Song Of Solomon 4:12 kjv
A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
Song Of Solomon 4:12 nkjv
A garden enclosed Is my sister, my spouse, A spring shut up, A fountain sealed.
Song Of Solomon 4:12 niv
You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.
Song Of Solomon 4:12 esv
A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed.
Song Of Solomon 4:12 nlt
You are my private garden, my treasure, my bride,
a secluded spring, a hidden fountain.
Song Of Solomon 4 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Song 4:12 | You are a garden, my bride, a locked garden | Exclusive love and purity |
| Song 5:1 | I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride | Intimacy after protection |
| Genesis 2:15 | Took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it | God's placement for purpose |
| Psalm 127:1 | Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain | Divine blessing is key |
| Proverbs 5:15 | Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well | Fidelity and exclusivity |
| Proverbs 5:19 | May she be an enchanting doe, a graceful doe in the morning | Delight in a spouse |
| Jeremiah 2:2 | I remember the devotion of your youth... your first love as a bride | Remembering initial purity |
| Ezekiel 44:2 | This gate is to remain shut; it is not to be opened | Symbolic of God's presence |
| Matthew 13:44 | Kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field | Valuable spiritual truth |
| 1 Corinthians 7:34 | The unmarried woman is concerned about the Lord's affairs: her aim is to be holy | Devotion and consecration |
| 1 Corinthians 7:36 | if he has no such impulse, his passion is not beyond his control, he has control over his own desire | Self-control in relationships |
| 1 Corinthians 7:38 | So the one who marries his betrothed does well, but he who refrains will do better | Sanctity of marriage/singleness |
| Hebrews 13:4 | Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled | Honor in marital union |
| Revelation 14:4 | These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they are virgins | Purity and holy living |
| Revelation 21:2 | And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God... | New Creation purity |
| Song 2:10 | My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away..." | Invitation to intimacy |
| Song 2:13 | The fig tree ripens its early fruit, and the [graceful vines] give forth their fragrance... | Renewal and beauty |
| Song 5:13 | His cheeks are like beds of spices, yielding fragrance. His lips are lilies... | Appreciation of beauty |
| Song 7:8 | I wish to go up that vine and lay hold of its fruit— | Desire for union and fruit |
| Song 8:9 | If she is a wall, we will build upon her battlements of silver | Defending precious virtue |
Song Of Solomon 4 verses
Song Of Solomon 4 12 Meaning
The verse describes a locked garden, symbolizing a woman's virginity and chastity. This enclosure prevents others from entering, emphasizing her purity and exclusivity within her intended relationship. It's a metaphor for guarding one's virtue.
Song Of Solomon 4 12 Context
Song of Solomon Chapter 4 focuses on King Solomon's passionate praise for his bride, the Shulamite woman. He extols her physical beauty, her virtues, and her unique appeal. Verse 12 is part of a longer section (4:12-16) where Solomon likens her to a secluded garden, contrasting this with invitations to other parts of her being, all culminating in a desire for union and a reciprocal appreciation. Historically, such poetic language was common in ancient Near Eastern love poetry and served to celebrate the beauty and purity within a marriage context.
Song Of Solomon 4 12 Word Analysis
- Shur (Hebrew: שׁוּר) - wall, fence. Indicates a protective barrier.
- Shachah (Hebrew: שׁחה) - bowed, humbled. Suggests reverence or adoration.
- El (Hebrew: אל) - to, into. A preposition indicating direction.
- Gan (Hebrew: גַּן) - garden. A cultivated plot of land.
- Nal`ad (Hebrew: נַעֲלָה) - locked, shut up. Signifies something secured and inaccessible.
- Achot (Hebrew: אָחֹת) - sister. A term of endearment and close relationship.
- Kallah (Hebrew: כַּלָּה) - bride. One who is preparing for or has recently entered into marriage.
- P’enayim (Hebrew: פְּנַיִם) - inward parts, interior. Refers to the inside of something.
Words group by words group analysis:
- "You are a garden, my sister, my bride" - Establishes the comparison. The "garden" signifies enclosed beauty, fertility, and purity. "Sister" and "bride" highlight intimacy and marital covenant.
- "a spring locked, a fountain sealed" - Reinforces the imagery of enclosure. A locked spring and sealed fountain represent virginity and exclusive access, ensuring purity.
- "Your shoots were a garden of pomegranates" - The enclosed garden bears fruit. Pomegranates symbolize fertility, beauty, and prosperity, suggesting the abundance and desirable qualities within the reserved state.
- "with shoots of choicest fruit," - "Choicest fruit" signifies the highest quality and desirability, alluding to the richness and value of her virtue.
- "henna with spikenard," - These are fragrant plants, representing desirable perfumes and aromatics. They signify the woman's pleasant disposition and the fragrant evidence of her virtue.
- "spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon," - A list of precious spices and aromatic herbs, further emphasizing the delightful qualities and purity emanating from her.
- "all trees of frankincense," - Frankincense was a valuable aromatic used in worship, symbolizing devotion and the sacredness of her person.
- "with all chief spices." - A summation of precious, desirable scents, pointing to the excellence and desirability of her character and virtue.
Song Of Solomon 4 12 Bonus Section
The comparison of the beloved to a garden that yields fragrant spices and choicest fruit emphasizes that chastity and purity are not passive emptiness but active reserves of immense value, beauty, and potential. They are the very qualities that make the intimacy of marriage, when rightfully entered into, so precious and fulfilling. This imagery serves as a spiritual parallel for the believer's devotion to Christ—a "garden" to be cultivated and protected, yielding fragrant worship and fruit for His glory. The spices listed are rare and expensive, highlighting the high value God places on purity of heart and conduct in His people.
Song Of Solomon 4 12 Commentary
The metaphor of a locked garden and sealed fountain powerfully conveys the ideal of female chastity and exclusive devotion within marriage. It isn't about exclusion from all relationship, but rather a sacred, protected intimacy reserved for the husband. The beautiful imagery of fragrant spices and abundant fruit signifies that this purity is not barren, but fertile, producing desirable qualities and fragrant influence. It's a picture of virtue that is guarded, cherished, and ultimately a source of delight and fulfillment for the one it is reserved for. This concept echoes in spiritual truths about consecration to God, where purity of heart and exclusive devotion are paramount.