Song of Solomon 7 Study Notes: Praise of the Bride and an Invitation
The chapter opens with poetic praise of the bride’s beauty. She affirms that she belongs to her beloved and that he longs for her, then invites him to go out with her to the countryside and the vineyards in springtime.
General
In 7:10, what does she declare about herself and her beloved?
Answer: She belongs to him, and he longs for her
Her words in 7:10 are the third statement of mutual belonging in the Song. First she said he is hers and she is his (2:16); then she reversed the order (6:3); now she says she belongs to him and adds that he longs for her. The movement goes from what she has to the joy of being loved. Earlier she had feared he was gone (5:6), but here she rests in his settled affection.
- Song of Solomon 7:10 (BSB)“I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me.”She declares that she belongs to him and that he longs for her.
- Song of Solomon 2:16 (BSB)“My beloved is mine and I am his; he pastures his flock among the lilies.”Her first declaration of mutual belonging.
- Song of Solomon 6:3 (BSB)“I belong to my beloved and he belongs to me; he pastures his flock among the lilies.”Her second declaration, with the order reversed.
- Song of Solomon 5:6 (BSB)“I opened for my beloved, but he had turned and gone. My heart sank at his departure. I sought him but did not find him. I called, but he did not answer.”Earlier she had searched for him after he had gone.
Theological
What does the woman affirm about her relationship with her beloved in 7:10?
Answer: She belongs to him, and he longs for her
Verse 10 is the third of the Song’s declarations of mutual belonging (2:16; 6:3). This time she speaks only of belonging to him and of his longing for her, so that her confidence now rests in his affection toward her. The anxious search of 5:6 has given way to secure rest in being loved.
- Song of Solomon 7:10 (BSB)“I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me.”She declares that she belongs to him and that he longs for her.
- Song of Solomon 2:16 (BSB)“My beloved is mine and I am his; he pastures his flock among the lilies.”Her first declaration of mutual belonging.
- Song of Solomon 6:3 (BSB)“I belong to my beloved and he belongs to me; he pastures his flock among the lilies.”Her second declaration, with the order reversed.
- Song of Solomon 5:6 (BSB)“I opened for my beloved, but he had turned and gone. My heart sank at his departure. I sought him but did not find him. I called, but he did not answer.”Earlier she had searched for him after he had gone.
General
Where does she invite her beloved to go with her at the end of chapter 7 (Song of Solomon 7:11-12)?
Answer: Out to the countryside and the vineyards
She now takes the lead, inviting her beloved to go out with her to the countryside and to rise early and go out among the vines, to find out whether they have budded (7:11-12). Earlier it was he who called her to come away with him in springtime, when the vines were in flower (2:10-13). Her invitation answers his. The scene also recalls 6:11, where budding vines also appear.
- Song of Solomon 2:10 (BSB)“My beloved calls to me, “Arise, my darling. Come away with me, my beautiful one.”Earlier he had called her to come away with him.
- Song of Solomon 2:13 (BSB)“The fig tree ripens its figs; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come away, my darling; come away with me, my beautiful one.””His earlier call came when the vines were blossoming.
- Song of Solomon 6:11 (BSB)“I went down to the walnut grove to see the blossoms of the valley, to see if the vines were budding or the pomegranates were in bloom.”Budding vines appear earlier in the Song as well.
Theological
To what place does the woman invite her beloved at the close of chapter 7 (Song of Solomon 7:11-12)?
Answer: Out to the countryside and the vineyards
The roles reverse: she invites him out to the fields and the vineyards at daybreak to see whether the vines have budded (7:11-12). This answers his earlier springtime summons to come away with him (2:10-13), and it uses the image of budding vines found in 6:11.
- Song of Solomon 2:10 (BSB)“My beloved calls to me, “Arise, my darling. Come away with me, my beautiful one.”Earlier he had called her to come away with him.
- Song of Solomon 2:13 (BSB)“The fig tree ripens its figs; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come away, my darling; come away with me, my beautiful one.””His earlier call came when the vines were blossoming.
- Song of Solomon 6:11 (BSB)“I went down to the walnut grove to see the blossoms of the valley, to see if the vines were budding or the pomegranates were in bloom.”Budding vines appear earlier in the Song as well.
General
True or False: Chapter 7 opens with a series of poetic images praising the bride’s beauty.
Answer: True
This is true. Chapter 7 begins with an extended description in poetic images praising the bride (7:1-9), continuing the admiration she received at the end of chapter 6 (6:13). Throughout the Song the bridegroom delights in her, as when he first exclaimed how beautiful she was (1:15). This delight reflects God’s good gift of marriage, seen when the first man rejoiced over the woman God brought to him (Genesis 2:23).
- Song of Solomon 6:13 (BSB)“Come back, come back, O Shulammite! Come back, come back, that we may gaze upon you. Why do you look at the Shulammite, as on the dance of Mahanaim?”The previous chapter ends with others calling her back to look at her.
- Song of Solomon 1:15 (BSB)“How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves.”Early in the Song he delights in her beauty.
- Genesis 2:23 (BSB)“And the man said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man she was taken.””The first man rejoiced over the woman God brought to him.
Theological
True or False: The opening of chapter 7 is an extended poetic praise of the bride’s beauty.
Answer: True
This is true. Chapter 7 opens with a sustained poetic tribute to the bride (7:1-9), continuing the admiration voiced at the close of chapter 6 (6:13). The bridegroom’s delight in her runs through the Song (1:15) and reflects the goodness of marriage as God created it, first expressed in Adam’s joyful words over the woman (Genesis 2:23).
- Song of Solomon 6:13 (BSB)“Come back, come back, O Shulammite! Come back, come back, that we may gaze upon you. Why do you look at the Shulammite, as on the dance of Mahanaim?”The previous chapter ends with others calling her back to look at her.
- Song of Solomon 1:15 (BSB)“How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves.”Early in the Song he delights in her beauty.
- Genesis 2:23 (BSB)“And the man said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man she was taken.””The first man rejoiced over the woman God brought to him.