What does the chapter actually say?
Identify the explicit claims before importing later doctrine or assumptions.
SONG OF SOLOMON • CHAPTER 7
Song of Solomon 7
Erotic love poetry, desire, beauty, longing, mutual attraction, separation, and reunion.
READ THE CHAPTER
Song of Solomon 7
WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE
The complete biblical text below is stored on this website.
You do not need to leave The Bible for Smart People to read it.
1
How beautiful are your feet in sandals, prince’s daughter!
Your rounded thighs are like jewels,
the work of the hands of a skillful workman.
Your rounded thighs are like jewels,
the work of the hands of a skillful workman.
2
Your body is like a round goblet,
no mixed wine is wanting.
Your waist is like a heap of wheat,
set about with lilies.
no mixed wine is wanting.
Your waist is like a heap of wheat,
set about with lilies.
3
Your two breasts are like two fawns,
that are twins of a roe.
that are twins of a roe.
4
Your neck is like an ivory tower.
Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bathrabbim.
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus.
Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bathrabbim.
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus.
5
Your head on you is like Carmel.
The hair of your head like purple.
The king is held captive in its tresses.
The hair of your head like purple.
The king is held captive in its tresses.
6
How beautiful and how pleasant you are,
love, for delights!
love, for delights!
7
This, your stature, is like a palm tree,
your breasts like its fruit.
your breasts like its fruit.
8
I said, “I will climb up into the palm tree.
I will take hold of its fruit.”
Let your breasts be like clusters of the vine,
the smell of your breath like apples.
I will take hold of its fruit.”
Let your breasts be like clusters of the vine,
the smell of your breath like apples.
9
Your mouth is like the best wine,
that goes down smoothly for my beloved,
gliding through the lips of those who are asleep.
that goes down smoothly for my beloved,
gliding through the lips of those who are asleep.
10
I am my beloved’s.
His desire is toward me.
His desire is toward me.
11
Come, my beloved! Let’s go out into the field.
Let’s lodge in the villages.
Let’s lodge in the villages.
12
Let’s go early up to the vineyards.
Let’s see whether the vine has budded,
its blossom is open,
and the pomegranates are in flower.
There I will give you my love.
Let’s see whether the vine has budded,
its blossom is open,
and the pomegranates are in flower.
There I will give you my love.
13
The mandrakes produce fragrance.
At our doors are all kinds of precious fruits, new and old,
which I have stored up for you, my beloved.
At our doors are all kinds of precious fruits, new and old,
which I have stored up for you, my beloved.
POETRY
Where this chapter fits
Song of Solomon belongs to Israel's wisdom/poetic tradition, where literary form matters as much as historical setting.
Chapter numbers were added long after the biblical books were written.
Read this chapter together with what comes immediately before and after it.
ANCIENT TEXT, MODERN QUESTIONS
Historical claims should be compared with historical evidence.
Scientific claims should be compared with science.
Moral claims should be examined morally.
Theological claims require theological and philosophical argument.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
Don't skip the hard parts.
What kind of literature is this?
Narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, letters, wisdom, and apocalypse communicate differently.
What historical evidence matters?
Ask whether names, places, institutions, events, customs, and chronology can be independently investigated.
What are the strongest competing interpretations?
Compare serious Jewish, Christian, academic, and skeptical readings rather than caricatures.
CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION
You've reached the member analysis.
You can keep reading every Bible chapter on this site for free.
Membership unlocks the deeper analysis, historical context, competing interpretations, perspectives, and conclusion.
WANT TO KEEP READING FOR FREE?
Continue to Song of Solomon 8
The complete biblical text of the next chapter is free to read.
You only need membership when you want the deeper analysis and side-by-side investigation.
READ NEXT CHAPTER FREEUNLOCK THE ANALYSIS
Already a member?
Sign in to continue →