Song of Songs 5 The Lover and His Beloved

Analysis of Song of Songs Chapter 5

Song of Songs, also known as the Song of Solomon, is a poetic book of the Bible that celebrates love, intimacy, and the beauty of the beloved. Chapter 5 of this book provides deep insights into the emotional and spiritual dimensions of love. It combines vivid and sensual imagery with themes of longing, separation, and reconciliation. This analysis will delve into each segment of the chapter, offering detailed explanations and interpretations to understand the rich tapestry of meanings embedded within the text.

Verse 1: “I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, friends, and drink; drink your fill of love.”

The verse begins with the bridegroom declaring his arrival into his “garden,” a metaphor for the intimate relationship with his bride. This garden symbolizes a place of delight, intimacy, and fruitfulness. The terms “my sister, my bride” reflect both a familial bond and a marital union, emphasizing purity and affection.

The bridegroom mentions gathering myrrh and spice, which were often used in perfumes and anointing oils, symbolizing the treasured and aromatic nature of their love. The consumption of honeycomb, honey, wine, and milk suggests the fullness and richness of their union. Each of these elements symbolizes different aspects of pleasure, nourishment, and joy.

The exhortation to friends to “eat and drink” suggests a communal celebration of their love. This could also represent a call to readers to appreciate and revel in the beauty of genuine love.

Verses 2-8: The Dream and Search for the Beloved

Verse 2: “I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.’”

This verse introduces a dream sequence, where the bride hears the voice of her beloved while she is asleep. The readiness of her heart despite her physical rest highlights the deep yearning and connection she possesses for her beloved. The beloved’s knocking signifies his desire to be let into her life, stressing the urgency and longing.

Verse 3: “I have taken off my robe—must I put it on again? I have washed my feet—must I soil them again?”

The bride’s initial reluctance portrayed in this verse reflects a moment of hesitation and vulnerability. Removing her robe and washing her feet symbolizes preparation for rest, making her hesitant to disrupt her comfort. This reluctance can symbolize the human tendency to resist vulnerability and openness, even when love beckons.

Verses 4-5: “My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him. I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the bolt.”

The beloved’s persistent actions, “thrust his hand through the latch-opening,” can be seen as a metaphor for the persistence of love. The bride’s heart pounding indicates her realization of the importance of this moment. As she finally decides to open the door, her hands dripping with myrrh signifies the anticipation and readiness to embrace the relationship, portraying the sweet and perfumed sacrifice she is willing to make.

Verse 6: “I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer.”

This verse captures the sorrow and disappointment of the bride as she discovers her beloved has gone. Her heart sinking portrays the deep sense of loss and emotional turmoil. The subsequent search and unanswered calls emphasize the feelings of separation and abandonment, symbolizing moments when love seems distant or unresponsive.

Verse 7: “The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. They beat me, they bruised me; they took away my cloak, those watchmen of the walls!”

The watchmen, possibly symbolizing societal norms or external forces, are depicted as harsh and unkind. Their actions against the bride, such as beating and bruising her, represent the challenges and opposition one might face in the pursuit of love. Taking away her cloak signifies vulnerability and exposure, further emphasizing the difficulties encountered during her search.

Verse 8: “Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you—if you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him I am faint with love.”

The bride turns to the “Daughters of Jerusalem,” seeking their help in finding her beloved. This plea symbolizes a communal aspect of love, where assistance and support from others become necessary. Her expression of being “faint with love” captures the depth and intensity of her passion and longing, portraying love as an overwhelming and powerful force.

Verses 9-16: The Praise of the Beloved

Verse 9: “How is your beloved better than others, most beautiful of women? How is your beloved better than others, that you so charge us?”

This verse presents a rhetorical question from the Daughters of Jerusalem, challenging the bride to explain what makes her beloved unique. This question serves as a prelude to the bride’s heartfelt and detailed admiration, highlighting the theme of the exclusivity and incomparable nature of true love.

Verses 10-11: “My beloved is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven.”

The bride begins her praise with vivid and majestic imagery. Describing her beloved as “radiant and ruddy” conveys a sense of vitality and health. Being “outstanding among ten thousand” signifies his uniqueness and exceptional qualities. The comparison of his head to pure gold and his hair to the raven’s blackness paints a picture of regal and striking attractiveness.

Verses 12-14: “His eyes are like doves by the water streams, washed in milk, mounted like jewels. His cheeks are like beds of spice yielding perfume. His lips are like lilies dripping with myrrh. His arms are rods of gold set with topaz. His body is like polished ivory decorated with lapis lazuli.”

The bride continues with sensual and luxurious comparisons, describing each feature of her beloved with a blend of natural and precious elements. The dove-like eyes suggest purity and innocence, while “washed in milk” enhances the imagery with gentleness and clarity. His cheeks and lips yielding perfume and dripping with myrrh denote a sense of pleasantness and desirability. The descriptions of his arms as rods of gold and his body decorated with lapis lazuli portray strength and beauty, emphasizing the beloved’s admirable physical attributes and inner qualities.

Verses 15-16: “His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars. His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.”

The bridal praise reaches its zenith as she describes her beloved’s legs as “pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold,” symbolizing stability and nobility. Comparing him to the majestic and choice cedars of Lebanon suggests strength, resilience, and natural grandeur. Declaring his mouth as “sweetness itself” and stating “he is altogether lovely” captures the entirety of his character, both physically and emotionally. By ending with “this is my beloved, this is my friend,” the bride emphasizes the dual nature of their relationship; it is both passionate and grounded in companionship and trust.

Summarizing Reflections

Song of Songs Chapter 5 encapsulates the complex and multifaceted nature of love. Through a vivid dream sequence and evocative praise, it explores themes such as longing, separation, pursuit, and reconciliation. Each verse is imbued with symbolism that speaks to the different aspects of love, from the profound to the delicate.

This chapter highlights how love requires vulnerability, persistence, and an unwavering desire to reconnect. The movement from initial hesitation to a deep yearning and a passionate quest underscores the dynamic nature of love, challenging readers to reflect on their relationships and the depths of their own emotional commitments.

Moreover, the intense and detailed adoration of the beloved can be interpreted as an allegory for the divine relationship between God and His people, emphasizing the extraordinary beauty and worth found within a committed and devoted union.

Ultimately, Chapter 5 of the Song of Songs is a powerful testament to the enduring, overwhelming, and incomparable force of true love, celebrated in its many dimensions through poetic and heartfelt imagery.