Song of Solomon 8:9
in Song of Solomon 8If she is a wall, we will build a tower of silver upon her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
If she be a wall, We will build upon her a turret of silver: And if she be a door, We will inclose her with boards of cedar.
KJV
If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
⋯
This verse in Song of Solomon 8
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Robert of TombelaineCommentary on the Song of Songs, Chapter 8 · Written in the 11th century.
When the Holy Spirit is given, the holy Church becomes a wall, because she who was previously timid, being instructed by the same almighty Spirit, is impenetrably strengthened to resist adversaries. This is shown by the same Peter, timid before a servant girl, soon firm …
This site's exposition
We have a little sister
on Song of Solomon 8:8-10
The brothers of 1:6 return with a council about their sister: "If she is a wall, we will build a tower of silver upon her." She answers for herself, "I am a wall," and adds, "So I have become in his eyes like one who brings peace".
This site's exposition
we will build a tower of silver upon her
Adam Clarke followed Calmet in reading the figures as marriage plans. A girl without a husband was likened to a wall without towers or a door without a bar, so the brothers would seek a husband. Silver and cedar stood for his wealth and standing.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
If she is a wall, let us build on it, etc. It is customary for the Lord Himself often to be designated in Sacred Scripture by the name of a wall or door. For He is rightly called a wall because He fortifies His Church …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
If - This seems to be Christ's answer to the foregoing question of the Jewish church. Christ engages himself to provide for her, as suits best with her condition. If the Gentiles when they are converted shall be like a wall, strong and firm in faith;
If she be a wall,....
Whatever is wanting shall be set in order, and the work of faith shall be fulfilled with power. Though the beginnings of grace be small, the latter end shall greatly increase. The church is in care concerning those that are yet uncalled.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
If she be a wall - All these expressions, says Calmet, show that it was necessary to provide a husband for this young sister. For a woman without a husband is like a wall without towers, and without defense; is like a gate or door without bar or lock; and like a city without walls. They must therefore provide for their sister a rich, powerful, and illustrious man; qualities here figured by towers or palaces of silver, and doors of cedar.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
If she be a wall in Zion, founded on Jesus Christ (1Co 3:11), we will not "withstand God" (Ac 11:17; But if so, we must not "build" (Ac 15:14-17) on her "wood, hay, stubble" (1Co 3:12), that is, Jewish rites, &c., but "a palace of silver," that is, all the highest privileges of church communion (Ga 2:11-18;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אִם־ | ʾim- | if | H518 → | 1069 times |
| חוֹמָ֣ה | chomah | [is] a wall | H2346 → | 133 times |
| הִ֔יא | hi' | she | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| נִבְנֶ֥ה | nivneh | we will build | H1129 → | |
| עָלֶ֖יהָ | ʾaleiha | on her | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| טִ֣ירַת | tirat | a battlement of | H2918 → | |
| כָּ֑סֶף | kasef | silver | H3701 → | 403 times |
| וְאִם־ | veim- | and if | H518 → | 1069 times |
| דֶּ֣לֶת | delet | [is] a door | H1817 → | |
| הִ֔יא | hi' | she | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| נָצ֥וּר | natzur | we will shut up | H6696 → | |
| עָלֶ֖יהָ | ʾaleiha | over her | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| ל֥וּחַ | luach | a board of | H3871 → | |
| אָֽרֶז׃ | ʾarez | cedar | H730 → | 73 times |
אִם־if
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
חוֹמָ֣ה[is] a wall
chomahH2346 →133 times
הִ֔יאshe
hi'H1931 →1879 times
נִבְנֶ֥הwe will build
nivnehH1129 →
עָלֶ֖יהָon her
ʾaleihaH5921 →5755 times
טִ֣ירַתa battlement of
tiratH2918 →
כָּ֑סֶףsilver
kasefH3701 →403 times
וְאִם־and if
veim-H518 →1069 times
דֶּ֣לֶת[is] a door
deletH1817 →
הִ֔יאshe
hi'H1931 →1879 times
נָצ֥וּרwe will shut up
natzurH6696 →
עָלֶ֖יהָover her
ʾaleihaH5921 →5755 times
ל֥וּחַa board of
luachH3871 →
אָֽרֶז׃cedar
ʾarezH730 →73 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 15:16‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,
it leads to
- Amos 9:11–12
“In that day I will restore the fallen tent of David. I will repair its gaps, restore its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old,
- Luke 1:31–33
Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
- Psalms 89:35–49
Once and for all I have sworn by My holiness— I will not lie to David—
- Amos 9:11–12
Through
Acts 14:27When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 16:9
because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.
- Acts 15:12
The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
- 2 Corinthians 2:12
Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord,
- Colossians 4:3
as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
- 1 Corinthians 16:9
Through
Song of Solomon 2:9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.
it leads to
- Song of Solomon 8:14
Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
- Song of Solomon 8:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this chapter
About Song of Solomon
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on the Song of Songs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Robert of Tombelaine, Commentary on the Song of Songs, Chapter 8.