Song of Solomon 2
1 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
3 As 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.
4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
5 Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
7 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
8 The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
9 My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.
10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
11 For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
13 The 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.
14 O 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.
15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
16 My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.
17 Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.
Song of Solomon 2 Commentary
Chapter Overview
Song of Solomon 2 continues the lovers’ exchange with images of flowers, fruit, shelter, spring, animals, vineyards, and mutual belonging. The poetry moves through several scenes rather than presenting a strict chronological report. The woman and man describe how extraordinary the other appears among ordinary people, how safe and delighted they feel together, and how strongly they desire one another’s presence.
The opening lines compare the woman to a flower of Sharon and a lily of the valleys. The man answers that she is like a lily among thorns, and she responds that he is like a fruit tree among the trees of the forest. Each speaker regards the beloved as rare, life-giving, and easily distinguished from everyone else. Their praise is mutual rather than one-sided.
Verses 4–7 intensify the woman’s longing. She pictures herself welcomed into a house of wine under a banner of love, strengthened with food because she is overwhelmed by desire, and held in an embrace. Yet the scene ends with a solemn charge to the daughters of Jerusalem not to stir up or awaken love until the proper time. The Song celebrates desire while also teaching that desire should not be forced, manipulated, or rushed.
A second movement begins when the woman hears her beloved approaching like a gazelle over the hills. He calls her to rise because winter has passed and spring has arrived. Flowers, birds, figs, and fragrant vines announce a season of renewed life. He wants to see her face and hear her voice, but the poem then warns about little foxes that can spoil tender vineyards. The chapter closes with confidence—“My beloved is mine, and I am his”—and with another request for his swift return.
Key Themes
The identity of the “rose of Sharon” is uncertain. The Hebrew word may refer to a crocus, meadow flower, or another common blossom rather than the modern flower called a rose. Sharon was a fertile plain, and the woman appears to describe herself as a flower of the open country. Whether her statement is modest or confident, the man’s reply raises the compliment: among other women, she stands out like a lily among thorns.
The woman returns the praise by comparing the man to an apple tree among forest trees. The exact fruit may have been an apple, apricot, citron, or another fragrant fruit known in the ancient Near East. The point is clearer than the botanical identification: ordinary forest trees provide little nourishment, but this tree offers shade, fruit, fragrance, and delight.
The “banqueting house” is literally associated with wine, and the banner may be a military standard, a public signal, or an emblem of intention. “His banner over me was love” therefore portrays love as the defining sign over the relationship. She is not hidden in shame or treated as disposable; she experiences herself as openly welcomed and cherished.
The embrace in verse 6 is tender and physical. Scripture can speak positively about touch and desire within faithful love. The Bible’s moral boundaries are not based on the idea that the body is evil; they protect the body, the other person, and the covenant meaning of sexual union. Genesis 2 presents bodily union within marriage as part of God’s good creation, while Hebrews 13 calls believers to honor marriage and keep its intimacy undefiled.
The charge in verse 7 is one of the Song’s most important refrains. It returns in later chapters and is addressed to the daughters of Jerusalem. The oath by the gazelles and does of the field fits the poem’s world of beauty, gentleness, and natural desire. Its meaning is commonly understood as a warning not to arouse love before it is ready or before the proper time has come.
The beloved’s arrival in verses 8–9 is full of movement. He leaps over mountains like a gazelle and appears at the wall and lattice. The imagery communicates eagerness, youthfulness, and the overcoming of distance. Yet he remains outside and calls rather than breaking in. Desire approaches, invites, and waits for response.
Winter and rain give way to flowers, birdsong, figs, and fragrant vines. The invitation to “rise up” is rooted in a changed season. Love has rhythms. There are times to wait, times to prepare, times to speak, and times to move forward. Wisdom recognizes seasons instead of treating every delay as rejection or every feeling as permission.
The “voice of the turtle” in the King James Version means the voice of the turtledove, a migratory bird associated with spring. The verse is not referring to a reptile. Its call joins the flowers and budding fruit as evidence that the cold, rainy season has passed.
The woman is called a dove in the clefts of the rock and hidden places. She may be shy, sheltered, cautious, or simply out of sight. The man asks to see her face and hear her voice because both are precious to him. Genuine love wants the beloved’s presence and words, not merely access to the beloved’s body.
