows the temporary separation and search described in chapter 5, showing the restoration of intimacy that will continue through the final declarations of love in chapters 7-8.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-3The Beloved Found in His GardenThe daughters of Jerusalem inquire about the beloved's whereabouts, and she responds that he has gone to his garden, affirming their mutual belonging.
- 4-10The Bride's Incomparable BeautyThe lover praises his beloved's overwhelming beauty, comparing her to cities and declaring her unique among queens and concubines.
- 11-13The Walnut Garden and the ShulammiteThe lover describes going to the garden to observe spring's arrival, while the community calls for the Shulammite's return.
The Beloved Found in His Garden
6:1–6:3The daughters ask where the beloved has gone, and the bride responds that he is in his garden, affirming their mutual belonging to each other.
theme_rarity
The bride's declaration "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine" creates perfect chiastic symmetry, emphasizing reciprocal possession that appears in only five biblical passages combining love and unity themes.
The Bride's Incomparable Beauty
6:4–6:10The beloved praises his bride's beauty, comparing her to beautiful cities and declaring her unique among all women, more precious than queens and concubines.
geographic
The beloved uniquely compares his bride to Tirzah, the forgotten northern capital that rivaled Jerusalem's beauty before Omri abandoned it for Samaria.
The Walnut Garden and the Shulammite
6:11–6:13The beloved describes going to a garden to check on plants, and others call for the Shulammite to return so they may gaze upon her beauty.
geographic
Mahanaim, where Jacob encountered angels and David fled from Absalom, becomes the metaphorical stage for the Shulammite's dance, linking divine encounter with royal refuge.
Song of Solomon 6:1
1 Samuel 10:14lexicalSaul’s uncle said to him and to his servant, “Where did you go?” He said, “To seek the donkeys. When we saw that they we…
Song of Solomon 6:2
Song of Solomon 5:13lexicalHis cheeks are like a bed of spices with towers of perfumes. His lips are like lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.
Song of Solomon 4:16lexicalAwake, north wind, and come, you south! Blow on my garden, that its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come into his ga…
Song of Solomon 2:16lexicalMy beloved is mine, and I am his. He browses among the lilies.
Song of Solomon 6:3
Song of Solomon 2:16lexicalMy beloved is mine, and I am his. He browses among the lilies.
Song of Solomon 6:5
Song of Solomon 4:1lexicalBehold, you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair is a…
Song of Solomon 6:6
Song of Solomon 4:2lexicalYour teeth are like a newly shorn flock, which have come up from the washing, where every one of them has twins. None is…
Song of Solomon 6:7
Song of Solomon 4:3lexicalYour lips are like scarlet thread. Your mouth is lovely. Your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your veil…
Song of Solomon 6:10
Isaiah 24:23lexicalThen the moon will be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for the LORD of Armies will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem;…
Isaiah 30:26lexicalMoreover the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter,…
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter