Song Of Solomon 4 6

Song Of Solomon 4:6 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.

Song Of Solomon 4:6 kjv

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.

Song Of Solomon 4:6 nkjv

Until the day breaks And the shadows flee away, I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh And to the hill of frankincense.

Song Of Solomon 4:6 niv

Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of incense.

Song Of Solomon 4:6 esv

Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, I will go away to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense.

Song Of Solomon 4:6 nlt

Before the dawn breezes blow
and the night shadows flee,
I will hurry to the mountain of myrrh
and to the hill of frankincense.

Song Of Solomon 4 6 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Isa 9:2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light...Messiah brings spiritual light.
Mal 4:2...the sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings...Divine healing and clarity.
Ps 30:5...weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.Transition from sorrow to joy.
Ps 130:5-6I wait for the Lord... More than watchmen for the morning...Expectant waiting for divine presence.
Rom 13:12The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off...Urgency of spiritual awakening.
1 Jn 2:8...the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.Spiritual illumination replacing error.
2 Pet 1:19...until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.Inward spiritual enlightenment.
Rev 22:5And night will be no more... for the Lord God will be their light.Eschatological vision of eternal light.
Ex 30:23...take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh five hundred shekels...Myrrh in sacred anointing oil.
Est 2:12...six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes...Myrrh in ritual purification for a queen.
Ps 45:8All your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia...Myrrh symbolizing regal fragrance.
Mt 2:11...they offered him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.Gifts to Christ, signifying his kingship/suffering.
Jn 19:39-40Nicodemus also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes... for burial.Myrrh associated with death and burial of Christ.
Ex 30:34The Lord said to Moses, "Take sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum..."Frankincense as ingredient in holy incense.
Lev 2:1-2...when anyone offers a grain offering to the Lord... he shall put oil...Frankincense accompanying grain offerings.
Lev 24:7...and on each pile you shall put pure frankincense, that it may be a...Frankincense on the showbread, symbolizing presence.
Isa 60:6...all those from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincenseFrankincense brought in worship to God.
Ex 3:1Moses was keeping the flock... and he came to Horeb, the mountain of God.Mountain as place of divine encounter.
Ps 48:1Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, his...Zion as a holy mountain.
Lk 6:12In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he...Jesus' withdrawal to a mountain for prayer.
Song 4:12A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a garden locked, a fountain sealed.Bride's sacred purity and guardedness.
Song 5:1I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride... I have eaten my honey...The consummation following anticipation.

Song Of Solomon 4 verses

Song Of Solomon 4 6 meaning

Song of Solomon 4:6 conveys the Bridegroom's declaration of temporary departure to aromatic, elevated places, signaling a period of anticipation or sacred preparation. It expresses a commitment to withdraw and return, associating this action with the coming of full daylight and the disappearance of shadows. This pause before deeper intimacy suggests a movement towards sanctification or an essential waiting period, infused with preciousness and reverence symbolized by myrrh and frankincense. It implies a journey toward a hallowed space, anticipating a moment of clarity and perfect union.

Song Of Solomon 4 6 Context

This verse is spoken by the Bridegroom to his Beloved immediately after an extravagant eulogy (4:1-5) where he describes her physical beauty, likening her to a lush, enclosed garden and sealed fountain (4:12), emphasizing her purity and unique possession. His declaration in 4:6 establishes a temporary cessation or a period of deferment, a symbolic journey to a place of aromatic and sacred significance—the "mountain of myrrh" and "hill of frankincense"—before their relationship moves to a deeper stage of physical intimacy (described in 4:16-5:1). This interval marks anticipation and respectful, sacred preparation within the passionate narrative of the Song. Historically, myrrh and frankincense were extremely valuable commodities used in religious rituals, perfumery, and anointing in ancient Near Eastern cultures, signifying preciousness, sanctity, and often a bittersweet aspect (myrrh for suffering/embalming, frankincense for worship/divinity).

