'The Song of songs, which is Solomon's'. Israel's superlative for the best of its thousand and five (1 Kings 4:32). The bride opens the poetry: 'Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for thy love is better than wine.' She is dark from the sun of her brothers' vineyards ('I am black, but comely') and does not know where her shepherd feeds. The lovers exchange first praises: a mare among Pharaoh's chariots, a cluster of henna; 'behold, thou art fair, my love; thine eyes are as doves.' The two reading traditions (natural and allegorical) are set out at full strength on the Two Traditions study.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

Poetry · Solomon — Song of Solomon overview

A. 1–8 Let Him Kiss Me: I Am Black, but Comely
B. 9–17 A Bundle of Myrrh, and a Couch of Green

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Song of Solomon 24 verses
- Song of Solomon 2:3As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
- Song of Solomon 2:10My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
- Song of Solomon 2:13The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
- Song of Solomon 2:14O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
- Read Song of Solomon 2 →
Song of Solomon 43 verses
- Song of Solomon 4:1Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.
- Song of Solomon 4:7Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
- Song of Solomon 4:10How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!
- Read Song of Solomon 4 →
Psalms 453 verses
- Psalms 45:2Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
- Psalms 45:8All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
- Psalms 45:14She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
- Read Psalms 45 →
Song of Solomon 53 verses
- Song of Solomon 5:9What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
- Song of Solomon 5:12His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.
- Song of Solomon 5:13His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
- Read Song of Solomon 5 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Song of Solomon 11 verse
- Song of Solomon 1:4Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.
- Read Song of Solomon 1 →
Psalms 361 verse
- Psalms 36:7How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
- Read Psalms 36 →
Ecclesiastes 71 verse
- Ecclesiastes 7:1A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
- Read Ecclesiastes 7 →
Exodus 301 verse
- Exodus 30:23Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,
- Read Exodus 30 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.