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Song of Songs Chapter 2 - Explanation
Song of Songs Chapter 2 is a lyrical and symbolic celebration of love and desire between two lovers. The chapter alternates between the voice of the woman (the Shulammite), the man (her beloved), and a chorus or collective voice that observes the interaction. The poem is steeped in nature imagery and metaphor, highlighting the beauty, longing, and intimacy of love.
There are a few primary ways to read this text:
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Literal interpretation: As an ancient Near Eastern love poem expressing the mutual affection between two human lovers.
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Allegorical interpretation (Jewish): As an allegory of the relationship between God (Yahweh) and Israel.
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Allegorical interpretation (Christian): As a portrayal of the relationship between Christ and the Church or the individual soul.
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Mystical/devotional: As a spiritual expression of divine-human love.
Let’s explore the verses in detail.
Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Verses 1–2
"I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys."
"As a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters."
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"Rose of Sharon" and "Lily of the Valleys": These are metaphors for beauty and purity. Sharon was a fertile plain in Israel, and the lily was a common symbol of love and innocence. The speaker, presumably the woman, uses humble but poetic imagery to describe herself.
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The man then replies with admiration, calling her a “lily among thorns”, elevating her above all others. His words reinforce her uniqueness and loveliness in comparison to other women, possibly even highlighting the moral or emotional contrast.
Verses 3–4
"As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons..."
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The woman compares her beloved to an apple tree—providing shade, sustenance, and delight. The image of sitting in the shade suggests comfort and protection, while the fruit symbolizes the joy of his presence.
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“He brought me to the banqueting house”: This can be interpreted as an expression of joy and celebration in love. The Hebrew phrase “house of wine” implies sensual delight or deep joy in their union.
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“His banner over me was love”: In military contexts, a banner represented allegiance and protection. Here, it symbolizes that love is his defining trait toward her. It suggests public declaration and protection—she feels claimed and cherished.
Verses 5–6
"Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love..."
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The woman speaks of being “sick with love”, not in a negative sense, but overwhelmed by longing or passion. The request for flagons (wine) and apples might allude to needing sustenance to endure the intensity of her emotions.
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“His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me”: This is one of the most intimate lines, implying deep affection and physical closeness. It may reflect a romantic embrace or even a dream-like moment of being held.
Verse 7
"I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and by the hinds of the field..."
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A refrain that appears multiple times in the Song (e.g., 3:5, 8:4). The woman addresses the “daughters of Jerusalem”—possibly other women or a symbolic chorus.
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The charge is to “not stir up nor awaken love, until it pleases.” This emphasizes the importance of timing in love. It's a caution to let love develop naturally, not to rush or force it. This refrain acts almost like a poetic “pause” or a moral to the preceding passion.
Verses 8–9
"The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains..."
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The woman hears her beloved approaching and reacts with excitement and anticipation.
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“Leaping upon the mountains”: This portrays him as energetic, bold, and eager to be with her—like a gazelle or young stag. The image is poetic and full of movement, suggesting the swiftness of love and desire.
Verses 10–13
"My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away."
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These verses are rich in springtime imagery—flowers blooming, birds singing, vines budding.
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Spring often symbolizes new beginnings, youth, beauty, and the blossoming of love.
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The man invites the woman to come away with him, presenting their love as something natural, fresh, and joyful. He calls her “my love, my fair one”, affirming her worth and beauty.
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“The time of the singing of birds is come” and other lines suggest the environment around them echoes the joy and urgency of their love.
Verse 14
"O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock..."
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The beloved calls to the woman who is hiding, perhaps symbolizing her shyness or distance.
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“Clefts of the rock”: A poetic place of retreat or safety.
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The man asks her to “let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice”—he longs for her presence, showing deep emotional and possibly spiritual yearning.
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The dove was a symbol of innocence, peace, and fidelity, often used in Hebrew poetry to signify pure love.
Verse 15
"Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines..."
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This is a metaphor, often interpreted in multiple ways.
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Literal: Foxes in vineyards cause damage.
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Symbolic: Small problems or outside threats that can damage a relationship if not addressed.
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In allegorical or spiritual interpretations, it can refer to sins, distractions, or temptations that creep into spiritual life or love.
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“Our vines have tender grapes”: Their love is still growing—tender, new, and therefore vulnerable. This verse encourages careful tending and protection of that love.
Verse 16
"My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies."
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One of the most well-known declarations of mutual love and belonging in the Bible.
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It expresses reciprocity and unity, a deep and unbreakable bond.
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“Feeds among the lilies”: Lilies symbolize purity and beauty. This could suggest their relationship is idyllic and flourishing.
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In Christian interpretations, this verse has been used to symbolize the union between Christ and the believer, where each belongs to the other in love.
Verse 17
"Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved..."
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This verse closes the chapter on a note of longing and temporary separation.
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“Until the day break”: This may refer to the night of separation ending in reunion.
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“Turn, my beloved… be like a roe or a young hart”: She wants him to come swiftly, like the imagery earlier. She may be asking him to leave now with a promise to return—or to remain close until the darkness is gone.
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The “mountains of Bether”: This name could mean "separation" or “division,” adding to the theme of temporary parting with a desire for closeness soon.
Themes in Chapter 2
1. Love as Mutual and Joyful
This chapter portrays love not as one-sided or hierarchical, but mutual, joyful, and consensual. The lovers admire and desire one another equally.
2. Love and Nature
The text is saturated with natural imagery—flowers, animals, trees, springtime. Love is shown as organic, growing, seasonal, and needing cultivation.
3. Longing and Presence
There is a movement between presence and absence, seeking and finding, which creates a rhythm in the emotional tone of the chapter. Desire is as much about closeness as it is about the ache of separation.
4. Time and Patience in Love
The refrain in verse 7 reminds the reader or listener not to rush love. There’s a divine or natural rhythm to love’s unfolding that should be respected.
5. Protection and Vulnerability
The metaphors of vineyards, foxes, lilies, and doves all point to the fragility and beauty of love. Love needs to be protected from external and internal threats.
Spiritual and Allegorical Reflections
If you interpret the Song spiritually or allegorically, this chapter takes on rich meaning:
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God’s invitation to intimacy: Like the beloved calling the woman to “come away,” God invites the soul into joyful, personal communion.
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The believer’s longing: The soul’s yearning to be close to God, even when He seems distant, is echoed in the woman’s longing and dream-like visions of her lover.
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Spiritual growth: The springtime imagery can represent renewal and revival in the life of faith.
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Guarding spiritual life: The “little foxes” warn against letting small sins or distractions damage one’s relationship with God.
Conclusion
Song of Songs Chapter 2 is a rich tapestry of poetic imagery that celebrates the beauty, depth, and complexity of love. Whether read as a literal romantic poem or as an allegory of divine love, its language speaks to the human experience of desire, longing, joy, and connection.
It invites readers into a vision of love that is mutual, sacred, seasonal, and worthy of being cherished and protected. This chapter stands as a tribute not only to human passion but also to the spiritual dimensions of intimacy and the rhythms of divine-human relationship.
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