Song Of Solomon 5 13

Song Of Solomon 5:13 kjv

His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.

Song Of Solomon 5:13 nkjv

His cheeks are like a bed of spices, Banks of scented herbs. His lips are lilies, Dripping liquid myrrh.

Song Of Solomon 5:13 niv

His cheeks are like beds of spice yielding perfume. His lips are like lilies dripping with myrrh.

Song Of Solomon 5:13 esv

His cheeks are like beds of spices, mounds of sweet-smelling herbs. His lips are lilies, dripping liquid myrrh.

Song Of Solomon 5:13 nlt

His cheeks are like gardens of spices
giving off fragrance.
His lips are like lilies,
perfumed with myrrh.

Song Of Solomon 5 verses

Song Of Solomon 5 13 meaning

Song of Solomon 5:13, spoken by the Shulamite, presents a rapturous description of her beloved's features, specifically his cheeks and lips, through rich and fragrant imagery. His cheeks are depicted as carefully tended garden beds filled with precious spices and luxurious mounds of aromatic herbs, signifying his vibrant allure, delightful character, and attractive presence. His lips are likened to elegant lilies, emphasizing their purity, delicate beauty, and captivating quality. Furthermore, these lips are described as dripping with "liquid myrrh," conveying that his speech is not merely sweet, but profoundly precious, purifying, and exquisitely refreshing, holding a deeply aromatic and captivating essence that enriches his listener.

Song Of Solomon 5 13 Context

Song of Solomon chapter 5 opens with the beloved King's joyful affirmation of their shared love. However, the subsequent narrative plunges into a dream-like sequence for the Shulamite, detailing a temporary separation and her anguished search for him. When she approaches the "daughters of Jerusalem" and describes her profound distress and yearning, they inquire about her beloved's distinctiveness. In response, from verse 10 onward, the Shulamite delivers a captivating and exhaustive physical description of her beloved, intended to convey his unparalleled excellence and beauty. Verse 13 is a significant part of this praise, portraying his face and words with lavish, sensuous detail. Historically and culturally, the described plants—spices, fragrant herbs, lilies, and myrrh—were prized commodities, often associated with luxury, royalty, beauty, and even sacred rituals in the ancient Near East. Thus, her description elevates her beloved to an almost transcendent level of attractiveness and desirability.

Song Of Solomon 5 13 Word analysis

• His cheeks: lekhâyâw (לֶחְיָיו). Refers to the lateral surfaces of the face. In ancient literature, clear and vibrant cheeks were indicators of health, youth, and attractiveness. This immediate focus on a visible feature sets the stage for a lavish description of his person.

• are like a bed of spices: ‛ărûgôth bôsem (עֲרוּגוֹת בֹּשֶׂם).

  • ‛ărûgôth: "beds," specifically suggesting neatly arranged, cultivated garden beds. This implies order, intentional planting, and thoughtful care, not wild growth. These were often raised for better drainage and ease of maintenance, indicating refinement and luxury.
  • bôsem: "spices" or "balsam." A general term for highly aromatic plants, gums, or perfumes. These were expensive, sought-after, and intoxicatingly fragrant. The metaphor suggests his cheeks radiate a pleasing visual aspect and an alluring, rich aroma, signifying his delightful and invigorating presence.

• like mounds of fragrant herbs: migd'lôth merqâch (מִגְדְּלוֹת מֶרְקָח).

  • migd'lôth: "towers" or "mounds." Can denote elevated structures or heaped piles. Here, it likely refers to prominent, perhaps terraced, beds of these aromatic plants or carefully prepared, high-quality perfumed compounds. This intensifies the imagery of abundance, richness, and prominence of his fragrance. It could also hint at strength or steadfastness.
  • merqâch: "perfume" or "fragrant compound/ointment." This refers to a more refined, crafted product of aromatic substances. It suggests not just raw spices but a skillfully blended essence, conveying a sophisticated and profound pleasantness about his character and aura.

