New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Song of Solomon 6
1
The other women say, "You are the most beautiful woman of all. Where has the one who loves you gone? Which way did he turn? We'll help you look for him." The woman says,
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2
"My love has gone down to his garden. He's gone to the beds of spices. He's eating in the gardens. He's gathering lilies.
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3
I belong to my love, and he belongs to me. He's eating among the lilies." The king says,
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4
"My love, you are as beautiful as the city of Tirzah. You are as lovely as Jerusalem. You are as majestic as troops carrying their banners.
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5
Turn your eyes away from me. They overpower me. Your hair flows like a flock of black goats coming down from Mount Gilead.
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6
Your teeth are as clean as a flock of sheep coming up from being washed. Each of your teeth has its twin. Not one of them is alone.
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8
There might be 60 queens and 80 concubines. There might be more virgins than anyone can count.
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9
But you are my perfect dove. There isn't anyone like you. You are your mother's favorite daughter. The young women see you and call you blessed. The queens and concubines praise you." The other women say,
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10
"Who is this woman? She is like the sunrise in all of its glory. She is as beautiful as the moon. She is as bright as the sun. She is as majestic as troops carrying their banners." The king says,
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11
"I went down to a grove of nut trees. I wanted to look at the new plants growing in the valley. I wanted to find out whether the vines had budded. I wanted to see if the pomegranate trees had bloomed.
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12
Before I realized it, I was among the royal chariots of my people." The other women say,
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Summary of Song of Solomon 6
Song of Solomon 6 continues the emotional development of the relationship by moving from the uncertainty of the previous chapter toward confidence, admiration, and renewed recognition of mutual belonging.
The chapter begins with the daughters of Jerusalem asking where the woman's beloved has gone.
Their question follows the searching and separation described earlier, but the woman's response is now calm and confident.
She knows where he is.
He has gone to the garden, the same rich and beautiful setting that has repeatedly represented intimacy, fertility, fragrance, and closeness throughout the poem.
The woman then makes one of the clearest declarations of belonging in the book.
She says that she belongs to her beloved and that he belongs to her.
This statement is important because it shows that the temporary separation has not destroyed her confidence in the relationship.
Instead, she now speaks with certainty.
The relationship is defined by mutual belonging rather than uncertainty.
The beloved then turns his attention toward the woman and begins another extended description of her beauty.
His words are similar to earlier descriptions, but the imagery becomes even more elevated.
He compares her to the impressive cities of Tirzah and Jerusalem and describes her presence as majestic and powerful.
Her beauty is not presented as fragile or insignificant.
It has strength and authority.
He then returns to familiar images of her hair, teeth, and cheeks, showing that he continues to notice even the smallest details of her appearance.
But the most significant part of his praise comes when he compares her with other women.
He acknowledges that there may be many queens, concubines, and young women, but none of them compares with her.
She is his unique and cherished one.
This is a strong expression of exclusivity.
The beloved is not merely attracted to her beauty in a general way.
He regards her as uniquely valuable.
The description then becomes even more dramatic as others recognize her beauty.
She appears like the dawn, bright like the moon, radiant like the sun, and impressive like an army with banners.
These comparisons move beyond ordinary physical attractiveness.
The woman is presented as radiant, commanding, and almost overwhelming in her beauty.
The imagery suggests that her presence has an effect on everyone who sees her.
The chapter then returns to the garden.
The woman goes down to see whether the plants are growing, whether the vines are flourishing, and whether the pomegranates are flowering.
The garden continues to function as an important symbol within the book.
It represents growth, fertility, beauty, fragrance, and the developing relationship between the lovers.
The garden is not static.
Plants grow, flowers appear, and fruit develops.
In the same way, the relationship itself continues to develop.
The woman's statement about being carried into the presence of the royal company introduces a sudden and almost dreamlike transition.
The imagery suggests movement from the private garden toward a more public and ceremonial setting.
The final verses return to the daughters of Jerusalem, who call for the Shulammite to return so that they can look at her.
The exact meaning of the closing exchange is uncertain, but it reinforces the impression that the woman's beauty has become something publicly noticed.
The chapter therefore moves through several related ideas:
belonging ? admiration ? uniqueness ? radiance ? growth ? public recognition.
One of the strongest themes is the difference between simply being attractive and being uniquely valued by someone who loves you.
The beloved does not merely say that the woman is beautiful.
He repeatedly distinguishes her from everyone else.
She is the one who captures his attention.
She is the one he considers unique.
She is the one who holds a special place in his heart.
The chapter also balances the perspectives of both lovers.
The woman confidently declares her belonging, while the man expresses admiration and exclusivity.
Their relationship is therefore presented as mutual.
