Song of Solomon 2:4

Old Testament Poetry/Wisdom ASV (1901)

What does Song of Solomon 2:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “He brought me to the banqueting-house, And his banner over me was love.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

He brought me to the banqueting-house, And his banner over me was love.
Song of Solomon 2:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Song of Solomon 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4He brought me to the banqueting-house, And his banner over me was love.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“He brought me to the banqueting house, etc.] Or “into” itf113. The “house of wine”f114, as it is literally in the original; either the “wine cellar”f115, as some, where stores of it were kept; or, the “place of fasting”f116, as others, and, as we render it, a “banqueting house”; where it was distributed and drank; a banquet of wine being put for a feast, and here the nuptial feast; and may design the Gospel feast in the house of God, where there is plenty of the wine of Gospel truths, and provisions of rich food, with which believers are sweetly refreshed and delightfully regaled: and to be brought hither, under the drawings and influences of divine grace, is a special privilege, a…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The bride’s answer: “As the ‘tappuach’ with its fragrant fruit excels the barren trees of the wild wood, so my beloved his associates and friends etc.” תפוח tappûach may in early Hebrew have been a generic name for apple, quince, citron, orange etc. Song of Solomon 2:4 His banner - As the standard is the rallying-point and guide of the individual soldier, so the bride, transplanted from a lowly station to new scenes of unaccustomed splendor, finds support and safety in the known attachment of her beloved. His “love” is her “banner.” The thought is similar to that expressed in the name “Jehovah-nissi” (see the Exodus 17:15 note). Song of Solomon 2:5 Flagons - More probably cakes of raisins…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Banquetting house - The places in which believers receive the graces and blessings of Christ. His banner - By the lifting up whereof I was invited to come to him, and to list myself under him. Love - The love of Christ crucified, which, like a banner, is displayed in the gospel. Song of Solomon (Canticles) 2:5”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“2:4 He escorts me to the banquet hall: Dropping the image of the apple tree, the woman now speaks of the man as her provider at a feast. • it’s obvious how much he loves me: Literally His banner over me is Love. He likes to tell others how much he loves her.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“brought: Sol 1:4, Sol 5:1; Psa 63:2-5, Psa 84:10; Joh 14:21-23; Rev 3:20 banqueting house: Heb. house of wine, Sol 1:1, Sol 1:4; Est 7:7 his banner: Sol 6:4; Job 1:10; Psa 60:4; Isa 11:10; Joh 15:9-15; Rom 5:8-10, Rom 8:28-39 Song of Solomon (Canticles) 2:5”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“4 He has brought me into the wine-house, And his banner over me is love. After we have seen the ladies of the palace at the feast, in which wine is presented, and after Solomon, till now absent, has entered the banqueting-chamber (Arab. meglis), by היּין בּית we are not to understand the vineyard, which would be called bēth hǎggephānim or bēth hā'ǎnāvim, as in Act 1:12, Pesh. the Mount of Olives, bēth zaite. (Note: In Heb. יין does not denote the vine as a plant, as the Aethiop. wain, whence asada wain, wine-court = vineyard, which Ewald compares; Dillmann, however, ineptly cites "vine-arbour," and South-Germ. "kamerte" = vinea camerata; in Heb. היין בּית is the house in which wine…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification