← Back to Song of Solomon

Song of Solomon 5

16 verses

TL;DR

A woman expresses deep longing and beauty for her beloved in a poetic garden setting, lamenting his absence and celebrating his loveliness.

Summary

In this chapter, the woman enters her garden, preparing with fragrant gifts and offering food and drink to her beloved, signifying her readiness for intimacy. She describes the longing in the night, describing how her heart wakes to the sound of the beloved’s knock. When she opens the door, her beloved has vanished, leaving her heartbroken and searching. She depicts the pain of being pursued by the city’s watchmen, symbolizing the obstacles to love. The woman then addresses the daughters of Jerusalem, encouraging them to communicate her desire for love, and she vividly describes her beloved’s physical attributes, portraying him as the ultimate source of beauty and joy.

Outline
  1. Woman enters garden, expresses readiness and longing
  2. She opens door to beloved but he is absent, lamenting his departure
  3. She describes beloved’s beauty and urges others to convey her love
Themes
Yearning and longingLove’s obstacles and separationCelebration of beauty and desire
Keywords
lovebelovedgardendoormyrrhlongingabsencebeauty
People
BelovedDaughters of Jerusalem
Places
gardencitywallsdoor
Things
myrrhhoneycombwinemilkdoorlockveilgoldberylivorysapphiresmarblecedars
Key Verses
  • Song of Solomon 5:2: Illustrates the intimate setting of the woman’s longing with vivid sensory detail.
  • Song of Solomon 5:6: Marks the pivotal moment of separation, underscoring the theme of longing.
  • Song of Solomon 5:15: Displays the ultimate celebration of the beloved’s physical beauty, a key motif of the chapter.
Questions
  • What does the garden symbolize in the context of love?
  • How does the woman’s description of the beloved reflect cultural ideals of beauty?
  • What might the watchmen represent in the broader narrative of pursuit and protection?
  • In what ways does the poem balance the theme of longing with the celebration of love?
  • How does the structure of the poem convey the emotional state of the speaker?
Sentiment

mixed
The tone blends joyful celebration of beauty with aching longing and sorrow over separation.