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Song of Solomon 6

13 verses

TL;DR

The Shulamite searches for her beloved, describes their mutual devotion with vivid natural imagery, and urges him to return, while offering comparisons to famed beauty and strength.

Summary

The chapter opens with the Shulamite asking where her beloved has gone, noting he has retreated to a garden of spices and lilies. She affirms their mutual ownership, declaring she belongs to him and he to her, and depicts his beauty with comparisons to Tirzah, Jerusalem, and a battle army. She describes her own beauty in elaborate metaphors—hair like goats, teeth like sheep, temples like pomegranate pits—emphasizing her uniqueness. The text continues with a call for return, highlighting her longing, and ending with comparisons to the morning, the moon, and the sun, as well as a mention of chariots of Amminadib. Throughout, the language is richly poetic, blending affection, longing, and exaltation of beauty.

Outline
  1. The Shulamite’s lament and description of the beloved’s garden
  2. Mutual possession and extravagant metaphors for beauty
  3. A plea for return and comparative imagery of nature and strength
Themes
Mutual devotion and possessionRomantic longing and searchBeauty as divine and natural
Keywords
belovedShulamitegardenbeautylongingpomegranatechariotsAmminadib
People
ShulamiteBelovedAmminadib
Places
Garden of spicesGarden of liliesGarden of nutsShulamite (as a city reference)GileadJerusalem
Things
gardenspicesliliesteeth like sheeppomegranate pitschariotsvinepomegranates
Key Verses
  • Song of Solomon 6:1: Sets the tone of longing by questioning the beloved’s absence.
  • Song of Solomon 6:3: Declares mutual ownership, a central motif of the chapter.
  • Song of Solomon 6:4: Uses strong, almost militaristic imagery to celebrate beauty.
  • Song of Solomon 6:12: Introduces the political figure Amminadib, hinting at broader cultural context.
Questions
  • What does the repeated motif of gardens suggest about the nature of love in this chapter?
  • How does the imagery of a battle army contribute to the portrayal of beauty and desire?
  • In what ways does the mention of Amminadib frame the personal longing within a broader socio-political context?
  • What is the significance of the Shulamite declaring herself as ‘my dove, my undefiled’?
Sentiment

mixed
The passage balances affectionate longing with exaltation of beauty, interspersed with a touch of melancholy.