Song Of Solomon 1 13

Song Of Solomon 1:13 kjv

A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.

Song Of Solomon 1:13 nkjv

A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, That lies all night between my breasts.

Song Of Solomon 1:13 niv

My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.

Song Of Solomon 1:13 esv

My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh that lies between my breasts.

Song Of Solomon 1:13 nlt

My lover is like a sachet of myrrh
lying between my breasts.

Song Of Solomon 1 verses

Song Of Solomon 1 13 Meaning

Song of Solomon 1:13 portrays the bride’s deep affection and adoration for her beloved, likening him to a precious and fragrant sachet of myrrh. This imagery emphasizes his continuous, comforting presence held close to her heart, signifying the immense delight and value she finds in him. It speaks of a profound, intimate, and cherished bond where his very being is a source of joy and precious aroma in her life.

Song Of Solomon 1 13 Context

Song of Solomon is a lyrical poem celebrating love and desire between a man and a woman, traditionally understood as a depiction of human marital love, and allegorically, the love between Christ and His Church (or God and Israel). Verse 13 is part of the initial exchanges between the lovers (1:9-17), where they praise each other’s beauty and virtue. Specifically, in 1:12-14, the bride (Shulamite) responds to the groom's (Shepherd King) praise from verses 9-11, expressing her profound affection. This verse showcases her perception of his intrinsic value and the intimate delight his presence brings. The historical context reflects a simple, pastoral setting common in ancient Israel, where perfumes and aromatics were highly valued for their pleasantness, often indicating status, purity, and intimacy.

Song Of Solomon 1 13 Word analysis

• My beloved (דּוֹדִי - Dodiy):

  • Word: Dodiy (pronounced "doh-dee").
  • Significance: A term of deep affection, beyond mere friendship; signifies "my dearly loved one." It carries a strong emotional attachment, often used in love songs and sometimes referring to uncles or friends, but predominantly used here to convey romantic intimacy and possession ("my").
  • Bible-wide: In Song of Solomon, it's used repeatedly by the bride and groom for each other, defining their intimate and exclusive relationship. Typologically, "the Beloved" points to Christ, who is intimately desired by His people (Phil 3:10).

• is to me (לִי - Li):

  • Word: Li (pronounced "lee").
  • Significance: A personal possessive pronoun ("to me," "for me," "mine"). It highlights the subjective experience and ownership of this delightful presence. The beloved is not just "a sachet of myrrh," but specifically her sachet, intensely personal.
  • Original Context: Emphasizes the deeply personal and private nature of her devotion.
  • Bible-wide: Reflects how salvation and relationship with God are deeply personal: "My Lord and my God" (Jn 20:28), "My Shepherd" (Ps 23:1).

• a sachet (צְרוֹר - Tseror):

  • Word: Tseror (pronounced "tse-ror").
  • Meaning: A bundle, bag, or small packet, often used for money or small precious items.
  • Significance: Implies something carefully kept, valuable, portable, and perhaps hidden or intimate. A "sachet" suggests it’s not just a bulk quantity but prepared for personal wearing or use.
  • Bible-wide: Often refers to a small, valuable possession (Gen 42:35 – Joseph’s money in sacks). It signifies how the beloved is carefully kept close and treasured.

• of myrrh (הַמּוֹר - Hammor):

  • Word: Hammor (pronounced "ha-mor"). The definite article "ha-" makes it "the myrrh" or "a distinct type of myrrh."
  • Meaning: A bitter-tasting, aromatic resin extracted from thorny trees. Used in ancient times for perfume, incense, embalming, and medicine.
  • Significance: Myrrh's primary associations:
    • Fragrance: Exceedingly pleasant and pervasive aroma (Prov 7:17).
    • Preciousness: Highly valuable (Matt 2:11, given to Jesus at birth by Magi).
    • Bitter/Suffering: Its extraction process (tree incisions) and its use in embalming (Jn 19:39) can symbolize suffering and death. This hints at the bitter suffering of Christ (the "Beloved") leading to a beautiful and precious outcome. The beloved’s essence is both delightful and carries a hint of something profound, perhaps even sacrifice.
    • Beautification/Purification: Used in preparation for intimate encounters, as seen in Esther 2:12.
  • Original Context: Known as a highly desirable and luxurious commodity, symbolizing richness, allure, and exotic beauty.
  • Bible-wide: In Exodus 30:23, myrrh is a key ingredient in the holy anointing oil, emphasizing sacredness. In the New Testament, its association with Jesus' birth and death gives it profound theological depth, pointing to His kingly identity, priesthood, and redemptive suffering. The Church (Bride) cherishes Christ's fragrant sacrifice (Eph 5:2).

