The beloved's metaphor of sitting "under his shadow with great delight" uniquely combines protective imagery with joyful satisfaction, a pairing found in only one other biblical passage.
Song of Solomon 2
The Rose of Sharon and Love's Protection
1I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Lover
2As a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. Beloved
3As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, his fruit was sweet to my taste.
4He brought me to the banquet hall. His banner over me is love.
5Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples; for I am faint with love.
6His left hand is under my head. His right hand embraces me.
7I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.
The Beloved's Spring Invitation
8The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping on the mountains, skipping on the hills.
9My beloved is like a roe or a young deer. Behold, he stands behind our wall! He looks in at the windows. He glances through the lattice.
10My beloved spoke, and said to me, “Rise up, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.
11For behold, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone.
12The flowers appear on the earth. The time of the singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
13The fig tree ripens her green figs. The vines are in blossom. They give out their fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.” Lover
14My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the mountainside, let me see your face. Let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.
15Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that plunder the vineyards; for our vineyards are in blossom. Beloved
16My beloved is mine, and I am his. He browses among the lilies.
17Until the day is cool, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be like a roe or a young deer on the mountains of Bether.
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Theme
Song of Solomon 2 presents an intimate dialogue between lovers using rich nature imagery to express their mutual affection and desire. The chapter moves from tender declarations of love and protection to the beloved's joyful spring invitation calling his love to come away with him. The poetry celebrates the beauty of romantic love while emphasizing themes of timing, protection, and the renewal that love brings.
Context
Following the initial expressions of love in chapter 1, this chapter deepens the romantic dialogue and introduces the cyclical pattern of separation and reunion that characterizes the book.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-2 Mutual Declarations of Beauty The lovers compare each other to flowers, emphasizing their unique beauty and worth.
- 3-7 Intimacy and Protection The beloved describes finding shelter and nourishment in love, with a warning about timing.
- 8-13 The Spring Invitation The lover arrives like a gazelle and calls his beloved to come away as winter ends and spring begins.
- 14-15 Longing and Obstacles The lover seeks to see his beloved while acknowledging threats to their relationship.
- 16-17 Mutual Belonging The beloved affirms their mutual possession and calls for his return.
The Rose of Sharon and Love's Protection
2:1–2:7 poetry dialogue tender
The beloved compares herself to a rose of Sharon, while the lover calls her a lily among thorns. She describes being overwhelmed by love and warns not to awaken love prematurely.
theme_rarity
The beloved's metaphor of sitting "under his shadow with great delight" uniquely combines protective imagery with joyful satisfaction, a pairing found in only one other biblical passage.
The Beloved's Spring Invitation
2:8–2:17 poetry dialogue joyful
The beloved hears her lover's voice calling her to come away as spring arrives. He invites her to leave winter behind and join him, while she expresses their mutual belonging and asks him to return.
theme_rarity
The beloved's urgent call to "arise" (qumi) and "come away" (leki-lak) creates a rare biblical pairing of romantic love with seasonal renewal, echoing only in Jeremiah's restoration prophecies.
Insights
The beloved's urgent call to "arise" (qumi) and "come away" (leki-lak) creates a rare biblical pairing of romantic love with seasonal renewal, echoing only in Jeremiah's restoration prophecies.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Song of Solomon 2:3 3 references
Lexicals 3
Genesis 3:6 Lexical
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be d…
Proverbs 24:13 Lexical
My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
Song of Solomon 8:5 Lexical
Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Beloved Under the apple tree I awakened you. There…
Song of Solomon 2:5 1 reference
Song of Solomon 2:6 1 reference
Song of Solomon 2:7 2 references
Song of Solomon 2:9 1 reference
Song of Solomon 2:14 2 references
Song of Solomon 2:16 2 references
Song of Solomon 2:17 2 references
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
v. 1
v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
v. 10
v. 11
v. 12
v. 13
v. 14
v. 15
v. 16
v. 17
Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
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