The command to catch the “little foxes” introduces a practical warning. Foxes could damage vineyards, especially when vines were tender and newly blooming. In relationship terms, small unresolved problems—dishonesty, resentment, careless speech, secrecy, neglect, or repeated boundary violations—can destroy something that is still developing.
“My beloved is mine, and I am his” expresses mutual belonging. The statement is reciprocal; neither person is merely property. Within biblical marriage, husband and wife give themselves to one another in covenant faithfulness. This mutuality is consistent with the shared responsibilities described in 1 Corinthians 7, where husband and wife each owe loving consideration to the other.
The final request, “turn, my beloved,” may ask him to come, return, or move swiftly like a gazelle. The mountains of Bether are otherwise unknown; the name may suggest rugged or divided mountains, but certainty is not possible. The closing image preserves longing and distance, preparing for the searching scene of chapter 3.
Important Verses and Questions
What is the rose of Sharon in verse 1? It is probably a wildflower growing on the plain of Sharon, though the exact species cannot be identified with confidence. The phrase should not automatically be treated as a title for Christ. In this poem, it first describes the woman within an exchange of human love poetry.
What does “his banner over me was love” mean? The banner is the sign under which she is received. Love, rather than conquest, shame, or secrecy, defines her experience with the beloved. The image communicates welcome, public identification, and the security of being cherished.
Does “sick of love” describe unhealthy obsession? Not necessarily. It is poetic language for being overwhelmed by longing. The surrounding warning not to awaken love prematurely shows that strong emotion is acknowledged but not made the sole guide for conduct.
What does it mean not to awaken love until it pleases? Love should not be forced before the right season. The refrain supports patience, consent, moral wisdom, and freedom from social or sexual pressure. Desire is powerful, which is precisely why it should be handled carefully.
Who or what are the little foxes? Literally, they are animals capable of damaging young vines. Figuratively, they represent threats that appear small but can spoil growing love. The verse encourages early attention to habits and conflicts that might otherwise become destructive.
Does “my beloved is mine” teach possessiveness? The complete line is mutual: she belongs to him and he belongs to her. It expresses covenant exclusiveness and reciprocal self-giving, not domination. Biblical love does not erase personal dignity, consent, or responsibility before God.
Practical Applications
Affection should be expressed specifically. The lovers do not rely on vague statements; they name the qualities that make the other person delightful, safe, and unique. Thoughtful praise can strengthen a marriage when it is truthful, respectful, and not used to obtain something in return.
Love must not be hurried by outside pressure. Friends, family, culture, loneliness, or physical desire can push people toward commitments they are not ready to make. Song of Solomon 2 honors the power of attraction while insisting that it has a proper season.
Consent is consistent with the chapter’s imagery. The beloved approaches and calls; the woman hears, responds, and speaks for herself. Christian relationships should reject coercion, manipulation, intimidation, and the assumption that affection creates an entitlement to another person’s body.
Couples should identify little foxes early. Minor dishonesty, sarcasm, unmanaged anger, flirtation outside the relationship, financial secrecy, constant distraction, or refusal to apologize may seem small at first. Addressing them honestly is easier than repairing a vineyard after long neglect.
A good relationship should provide both delight and refuge. The woman enjoys the beloved’s fruit and rests in his shade. Spouses should seek to become people with whom truth can be spoken safely, burdens can be shared, and joy can be received without fear.
Seasonal imagery encourages patience during difficult periods. Winter is real, but it is not permanent. Relationships may pass through grief, illness, conflict, distance, or exhaustion. Hope does not deny hardship; it looks for signs of renewed life and responds when a new season genuinely arrives.
Mutual belonging requires mutual responsibility. “I am his” cannot be separated from “he is mine.” The New Testament similarly teaches husbands and wives to serve one another rather than using marriage to justify selfish control. Faithful love gives, receives, protects, and remains accountable to God. Ephesians 5 frames marriage through sacrificial love, respect, and the pattern of Christ rather than domination.
Single readers need not treat the chapter as a command to find romance. Scripture honors singleness as well as marriage. The chapter can still teach every reader about patience, boundaries, honest speech, the danger of small compromises, and the difference between cherishing a person and consuming one.
Finally, the chapter presents love as both gift and stewardship. Attraction may spring up with the freshness of spring, but a vineyard must be guarded if it is to bear fruit. Wise love welcomes delight, respects timing, protects tenderness, and chooses faithfulness after the first excitement has passed.