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Christianity

Song of Solomon 4A Garden Enclosed

Summary

Song of Solomon 4 is the beloved's extended praise of the woman's beauty, moving from her eyes like doves and hair like a flock of goats to her teeth, lips, neck and breasts. He declares that she is all fair, with no flaw in her. Calling her my sister, my spouse, he invites her from Lebanon and says she has ravished his heart. He pictures her as a garden enclosed, a sealed fountain and an orchard of spices. She answers by inviting him into her garden.

Key verse

“Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.”

Song of Solomon 4:7

Themes

  • Beauty
  • Exclusive Love
  • Garden Imagery
  • Invitation

Text

1

Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.

2

Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.

3

Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.

4

Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.

5

Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.

6

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.

7

Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

8

Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of the leopards.

9

Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.

10

How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!

11

Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.

12

A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

13

Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,

14

Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

15

A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.

16

Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

  • Christianity

    Ephesians 5: Without Spot or Wrinkle

    Ephesians 5:25 to 27 describes Christ loving the church and presenting her without spot or wrinkle. Christian interpreters linked this with Song of Solomon 4:7, there is no spot in thee.

  • Christianity

    Proverbs 5: Drink from Your Own Well

    Proverbs 5:15 to 18 uses images of cisterns, wells and fountains for faithful marital love, the same imagery as the sealed fountain of Song of Solomon 4:12 to 15.

Questions about Song of Solomon 4

What does a garden inclosed mean in Song of Solomon 4:12?

The enclosed garden and sealed spring picture the woman as exclusive and reserved for her beloved. In Catholic tradition the Latin phrase hortus conclusus became an image of Mary's purity.

Why does he call her my sister, my spouse?

Sister was a term of endearment in ancient Near Eastern love poetry, including Egyptian love songs, expressing closeness and belonging rather than a family relationship.