Song of Solomon Chapter 6
Friends
1 Where has your beloved gone, you fairest amongst women? Where has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you?
Beloved
2 My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to pasture his flock in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
3 I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine. He browses amongst the lilies.
Lover
4 You are beautiful, my love, as Tirzah, lovely as Jerusalem, awesome as an army with banners.
5 Turn 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.
6 Your teeth are like a flock of ewes, which have come up from the washing, of which every one has twins; not one is bereaved amongst them.
7 Your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your veil.
8 There are sixty queens, eighty concubines, and virgins without number.
9 My dove, my perfect one, is unique. She is her mother's only daughter. She is the favourite 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.
10 Who is she who looks out as the morning, beautiful as the moon, clear as the sun, and awesome as an army with banners?
11 I 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.
12 Without realising it, my desire set me with my royal people's chariots.
Friends
13 Return, 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?
Footnotes
Version: World English Bible
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Headings to Indicate Sections (Main Divisions Only)
- The Marriage (1:2-2:7)
- The Shulamite and the Virgins ready for the Wedding (1:2-6)
- The Bride and the Bridegroom (1:7-2:6)
- The Voice of the Singer - Wisdom (2:7)
- The Betrothal (2:8-7:9)
- Memories of the Wooing (2:8-3:5)
- The Voice of the Singer: Wisdom (3:5)
- The Actual Betrothal (3:6-4:15)
- Experiences Following Betrothal (5:2-7:9)
- The United Life (7:10-8:14)
- The Bride (7:10-8:3)
- The Voice of the Singer - Wisdom (8:4)
- The Bride and Bridegroom (8:5-8:14)
Song of Solomon Chapter 6 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Inquiry where Christ must be sought. -- (Song 6:1)
- Where Christ may be found. -- (Song 6:2,3)
- Christ's commendations of the church. -- (Song 6:4-10) The work of grace in the believer. -- (Song 6:11-13)
Song 6:1
Those made acquainted with the excellences of Christ, and the comfort of an interest in him, desire to know where they may meet him. Those who would find Christ, must seek him early and diligently.
Song 6:2,3
Christ's church is a garden, enclosed, and separated from the world; he takes care of it, delights in it, and visits it. Those who would find Christ, must attend him in his ordinances, the word, sacraments, and prayer. When Christ comes to his church, it is to entertain his friends. And to take believers to himself: he picks the lilies one by one; and at the great day he will send forth his angels to gather all his lilies, that he may be for ever admired in them. The death of a believer is not more than the owner of a garden plucking a favourite flower; and He will preserve it from withering, yea, cause it to flourish for ever, with increasing beauty. If our own hearts can witness for us that we are Christ's, question not his being ours, for the covenant never breaks on his side. It is the comfort of the church, that he feeds among the lilies, that he takes delight in his people.
Song 6:4-10
All the real excellence and holiness on earth centre in the church. Christ goes forth subduing his enemies, while his followers gain victories over the world, the flesh, and the devil. He shows the tenderness of a Redeemer, the delight he takes in his redeemed people, and the workings of his own grace in them. True believers alone can possess the beauty of holiness. And when their real character is known, it will be commended. Both the church and believers, at their first conversion, look forth as the morning, their light being small, but increasing. As to their sanctification, they are fair as the moon, deriving all their light, grace, and holiness from Christ; and as to justification, clear as the sun, clothed with Christ, the Sun of righteousness, and fighting the good fight of faith, under the banners of Christ, against all spiritual enemies.
Song 6:11-13
In retirement and in meditation the Christian character is formed and perfected. But not in the retirement of the idle, the self-indulgent, or the trifler. When the Christian is released from the discharge of his duties in life, the world has no attractions for him. His prayer is, that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow within him, and around him. Such are the interesting cares and employments of him whom the world wrongly deems unhappy, and lost to his true interests. In humility and self-abasement, the humble Christian would turn away from the sight of all; but the Lord delights to honour him. Chiefly, however, may the reference be to the ministering angels who shall be sent for the soul of the Christian. Their approach may startle, but the departing soul shall find the Lord its strength and its portion for ever. The church is called the Shulamite: the word signifies perfection and peace; not in herself, but in Christ, in whom she is complete, through his righteousness; and has peace, which he made for her through his blood, and gives unto her by his Spirit.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.