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Song of Solomon Chapter 6

Old Testament Poetry/Wisdom 13 Verses

What is Song of Solomon 6 about?

A celebration of marital love, read in Jewish and Christian tradition as an allegory of God's covenant love for his people. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? Whither hath thy beloved turned him, That we may seek him with thee?
2My beloved is gone down to his garden, To the beds of spices, To feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
3I am my beloved`s, and my beloved is mine; He feedeth [his flock] among the lilies,
4Thou art fair, O my love, as Tirzah, Comely as Jerusalem, Terrible as an army with banners.
5Turn away thine eyes from me, For they have overcome me. Thy hair is as a flock of goats, That lie along the side of Gilead.
6Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes, Which are come up from the washing; Whereof every one hath twins, And none is bereaved among them.
7Thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate Behind thy veil.
8There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, And virgins without number.
9My dove, my undefiled, is [but] one; She is the only one of her mother; She is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed; [Yea], the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
10Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, Fair as the moon, Clear as the sun, Terrible as an army with banners?
11I went down into the garden of nuts, To see the green plants of the valley, To see whether the vine budded, [And] the pomegranates were in flower.
12Before I was aware, my soul set me [Among] the chariots of my princely people.
13Return, return, O Shulammite; Return, return, that we may look upon thee. Why will ye look upon the Shulammite, As upon the dance of Mahanaim?
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? etc.] The title is the same used by them, and by Christ before them, (<220108>Song of Solomon 1:8 <220509>Song of Solomon 5:9); and here repeated, to assure her that they were serious in asking this question, and that it was in great respect to her they put it; and which, to the same sense, in other words, is expressed, whither is thy beloved turned aside? which way did he take? on what hand did he turn, to the right or left, when he went from thy door? They ask no longer who or what he was, being satisfied with the church’s description of him; by which…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Historically, at Jesus Christ's crucifixion and burial, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, and others, joined with His professed disciples. By speaking of Jesus Christ, the bride does good not only to her own soul, but to others (see on Sol 1:4; Mal 3:16; Mat 5:14-16). Compare the hypocritical use of similar words (Mat 2:8).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“The question put by the chorus, and the answer it receives from the bride, show that the loss and seeking are not to be taken too seriously. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Gone - From thee. Song of Solomon (Canticles) 6:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“6:1-3 The conversation that ends this poem indicates that it is not an actual event. The dream ends as the young women of Jerusalem ask the woman where her man has gone. The woman tells them not to concern themselves with finding him—he is back in bed with her, enjoying his garden with its spice beds and lilies, a description of sexual intimacy.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“O thou: Sol 6:4, Sol 6:9, Sol 6:10, Sol 1:8, Sol 2:2, Sol 5:9 that: Sol 1:4; Rut 1:16, Rut 1:17, Rut 2:12; Isa 2:5; Jer 14:8; Zac 8:21-23; Act 5:11-14 Song of Solomon (Canticles) 6:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“The daughters of Jerusalem now offer to seek along with Shulamith for her beloved, who had turned away and was gone. 1 Whither has thy beloved gone, Thou fairest of women? Whither has thy beloved turned, That we may seek him with thee? The longing remains with her even after she has wakened, as the after effect of her dream. In the morning she goes forth and meets with the daughters of Jerusalem. They cause Shulamith to describe her friend, and they ask whither he has gone. They wish to know the direction in which he disappeared from her, the way which he had probably taken (פנה, R. פן .R, to drive, to urge…”
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Related study paths

Song of Solomon overviewCompare translationsOpen this chapter in the study reader

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