• that lies (יָלִין - Yalin):

  • Word: Yalin (pronounced "ya-leen").
  • Meaning: From the root lun (לוּן), meaning "to lodge," "to spend the night," "to dwell," or "to remain."
  • Significance: Implies not just a fleeting touch but a continuous, abiding presence. It rests there, continuously. This suggests permanence and sustained intimacy. The beloved's presence is not occasional but consistently with her, day and night.
  • Bible-wide: Echoes themes of God dwelling with His people (Ex 29:45, Jn 1:14), Christ abiding in believers (Jn 15:4), and His promised perpetual presence (Matt 28:20).

• between my breasts (בֵּין שַׁדַּי - Ben Shadday):

  • Word: Ben shadday (pronounced "beyn shad-day").
  • Meaning: Literally "between my two breasts."
  • Significance: Represents the most intimate and cherished place, close to the heart. It signifies total embrace, vulnerability, deep affection, comfort, and constant awareness. Items kept here were usually very precious, intimate, and comforting.
  • Original Context: A symbol of extreme personal closeness and a place of constant awareness of the beloved's presence.
  • Bible-wide: While this exact phrase for intimacy is unique here, the concept of placing God's word/presence in the heart is central (Ps 119:11). The image evokes a resting place, security, and a central location for the most valued possession, relating to the spiritual reality of Christ dwelling centrally in the believer's heart.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh": This whole phrase is a metaphorical declaration of the beloved's identity and essence. He is the very source of delightful, cherished, and ever-present fragrance and value in her life. The metaphor conveys intrinsic worth and sensory delight.
• "a sachet of myrrh, that lies between my breasts": This complete image encapsulates the profound intimacy. The beloved is not just an aromatic plant; he is packaged and placed precisely where she keeps what is most dear. It’s a sensory experience tied to the most vulnerable and tender part of her being, implying not only delight but also comfort, safety, and personal cherishing. His presence is her adornment, her fragrance, her very core of intimacy.

Song Of Solomon 1 13 Bonus section

The Song of Solomon is unique in its direct celebration of physical love within the sacred text, leading to diverse interpretations. While literally depicting a pure, intense human love story, many Christian scholars have historically viewed this book through an allegorical or typological lens. In this interpretive tradition, the Groom is understood as Christ, and the Bride as the Church or the individual believer. From this perspective, verse 1:13 deepens its significance:

• Christ's Value: Christ (the Beloved) is more precious than anything; His suffering (symbolized by myrrh) led to salvation and His fragrant righteousness. He is indeed the most valuable "sachet" for His followers.
• Intimacy of indwelling: "Lying between my breasts" then signifies the Spirit of Christ's constant, indwelling presence within the believer's heart, central to their being and the source of their deepest spiritual affections and spiritual aroma. This is not just intellectual assent but a profound, emotional, and personal union with the Living Lord.
• Bride's adornment: The presence of the Beloved as her personal myrrh makes her also fragrant in the presence of God (2 Cor 2:14-16), representing the aroma of Christ in believers.
• Divine Love: The intensity of the Shulamite’s love mirrors the profound, unreserved love God desires from His people, a love that places Him above all else in their innermost being.

Song Of Solomon 1 13 Commentary

Song of Solomon 1:13 unveils the bride’s deeply personal and passionate estimation of her beloved. Her comparison of him to a sachet of myrrh speaks volumes. Myrrh, a precious and intensely aromatic substance often associated with suffering (due to its bitter taste and uses in embalming, as seen in the Christological interpretation), is here portrayed as something utterly desirable. The "sachet" suggests a deliberately prepared, compact, and highly personal item, not a diffused fragrance, implying the beloved’s essence is concentrated and held close. "Lying between my breasts" emphasizes the pinnacle of intimacy and cherished affection. This is the place of the heart, the place of utmost value and constant awareness. The verse reflects a love that finds enduring delight in the beloved’s essence, not just his actions. The constant presence of the myrrh-sachet speaks to the unending joy and profound peace derived from an intimate relationship, a love that pervades her innermost being and identity.

Practical usage examples:

• Devotion: Recognizing Christ as our "sachet of myrrh" that dwells "between our breasts," we hold Him as our most precious possession, delighting in His sacrifice and His comforting presence in our hearts daily.
• Spiritual Value: Choosing to place God's Word (Jn 1:1), His truth, and His presence as the highest value, constantly held close to our inner lives above all worldly things (Phil 3:8).
• Intimacy with God: Actively seeking and cherishing continuous, personal fellowship with Christ, allowing His presence to permeate our thoughts, emotions, and decisions as an ever-present source of strength and comfort.