Song Of Solomon 4:13 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Song Of Solomon 4:13 kjv
Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
Song Of Solomon 4:13 nkjv
Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates With pleasant fruits, Fragrant henna with spikenard,
Song Of Solomon 4:13 niv
Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, with henna and nard,
Song Of Solomon 4:13 esv
Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits, henna with nard,
Song Of Solomon 4:13 nlt
Your thighs shelter a paradise of pomegranates
with rare spices ?
henna with nard,
Song Of Solomon 4 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:28 | Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth... | Divine command for fruitfulness |
| Gen 2:9 | ...every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food... | The pleasing abundance of Eden |
| Ex 28:33 | ...pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about... | Pomegranates used for priestly adornment |
| Num 13:23 | ...they cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes... also of the pomegranates... | Fruits signifying the richness of the promised land |
| Deut 8:8 | A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates... | A land blessed with abundant, good produce |
| Ps 1:3 | And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit... | Spiritual fruitfulness of the righteous |
| Ps 45:8 | All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia... | Royal dignity conveyed by precious fragrances |
| Ps 128:3 | Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house... | The blessedness of a wife bringing fruit to the home |
| Prov 7:17 | I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. | Fragrance used for illicit allure, contrasting purity here. |
| Prov 24:13 | My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: | Natural sweetness and desirability |
| Song 1:3 | Because of the savour of thy good ointments... | The captivating fragrance of the beloved |
| Song 4:12 | A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. | Beloved's purity and exclusivity in relationship |
| Song 4:14 | Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense... | Further description of the beloved's fragrant qualities |
| Song 5:1 | I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice... | The King entering and partaking of his garden's delights |
| Song 6:2 | My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices... | The beloved King tending his cherished garden |
| Isa 5:7 | For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel... | Israel personified as God's fruitful, chosen vineyard |
| Jer 31:12 | ...and their soul shall be as a watered garden... | Spiritual refreshment and abundance |
| Mark 14:3 | There came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious... | Spikenard's high value, demonstrating sacrificial devotion. |
| John 12:3 | Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus... | Mary's act of costly worship using spikenard |
| John 15:5 | I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me... bringeth forth much fruit... | Spiritual fruitfulness rooted in Christ |
| Gal 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance... | Desirable qualities produced by the Holy Spirit |
| Eph 5:27 | That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle... | Christ desiring a pure and glorious Church, His Bride. |
| Rev 21:2 | ...the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down... prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. | The Church, the Bride, in ultimate beauty and purity. |
Song Of Solomon 4 verses
Song Of Solomon 4 13 meaning
This verse continues the bridegroom's heartfelt adoration, picturing his beloved, the Shulamite, as a flourishing, enclosed garden, a veritable paradise. It emphasizes her overflowing beauty, her inherent fruitfulness, and the delightful, aromatic nature of her entire being and the love she shares exclusively with him within the confines of their intimate relationship.
Song Of Solomon 4 13 Context
Song of Solomon 4:13 is part of a lyrical celebration of love between a bridegroom and his bride. Chapter 4 specifically features the beloved King Solomon describing his Shulamite bride's captivating beauty, using rich natural imagery. Beginning in verse 12, she is likened to an "enclosed garden" or "private garden," a powerful metaphor that underscores her purity, exclusivity, and the intimacy of their union. This section transitions from a detailed appraisal of her physical features to a depiction of her essence as a source of pleasure and fruitfulness. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a king's personal pardes (park or orchard) was a place of luxury, beauty, and privacy, housing rare and valuable plants. The imagery therefore emphasizes her exalted status, her cultivated virtues, and the sacred, delightful nature of the love within their marital covenant.
Song Of Solomon 4 13 Word analysis
- Thy plants:
שְׁלָחַ֙יִךְ֙(sh`lakhayich). Meaning "your shoots" or "your sendings." This term suggests fresh, vigorous, and lively growth, symbolizing the beloved's vitality, youthful energy, and her inherent potential for flourishing. - are an orchard:
פַּרְדֵּ֤ס(pardes). An Old Persian loanword for "enclosed garden," "park," or "paradise." It signifies a cultivated, well-tended, private, and highly prized space. This emphasizes the beloved's purity, protected nature, and unique value, as well as the exclusive intimacy of their relationship. - of pomegranates:
רִמּוֹנִים֙(rimmonim). Pomegranates were rich in symbolism: fertility, abundance (due to numerous seeds), beauty, and even sacred blessings (as seen in temple decor). Here, they represent the beloved's life-giving potential, her voluptuous beauty, and the profound, rich joy she offers. - with pleasant fruits:
עִם־פְּרִ֣י מְגָדִ֔ים(im-priy mgadim).פְּרִ֣י(p`riy): "Fruit" or "produce."מְגָדִ֔ים(m`gadim): "Pleasant," "precious," "choicest," "most delightful." This descriptor highlights the superlative quality and supreme desirability of the beloved's attributes and the joys derived from her.
- camphire:
כְּפָרִ֖ים(k`pharim). Commonly identified as henna, a plant prized for its intensely fragrant white or yellowish blossoms, which were used for perfumery and dyeing in the ancient world. It symbolizes beauty, intoxicating fragrance, and alluring charm. - with spikenard:
נְרָדִֽים(n`radim). A rare, highly aromatic, and exceptionally expensive oil/perfume imported from India. Its inclusion signifies the beloved's extraordinary value, luxury, and exquisite fragrance, underscoring her preciousness and a type of pure, devoted love. - orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits: This phrase paints a picture of boundless richness and captivating allure. The beloved is not merely fruitful but is a source of the finest, most delightful fruits, promising deep satisfaction and abundance in all aspects.
- camphire, with spikenard: This pairing of two intensely fragrant and valuable substances illustrates the multifaceted sensory delight the beloved embodies. Her presence is a composite of exquisite beauty and rare, precious aroma, evoking profound attraction and value.
Song Of Solomon 4 13 Bonus section
The chosen botanicals in this verse, Pomegranates, Henna (camphire), and Spikenard, represent not just aesthetic appeal but hold deeper symbolic weight from the ancient world. Pomegranates, for instance, with their internal structure and many seeds, frequently symbolized hidden beauty, profound depth, and spiritual fruitfulness beyond outward appearance, often connected to temple adornments as signs of divine favor. Henna was integral to celebratory rituals and rites of beautification, reflecting the joy and festive nature of love and courtship. Spikenard, being a valuable commodity often used in anointing, subtly alludes to concepts of consecration and devotion. Therefore, the description of the beloved is multilayered: she embodies fertility, radiant beauty, inner richness, captivating joy, profound value, and purity, aligning perfectly with the idealized biblical vision of a bride.
Song Of Solomon 4 13 Commentary
Song of Solomon 4:13 continues the metaphor of the bride as a cultivated, royal garden, showcasing her as an unparalleled source of joy and life. The "orchard of pomegranates" speaks of vibrant beauty, abundance, and fertility, inviting the beloved into a realm of deep satisfaction. The "pleasant fruits" go beyond mere goodness, emphasizing her supreme desirability and the exceptional delight she offers. The fragrant "camphire" (henna) signifies her alluring beauty and captivating presence, while the rare and expensive "spikenard" highlights her priceless worth and exquisite spiritual aroma. Collectively, these images portray a woman of complete and enchanting excellence, reserved for her beloved in a sacred union that mirrors the paradisiacal harmony God intended. It exalts the beauty and purity of marital love as a blessed and exclusive treasure.