Neither person is simply an object of the other's affection.
Both recognize the relationship and express their attachment to one another.
The recurring garden imagery also gives the chapter a sense of natural growth.
The relationship is connected with flowers, fruit, vines, and gardens, suggesting something living that develops over time.
The beauty of the relationship is therefore not merely decorative.
It is productive, growing, and continually renewed.
Overall, Song of Solomon 6 presents a mature expression of romantic love in which longing has developed into confidence, attraction has deepened into admiration, and affection has become a strong sense of mutual belonging.
The chapter celebrates the idea that genuine love sees the beloved as uniquely valuable and continues to appreciate that person even after periods of separation or difficulty.
Its overall message is that deep love involves not only desire but also recognition, exclusivity, admiration, confidence, and the joyful knowledge that two people have chosen to belong to one another.
The chapter begins with the daughters of Jerusalem asking where the woman's beloved has gone.
Their question follows the searching and separation described earlier, but the woman's response is now calm and confident.
She knows where he is.
He has gone to the garden, the same rich and beautiful setting that has repeatedly represented intimacy, fertility, fragrance, and closeness throughout the poem.
The woman then makes one of the clearest declarations of belonging in the book.
She says that she belongs to her beloved and that he belongs to her.
This statement is important because it shows that the temporary separation has not destroyed her confidence in the relationship.
Instead, she now speaks with certainty.
The relationship is defined by mutual belonging rather than uncertainty.
The beloved then turns his attention toward the woman and begins another extended description of her beauty.
His words are similar to earlier descriptions, but the imagery becomes even more elevated.
He compares her to the impressive cities of Tirzah and Jerusalem and describes her presence as majestic and powerful.
Her beauty is not presented as fragile or insignificant.
It has strength and authority.
He then returns to familiar images of her hair, teeth, and cheeks, showing that he continues to notice even the smallest details of her appearance.
But the most significant part of his praise comes when he compares her with other women.
He acknowledges that there may be many queens, concubines, and young women, but none of them compares with her.
She is his unique and cherished one.
This is a strong expression of exclusivity.
The beloved is not merely attracted to her beauty in a general way.
He regards her as uniquely valuable.
The description then becomes even more dramatic as others recognize her beauty.
She appears like the dawn, bright like the moon, radiant like the sun, and impressive like an army with banners.
These comparisons move beyond ordinary physical attractiveness.
The woman is presented as radiant, commanding, and almost overwhelming in her beauty.
The imagery suggests that her presence has an effect on everyone who sees her.
The chapter then returns to the garden.
The woman goes down to see whether the plants are growing, whether the vines are flourishing, and whether the pomegranates are flowering.
The garden continues to function as an important symbol within the book.
It represents growth, fertility, beauty, fragrance, and the developing relationship between the lovers.
The garden is not static.
Plants grow, flowers appear, and fruit develops.
In the same way, the relationship itself continues to develop.
The woman's statement about being carried into the presence of the royal company introduces a sudden and almost dreamlike transition.
The imagery suggests movement from the private garden toward a more public and ceremonial setting.
The final verses return to the daughters of Jerusalem, who call for the Shulammite to return so that they can look at her.
The exact meaning of the closing exchange is uncertain, but it reinforces the impression that the woman's beauty has become something publicly noticed.
The chapter therefore moves through several related ideas:
belonging ? admiration ? uniqueness ? radiance ? growth ? public recognition.
One of the strongest themes is the difference between simply being attractive and being uniquely valued by someone who loves you.
The beloved does not merely say that the woman is beautiful.
He repeatedly distinguishes her from everyone else.
She is the one who captures his attention.
She is the one he considers unique.
She is the one who holds a special place in his heart.
The chapter also balances the perspectives of both lovers.
The woman confidently declares her belonging, while the man expresses admiration and exclusivity.
Their relationship is therefore presented as mutual.
Neither person is simply an object of the other's affection.
Both recognize the relationship and express their attachment to one another.
The recurring garden imagery also gives the chapter a sense of natural growth.
The relationship is connected with flowers, fruit, vines, and gardens, suggesting something living that develops over time.
The beauty of the relationship is therefore not merely decorative.
It is productive, growing, and continually renewed.
Overall, Song of Solomon 6 presents a mature expression of romantic love in which longing has developed into confidence, attraction has deepened into admiration, and affection has become a strong sense of mutual belonging.
The chapter celebrates the idea that genuine love sees the beloved as uniquely valuable and continues to appreciate that person even after periods of separation or difficulty.
Its overall message is that deep love involves not only desire but also recognition, exclusivity, admiration, confidence, and the joyful knowledge that two people have chosen to belong to one another.