Song Of Solomon 2:16 kjv
My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.
Song Of Solomon 2:16 nkjv
My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies.
Song Of Solomon 2:16 niv
My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies.
Song Of Solomon 2:16 esv
My beloved is mine, and I am his; he grazes among the lilies.
Song Of Solomon 2:16 nlt
My lover is mine, and I am his.
He browses among the lilies.
Song Of Solomon 2 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mutual Belonging/Covenant | ||
| Isa 43:1 | "...I have called you by name; you are mine." | God's intimate claim on His people. |
| Jer 31:3 | "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore... drawn you with unfailing kindness." | God's eternal love establishes relationship. |
| Hos 2:19-20 | "I will betroth you to me forever... in righteousness, justice, love, and compassion." | God's covenantal marriage with Israel. |
| Jn 17:21 | "...that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I in you." | Unity and reciprocal indwelling with Christ. |
| Rom 12:5 | "...so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." | Interdependence and belonging in Christ's body. |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | "You are not your own; you were bought at a price." | Believers belonging to Christ by redemption. |
| Eph 5:31-32 | "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife... this mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church." | Marriage as a picture of Christ and Church. |
| Gal 2:20 | "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." | Spiritual union and belonging to Christ. |
| Shepherd Imagery/Care | ||
| Ps 23:1 | "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." | God's complete provision and guidance. |
| Ps 80:1 | "Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock..." | God as the caring leader of His people. |
| Isa 40:11 | "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms..." | God's tender care for His vulnerable people. |
| Jn 10:11-18 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." | Jesus as the ultimate self-sacrificing shepherd. |
| Heb 13:20 | "...our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep..." | Christ's eternal role as Shepherd. |
| 1 Pet 5:4 | "...when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory." | Christ as the ultimate, returning Shepherd. |
| Lilies/Purity/Beauty/Peace | ||
| SoS 2:1 | "I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys." | Self-identification with purity and beauty. |
| SoS 6:3 | "I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine; he pastures among the lilies." | Reinforces this specific verse in later context. |
| Mt 6:28-29 | "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin..." | God's lavish care for even simple creation. |
| SoS 4:12 | "A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a garden locked, a fountain sealed." | The beloved as a pure, private, delightful garden. |
| Gen 2:8 | "Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden..." | The ideal setting of God's dwelling and intimacy. |
| Rev 22:1-2 | "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life... on either side of the river stood the tree of life..." | Heavenly paradise, a place of purity and sustenance. |
Song Of Solomon 2 verses
Song Of Solomon 2 16 Meaning
Song of Solomon 2:16 expresses a profound declaration of mutual, intimate belonging and the tender, consistent care provided by the beloved. The Shulamite first affirms a reciprocal covenantal bond: "My beloved is mine and I am his," highlighting full and complete possession by both parties. This foundation of shared identity and security is followed by an image of the beloved's gentle activity: "he pastures among the lilies," which describes his dwelling, rest, or attentive care in a place of purity, beauty, and peace.
Song Of Solomon 2 16 Context
Song of Solomon chapter 2 is rich with expressions of love, anticipation, and the beauty of nature. The Shulamite woman (or the "bride") is speaking, longing for and reveling in her beloved's presence. Earlier in the chapter (2:8-14), she recounts his coming to her and inviting her to join him amidst the beauty of spring. Verse 16 stands as a central declaration of their committed relationship, building on the intimacy established in prior verses. It serves as a confident affirmation of belonging before the scene shifts to the beloved’s plea for his "little foxes" (2:15), which could be interpreted as minor troubles that might spoil their vineyard (relationship). Thus, verse 16 provides a strong statement of relational security amidst potential external disturbances. The shepherd motif is common throughout ancient Near Eastern literature, often representing a ruler or one who provides, guides, and protects. Lilies often symbolize purity, beauty, and even royal presence or peace in ancient texts.
Song Of Solomon 2 16 Word analysis
- My beloved (דּוֹדִי, dodi): A possessive term for a dear one, specifically an intimate male lover or beloved friend. It carries warmth, affection, and personal connection.
- is mine (לִי, li): Hebrew for "to me" or "for me." Emphasizes personal possession and belonging. It is a direct, strong declaration of her claim to him.