Song Of Solomon 4 6 Word analysis

  • Until the day break: (Heb. ʿad sheyāpûaḥ hayyōm - עַד־שֶׁיָּפ֤וּחַ הַיּוֹם֙).
    • yāpûaḥ: literally means "to breathe," "to exhale," or "to blow."
    • Significance: This phrase doesn't just denote sunrise but captures the refreshing, life-giving quality of morning. It suggests the soft breath of dawn, signaling an end to the night's shadows and difficulties, and an arrival of clarity, warmth, and new beginnings. It implies a definitive turning point.
  • and the shadows flee away: (Heb. wenāsû haṣṣelālîm - וְנָ֣סוּ הַצְּלָלִ֔ים).
    • nāsû: "to flee," "to vanish," "to disappear."
    • Significance: The vanishing of shadows symbolizes the dispelling of obscurity, uncertainty, or perhaps any lingering impediments or challenges. It signifies a transition to a state of full light, clear vision, and undisturbed peace, aligning with spiritual growth or consummation.
  • I will get me: This expresses a determined intention and personal initiative on the part of the speaker (the Bridegroom).
  • to the mountain of myrrh: (Heb. el har hammôr - אֶל־הַר֙ הַמּ֣וֹר).
    • har: "mountain," implying an elevated, significant, or perhaps solitary place.
    • môr: "myrrh," a fragrant gum resin known for its bittersweet aroma. Used in holy anointing oil, embalming, and cosmetics.
    • Significance: Myrrh can signify preciousness, healing, purification, but also suffering and death (as an embalming agent). Here, in a context of love, it suggests a path of preparation that involves both beauty and perhaps a necessary, yet desirable, 'bitterness' or discipline leading to deeper union.
  • and to the hill of frankincense: (Heb. wʾel givʿat halləvōnâ - וְאֶל־גִּבְעַ֣ת הַלְּבוֹנָ֔ה).
    • givʿat: "hill," also an elevated place, perhaps distinct yet close to the "mountain."
    • lĕvōnáh: "frankincense," a costly, sweet-smelling resin burned as incense, particularly in temple worship.
    • Significance: Frankincense consistently symbolizes divinity, purity, worship, prayer, and sacred offerings. Going to a "hill of frankincense" indicates a withdrawal to a place of hallowed reverence, spiritual focus, and adoration.

Words-group analysis:

  • Until the day break, and the shadows flee away: This pairing represents a specific, anticipated timeline. It is not an immediate action but one that awaits a natural and beautiful transition from obscurity to clarity, suggesting patience and a purposeful delay before a destined fulfillment. It also carries eschatological overtones of God's coming light.
  • I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense: The deliberate journey to these dual locations highlights distinct but complementary aspects of the preparation or withdrawal. Together, myrrh and frankincense signify a movement towards a sacred space associated with valuable and pure offerings. This could be interpreted as the Bridegroom sanctifying himself or preparing the way, signifying that the love is both costly and holy. The shift from "mountain" to "hill" may imply two distinct, yet connected, elevated places or simply stylistic variation emphasizing the aromatic destinations.

Song Of Solomon 4 6 Bonus section

The choice of "mountain" and "hill" for these aromatic places can further emphasize that the beloved relationship is not commonplace but elevated, sacred, and perhaps even spiritually challenging in its pursuit of purity. This can be understood as an invitation to consider how love, both human and divine, often requires periods of refinement and sacred dedication. Some Christian interpreters see the "mountain of myrrh" and "hill of frankincense" as metaphors for Christ's sacrifice (myrrh at His birth and burial, representing suffering) and His eternal priesthood and divine nature (frankincense, representing worship and intercession), suggesting His temporary "absence" before His glorious return to His Bride, the Church. The phrase "until the day break" strongly resonates with the anticipation of Christ's Second Coming, where all shadows of this age will ultimately flee before His eternal light.

Song Of Solomon 4 6 Commentary

Song of Solomon 4:6 captures a poignant moment of anticipation and deliberate, sacred pausing within a passionate relationship. The Bridegroom's declaration is not one of abandonment but of purposeful withdrawal to places steeped in fragrance and spiritual significance. The "day break" and "shadows flee away" delineate a symbolic boundary—a time of transition from potential ambiguity or imperfection to a state of absolute clarity and unblemished union. His destination, the "mountain of myrrh" and "hill of frankincense," are not just physical locations but symbolic representations of preciousness, purification, worship, and preparation. Myrrh, associated with anointing and a bittersweet aroma, signifies the beauty and costliness of love, perhaps even the necessity of self-denial or discipline. Frankincense, linked to divine offerings, underscores the holy and reverential aspect of his commitment. The verse thus speaks of a love that is not impulsive but intentional, hallowed, and willing to wait, ensuring the most pure and meaningful consummation, reflecting deeper spiritual truths about divine love and the pursuit of holiness.