Song of SolomonChapter 6

+ Secondary text Original text ← Previous Next →Contribute

Where has your beloved gone, most beautiful of women? Which way has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you?

My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to graze in the gardens and to gather lilies.

I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine; he grazes among the lilies.

You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my love, as lovely as Jerusalem, awesome as an army with banners.

Turn your eyes away from me, for they overwhelm me. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down from Gilead.

Your teeth are like a flock of ewes coming up from the washing, each one bearing twins, and not one among them bereaved.

Your cheek behind your veil is like a slice of pomegranate.

There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and maidens beyond number—

but she is the only one, my dove, my perfect one, the only child of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her. The daughters saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines praised her.

Who is this that shines forth like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?

I went down to the nut orchard to see the new growth of the valley, to see whether the vine had budded, whether the pomegranates were in bloom.

Before I knew it, my desire had set me among the chariots of my princely people.

Lookup

Summary2

Chapter 6

Main Theme: The chapter praises the unique beauty of the beloved and the mutual belonging between the two lovers.

Content: The daughters of Jerusalem ask where the beloved has gone, and the woman answers that he is in his garden to gather lilies. She affirms their mutual belonging: "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine." The man praises her beauty and compares her to Tirzah and Jerusalem. Among sixty queens and eighty concubines, she is the only one, unique and perfect, praised by all who see her.

Key Words/Images:

The Garden: A symbol of intimacy and love; the beloved goes down to his garden to gather lilies and see if the vines have blossomed.
Tirzah and Jerusalem: Cities representing beauty and majesty; the woman is compared to these.
"She is unique": The woman's uniqueness among many women underscores her incomparable value to the beloved.
Dawn, moon, and sun: Images of the woman's radiant beauty that surpasses everything else.

Historical context

Historical and Cultural Context for Song of Solomon 6

Places

Tirzah (verse 4) was the first capital of the northern kingdom of Israel after the division of the kingdom (c. 930–880 B.C.), before Omri established Samaria. The city was known for its beauty and strategic location in the hills of Ephraim. Archaeological excavations at Tell el-Far'ah (north) have uncovered a prosperous city with fine buildings from this period. The mention of Tirzah alongside Jerusalem as an ideal of beauty suggests either an early dating of the text or a poetic tradition that preserved the city's reputation long after it lost its political significance.

Gilead (verse 5) refers to the fertile highlands east of the Jordan River, known for their rich grazing lands. The region was famous for its flocks of goats and aromatic plants, including the well-known "balm of Gilead" (Jer 8:22).

Key Terms

"Terrifying like an army with banners" (אֲיֻמָּה כַּנִּדְגָּלֽוֹת, ajumma kannidgalot, verses 4 and 10) is an unusual expression that combines beauty with awe. The word nidgalot may mean "troops carrying banners" or "stars of the heavenly host in formation." The image conveys majestic splendor that both attracts and overwhelms.

"My mother's only one" (אַחַת הִיא לְאִמָּהּ, achat hi le'immah, verse 9) expresses that the beloved is unique and most highly valued by her mother. In Old Testament culture, chosen children held special status and blessing. The phrase "the daughters saw her and called her blessed" (וַֽיְאַשְּׁר֔וּהָ) uses the verb ashar in the pi'el form—the same root found in Proverbs 31:28, where children honor their mother.

"Chariots of my noble people" (מַרְכְּבוֹת עַמִּי־נָדִיב, markevot ammi-nadiv, verse 12) is one of the most puzzling verses in Song of Solomon. The text is unclear but seems to describe a sudden, surprising exaltation—the soul is unexpectedly placed among noble chariots.

Events and Customs

The king's harem (verses 8–9), with sixty queens, eighty concubines, and countless young women (alamot), serves as a contrast to highlight the uniqueness of the beloved. Among all these women, she is "one"—unique and without equal. Concubines (pilagshim) had lower legal status than queens, but their children could inherit.

The nut garden (גִּנַּת אֱגוֹז, ginnat egoz, verse 11), with walnut trees, vineyards, and pomegranates, describes a cultivated pleasure garden. The walnut tree (egoz) is mentioned only here in the Old Testament and was a valuable imported commodity. Such gardens served as private retreats for recreation and romantic encounters.

People

No known people in this chapter.

Key words7

Bride — The woman described in Song of Solomon, loved by the man and often compared to beautiful elements from nature.
Groom — The man described in Song of Solomon, who loves the woman and is often referred to as king or shepherd.
Love — A deep feeling of devotion, passion, and care between two people, here used to describe the relationship between the bride and groom.
Garden — A symbol of beauty and fruitfulness, often used in Song of Solomon to describe the bride and her body.
Pomegranate (Granateple) — A fruit that symbolizes fruitfulness and love, mentioned several times in Song of Solomon.
Sister — An affectionate and respectful expression used by the groom to refer to the bride, indicating their close bond and relationship.
Solomon — The king of Israel who has traditionally been credited with authorship of Song of Solomon, although it is uncertain whether he actually wrote it.