- and I (וַאֲנִי, va'ani): The conjunction "and" links the reciprocal declaration, highlighting the balanced nature of the relationship. "I" explicitly declares her personal response.
- am his (לוֹ, lo): Hebrew for "to him" or "for him." Mirroring "is mine," it signifies her full giving of herself to him, establishing mutual and exclusive ownership. This is a foundational covenant statement.
- he pastures (הָרֹעֶה, haro'eh): A masculine singular participle meaning "the one pasturing" or "the shepherd" or "he who grazes." This denotes an active, guiding, and nurturing role. It signifies care, provision, and perhaps leading to rest and sustenance. Crucially, the Hebrew text here does not contain "his flock." The phrase directly means "the one pasturing among the lilies," referring to the beloved himself engaging in this action, whether by tending his own being/thoughts in that serene place or simply residing/acting in a pastoral, caring manner there. Some translations add "his flock" as an interpretive aid to complete the pastoral imagery, but the Hebrew leaves the object of "pastures" implicitly his presence or his domain or his action within the lilies.
- among the lilies (בַּשׁוֹשַׁנִּים, ba-shoshannim): "Among" or "in" the lilies. Lilies (שׁוֹשַׁן, shoshan) symbolize beauty, purity, delicacy, and often represent a peaceful and attractive environment. This phrase paints a picture of grace and gentle presence, indicating that his pastoral activities or rest occur in a place of loveliness and peace, perhaps also signifying the pure and tender nature of their relationship.
Words-group analysis:
- My beloved is mine and I am his: This is a chiastic structure (A-B-B'-A') emphasizing the perfect reciprocity and mutual possession within the relationship. It's a statement of full commitment, exclusivity, and belonging. It defines identity within the other, showcasing deep intimacy and security. This mirrors biblical covenant language where both parties bind themselves to each other.
- he pastures among the lilies: This phrase reveals the character and nature of the beloved's presence and activity within the relationship. He is not a harsh taskmaster but a gentle caretaker who finds sustenance, rest, or provides guidance in an environment of purity and beauty. This speaks to the tender and exquisite nature of their shared experience, suggesting peace, provision, and delightful interaction. The lilies themselves can also subtly represent the Shulamite, implying he delights in being among her pure presence.
Song Of Solomon 2 16 Bonus section
The interpretive shift from the Shulamite being "the lily" to the beloved pasturing among the lilies (where lilies represent beauty or perhaps other beloved individuals in a broader context) in SoS 6:3—"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine; he pastures among the lilies"—shows consistency and deepening of the theme. Some scholars propose that "among the lilies" is not just a place but subtly refers to the beloved (the Shulamite herself, if she is considered a 'lily'), indicating his care and dwelling within her or her beautiful characteristics. Alternatively, "lilies" can denote fields or beds of fragrant herbs, highlighting the beloved's gentle and intimate presence within a pure and flourishing environment. The order "mine and I am his" indicates the discovery or affirmation of her possession of him first, followed by her confident declaration of belonging to him. This sequence can be interpreted as a deep, experiential certainty of his love leading to her complete self-giving.
Song Of Solomon 2 16 Commentary
Song of Solomon 2:16 is a powerful testament to the beauty and security of mutual love and belonging. The opening declaration, "My beloved is mine and I am his," encapsulates the essence of biblical covenant: a reciprocal giving and receiving, a foundational union where identity is found in relation to the other. This isn't one-sided possession but shared commitment. It speaks to intimacy, trust, and complete surrender within a loving bond. Following this declaration of relational security, the verse then offers an image of the beloved's gentle activity: "he pastures among the lilies." This imagery suggests his presence is one of careful attentiveness, provision, and finding rest in a setting of purity and beauty. Whether he is leading or simply abiding in this serene environment, his character is one of gentleness and delight. In allegorical interpretations, this verse speaks profoundly of the believer's secure and reciprocal relationship with Christ, our Good Shepherd, who indwells us and tenderly cares for us, dwelling in the purity of our redeemed hearts, or in the peaceful "gardens" of the Church. It is a verse of peace, certainty, and appreciative love.