Song Of Solomon 2:2 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Song Of Solomon 2:2 kjv
As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
Song Of Solomon 2:2 nkjv
Like a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.
Song Of Solomon 2:2 niv
Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women.
Song Of Solomon 2:2 esv
As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women.
Song Of Solomon 2:2 nlt
Like a lily among thistles
is my darling among young women.
Song Of Solomon 2 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 45:11 | "The king will greatly desire your beauty." | King desires queen's unique beauty. |
| Prov 31:29 | "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." | Excellence above others. |
| Eph 5:27 | "...that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot... | " Christ's love makes the Church spotless. |
| Rev 21:2 | "And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down... prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." | The Church as a beautiful bride. |
| Rom 12:2 | "Do not be conformed to this world..." | Christians are to be distinct from the world. |
| Col 1:22 | "...to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him..." | Believers made perfect in Christ. |
| Isa 60:1-3 | "Arise, shine... nations shall come to your light..." | Distinctive glory of God's people. |
| Deut 7:6 | "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD... has chosen you..." | God's people are set apart. |
| Exod 19:5 | "...then you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples..." | Israel as God's unique treasure. |
| John 15:19 | "...but I chose you out of the world..." | Christ chooses His followers distinctly. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession..." | Distinct identity of believers. |
| Mal 3:17 | "'They shall be mine,' says the LORD of hosts, 'in the day when I make up my treasured possession...'" | God's people as His special possession. |
| Titus 2:14 | "...to purify for himself a people for his own possession..." | God's people are unique and purified. |
| Gen 3:18 | "Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you..." | Thorns as symbols of difficulty/curse. |
| Isa 7:23-24 | "In that day every place... will become briers and thorns." | Desolation turning land into thorns. |
| Matt 7:16 | "You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns...?" | Distinction between good and bad nature/fruit. |
| Mark 4:7 | "Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them..." | Thorns hindering growth/purity. |
| Heb 6:7-8 | "...land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless..." | Thorns representing worthlessness or unfruitfulness. |
| Luke 6:44 | "For each tree is known by its own fruit." | Character defined by nature and fruit. |
| 1 Sam 2:8 | "He raises the poor from the dust... to make them sit with princes..." | Exaltation of the humble. |
| Psa 113:7-8 | "He raises the poor from the dust... to make them sit with princes..." | God elevates the lowly. |
| Luke 1:52 | "He has brought down the mighty... and exalted those of humble estate..." | Divine reversal of status for the humble. |
Song Of Solomon 2 verses
Song Of Solomon 2 2 meaning
This verse expresses the Beloved's profound admiration for his love, the Shulamite, highlighting her unparalleled beauty and unique virtue. He sees her as distinctly superior and lovely, much like a beautiful lily stands out strikingly amidst harsh and undesirable thorny plants. It is a declaration of her exceptional worth and distinctiveness in his eyes.
Song Of Solomon 2 2 Context
Song of Solomon 2:2 immediately follows the Shulamite's self-deprecating statement in verse 1, where she humbly calls herself "a rose of Sharon" and "a lily of the valleys" – implying a common, rustic flower rather than a majestic, exotic one. Verse 2 is the Beloved King's tender and elevating response. Historically, such nature imagery was common in ancient Near Eastern love poetry. Culturally, for a king to lavish such unique praise on a presumably simple shepherdess elevates her status significantly above other court women or "daughters of Jerusalem," highlighting the profound and exclusive nature of their mutual love. The king's affirmation counters her modesty, presenting her as uniquely radiant.
Song Of Solomon 2 2 Word analysis
- As the lily (שׁוֹשַׁנָּה - Shoshanna): This Hebrew term denotes a beautiful, often white, flower. It symbolizes purity, beauty, elegance, and distinctiveness. The lily's delicate yet striking appearance sets it apart.
- among: This preposition emphasizes the setting; the lily is surrounded by other elements, not isolated.
- thorns (הַחוֹחִים - ha-chokhim): Literally meaning thorny plants or briers. Biblically, thorns represent the cursed ground, pain, barrenness, or things undesirable and obstructive. Here, they serve as a harsh backdrop that accentuates the lily's loveliness.
- so is: A direct comparative conjunction, establishing a parallel relationship between the preceding image and the following statement.
- my love (רַעְיָתִי - Ra'yati): A deeply affectionate term of endearment, used by the Beloved King exclusively for the Shulamite. It conveys intimacy, companionship, and personal devotion. This is "my beloved" or "my companion" rather than just "a love."
- among: Again, highlighting the presence within a surrounding group.
- the daughters (הַבָּנוֹת - ha-banot): This refers to other young women, often the court ladies or women of Jerusalem mentioned elsewhere in the Song. They represent the general populace of women against whom the Shulamite's singular beauty and virtue are compared and elevated.
Word-Groups analysis:
- "As the lily among thorns": This vivid simile immediately draws a picture of stark contrast. The beauty of the lily is not diminished by its surroundings but rather amplified, shining all the brighter against a backdrop of common, prickly, or undesirable plants. It underscores an inherent, outstanding quality.
- "so is my love among the daughters": This is the interpretive application of the simile. The King declares his Shulamite's unique splendor. From his perspective, her charm, grace, and inner beauty transcend all other women, setting her apart as singularly exquisite and cherished. It conveys a declaration of exclusive and devoted affection.
Song Of Solomon 2 2 Bonus section
The positioning of this verse, immediately after the Shulamite's humble self-description, provides a beautiful demonstration of love's transformative power in perception. While she saw herself as common (a "lily of the valleys" – simple, growing in abundance), her Beloved sees her as uniquely elevated ("a lily among thorns" – distinctive, excelling above the ordinary). This highlights the grace and elevation bestowed by a loving gaze. Furthermore, the lily as a decorative motif frequently appeared in temple architecture (e.g., on the capitals of the pillars in Solomon's Temple), subtly associating the beloved's exalted beauty with a sense of sacredness and divine design. This reinforces the idea of her purity and worth being of significant, perhaps even divinely-ordained, standing in the Beloved's eyes.
Song Of Solomon 2 2 Commentary
Song of Solomon 2:2 is a profound affirmation from the Beloved King, exalting his Shulamite above all others. He sees her not just as beautiful, but uniquely so, a resplendent "lily" thriving and radiating elegance even within potentially coarse "thorny" surroundings, or simply standing out from the ordinary. This is a declaration of subjective love where her excellence is unsurpassed in his eyes. This verse powerfully illustrates how true love elevates its object, perceiving a singular and unparalleled worth that makes all others seem secondary. Allegorically, it is often seen as Christ's profound and unique appreciation for His Church. Despite her imperfections or existence within a fallen world, He beholds her as spotless, chosen, and distinct, set apart by His grace and love. She is His cherished possession, incomparable to all others.