• His lips: śiph'tôthāw (שִׂפְתוֹתָיו). The organs of speech and tender affection. The subsequent description highlights not just their visual beauty but also the nature and effect of his words and kisses.

• like lilies: shôshanin (שׁוֹשַׁנִּים).

  • Lilies: Symbol of extraordinary beauty, purity, elegance, and often radiant color or delicate whiteness. In the ancient world, lilies were esteemed garden flowers, known for their visual charm and often pleasant scent. This comparison implies his lips possess a captivating freshness, softness, and an unblemished quality.

• dripping liquid myrrh: nôt'phôth môr 'ôbhêr (נֹטְפוֹת מוֹר עֹבֵר).

  • nôt'phôth: "dripping" or "distilling." Denotes a continuous, abundant, and effortless emanation. It's not static but actively flowing, signifying a constant outflow of something precious.
  • môr: "myrrh." A valuable aromatic gum resin from specific trees, prized for its use in perfumes, incense, medicines, and embalming. It had a warm, pungent, and sometimes slightly bitter-sweet aroma, representing preciousness, healing, purification, and anointing.
  • 'ôbhêr: "flowing," "passing," or "liquid." Emphasizes the fluidity and richness of the myrrh. This specifies it as the highly desirable, purified essence of myrrh, rather than crude resin. Metaphorically, his speech, originating from these lips, is sweet, valuable, soothing, and leaves a lasting, fragrant impression.

• "His cheeks are like a bed of spices, like mounds of fragrant herbs": This word group portrays the visual appeal and intrinsic fragrance emanating from the beloved's face. It suggests a delightful and invigorating presence, whose very being is as enchanting and valuable as the most exquisite cultivated aromas, indicating a radiant and attractive disposition.

• "His lips like lilies, dripping liquid myrrh": This phrase group emphasizes the profound beauty and delightful impact of his speech and affection. The purity and delicate charm of lilies are combined with the precious, purifying, and aromatic quality of flowing myrrh, conveying that his words are not only visually appealing but also intrinsically beautiful, deeply nourishing, sweet, and comforting, having a powerful, life-giving effect.

Song Of Solomon 5 13 Bonus section

The ancient Near Eastern audience would immediately grasp the lavishness of the Shulamite's praise. Gardens filled with rare spices were symbols of royal wealth and divine blessing, much like Eden itself (Gen 2:8-9). Myrrh, specifically "flowing" or "liquid" myrrh, implies the highest quality—pure and refined, like a distillation of precious oil. This highlights that the beloved's very essence is precious and delightful. The language of this verse, while explicitly describing human love, employs motifs that echo descriptions of divine presence and temple worship (e.g., incense and anointing oils in Exodus). This indirectly elevates the sacredness of God-ordained human love, placing it within a framework of beauty and value reflective of divine creation, underscoring its inherent goodness and profound mystery.

Song Of Solomon 5 13 Commentary

Song of Solomon 5:13 offers an effusive expression of the Shulamite's admiration, moving beyond mere physical features to reveal the essence of her beloved's character. His cheeks, like cultivated spice gardens, suggest not only robust beauty and health but also a personality that is consistently pleasing and refreshingly delightful, whose presence fills the air with metaphorical sweetness. The imagery of his lips being like lilies signifies their exquisite visual grace, purity, and captivating softness. Crucially, the "dripping liquid myrrh" transforms the meaning beyond mere appearance, indicating that his speech (the words flowing from his lips) is incredibly precious, fragrant, soothing, and pure. Myrrh, a sacred and valuable anointing oil, imparts a sense of healing, cleansing, and deep affection. For the believer, this verse profoundly foreshadows Christ: His radiant glory and perfection (cheeks), His spotless character and purity (lilies), and His life-giving words that continually drip with grace, truth, and comforting essence (liquid myrrh). His words heal, purify, and nourish the soul, more precious and delightful than any earthly aroma.