Song Of Solomon 6:11 kjv
I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished and the pomegranates budded.
Song Of Solomon 6:11 nkjv
I went down to the garden of nuts To see the verdure of the valley, To see whether the vine had budded And the pomegranates had bloomed.
Song Of Solomon 6:11 niv
I went down to the grove of nut trees to look at the new growth in the valley, to see if the vines had budded or the pomegranates were in bloom.
Song Of Solomon 6:11 esv
I went down to the nut orchard to look at the blossoms of the valley, to see whether the vines had budded, whether the pomegranates were in bloom.
Song Of Solomon 6:11 nlt
I went down to the grove of walnut trees
and out to the valley to see the new spring growth,
to see whether the grapevines had budded
or the pomegranates were in bloom.
Song Of Solomon 6 11 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Gen 2:8-10 | The LORD God planted a garden in Eden… | God's ideal dwelling place; place of communion |
Pss 1:3 | He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit… | Metaphor for fruitful righteous life |
Pss 92:12-14 | The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar… | Blessings of those planted in the Lord |
Prov 8:17 | I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. | The principle of seeking and finding wisdom |
Isa 5:1-7 | My beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hillside… | Allegory of Israel as God's unfruitful vine |
Isa 27:6 | In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom… | Future fruitfulness of God's people |
Isa 51:3 | For the LORD will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places… | Restoration and divine comfort likened to Eden |
Jer 17:7-8 | Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD… will be like a tree planted… | Stability and fruitfulness from trusting God |
Hos 14:8 | I am like a luxuriant juniper; from Me comes your fruit. | God as the source of Israel's fruit |
Joel 2:22 | Do not be afraid, you wild animals, for the pastures in the wilderness… | Restoration of nature and productivity |
Song 2:3 | Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved… | The Beloved's unique beauty and shade |
Song 4:13 | Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with the choicest fruits… | The Beloved's inherent beauty and fruitfulness |
Song 7:12 | Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded… | The Shulamite inviting the Beloved to intimacy |
Matt 7:7 | Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock… | Principle of active seeking for divine things |
Mt 13:23 | The seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word… | Importance of receptive heart for fruitfulness |
Jn 15:1-8 | I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener… bearing much fruit. | Christ as the source of believers' fruit |
Eph 4:15-16 | Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect… | Growth in Christ leading to spiritual maturity |
Col 1:10 | so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord… bearing fruit in every… | Prayer for believers to live fruitful lives |
Gal 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness… | The manifestation of the Spirit in life |
Rev 22:1-2 | Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life… trees of life… | Paradise restored, eternal life and sustenance |
Song Of Solomon 6 verses
Song Of Solomon 6 11 Meaning
Song of Solomon 6:11 depicts the Beloved's purposeful journey to a private garden to observe the early signs of life and fruitfulness. It signifies a profound attentiveness, an active desire to survey the natural blossoming of growth, and an eagerness to engage with the flourishing potential of the garden's valuable produce. This action embodies a loving concern for fertility, vitality, and the nascent stages of growth, often allegorically representing a seeking out of spiritual ripeness or a desire to witness the maturity of intimate relationship.
Song Of Solomon 6 11 Context
Song of Solomon 6:11 appears amidst the poetic dialogues celebrating the mutual love and admiration between the Beloved (Bridegroom) and the Shulamite (Bride). In the immediate context of Chapter 6, the Shulamite has just lavishly praised the Bridegroom's beauty, after which the Daughters of Jerusalem inquire as to his whereabouts. This verse serves as the Bridegroom's explanation of where he went, signifying his diligent search for and appreciation of growth. The larger context of the Song emphasizes the purity, passion, and natural beauty of marital love, often interpreted allegorically as the relationship between Christ and His Church or Yahweh and Israel. Historically, gardens were central to ancient Israelite life, representing security, intimacy, and fertility. The plants mentioned, such as vines and pomegranates, were highly valued crops symbolic of prosperity and life.
Song Of Solomon 6 11 Word analysis
- "I went down": The Hebrew word yarad (יָרַד) signifies a purposeful descent. It implies intentional movement towards something or someone, often into a lower, perhaps more intimate or humble place. Here, it denotes an active, personal engagement with the garden, suggesting a deliberate action to observe and cultivate, not merely a passive observation from afar.
- "into the garden": The Hebrew gan (גַּן) frequently appears in biblical literature, from Eden onward, as a place of beauty, privacy, delight, and intimate encounter. In the Song, it consistently serves as a symbol of the Shulamite's person, her inner life, and the private space of intimacy shared with the Beloved.
- "of nuts": The Hebrew egoz (אֱגוֹז), referring likely to walnuts or pistachios, is unique here as a descriptor of the garden. Nuts often symbolize hidden delights, inner strength protected by an outer shell, or valuable contents within a seemingly ordinary exterior. Some rabbinic interpretations connect nuts to the Israelite congregation or the profound depths of Torah, where layers of understanding are revealed through careful breaking. Its inclusion points to a deeper, perhaps less obvious, treasure within the garden.
- "to see": The Hebrew ra'ah (רָאָה) denotes more than casual looking; it implies keen observation, careful examination, discernment, and even revelation. The Beloved's intention is not simply to glance, but to genuinely understand and appreciate what he finds.
- "the fruits of the valley": The Hebrew phrase nipchei ha-nachal (נִפְכֵּי הַנַּחַל) specifically points to "sprouts" or "new growths" in the nachal (נַחַל), which refers to a valley, stream, or wadi. Valleys were often fertile due to water runoff. This signifies the first visible signs of life and potential harvest in a nurturing environment, particularly after dormancy.
- "and to see whether the vine flourished": The Hebrew paraḥ (פָּרַח) means to sprout, blossom, or bloom. The gefen (גֶּפֶן), or vine, is a prominent biblical symbol representing Israel, joy, prosperity, and the source of wine. The Beloved is checking for its burgeoning flowers, the crucial precursor to grape production.
- "and the pomegranates budded": The Hebrew ḥanaṭ (חָנַט) describes the specific act of a fruit tree forming its initial buds, indicating fruit-setting. The rimmon (רִמּוֹן), or pomegranate, is a potent symbol of fertility, abundance, beauty, and often righteousness due to its numerous seeds. Its mention alongside the vine highlights precious, significant produce.
Words-group by Words-group analysis:
- "I went down into the garden of nuts": This phrase conveys the Beloved's deliberate and humble initiative. It speaks of a determined pursuit of the Beloved in her deepest, most hidden, and perhaps most challenging or complex aspects, signifying a desire to know her entirely, even the parts that require effort to uncover.
- "to see the fruits of the valley": This highlights the Beloved's objective: to assess the onset of vital, thriving life. It emphasizes observation for renewal and early, nascent stages of productivity, recognizing potential even when it's just beginning to show.
- "whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded": These specific agricultural observations are critical indicators of forthcoming abundance. They point to the Beloved's attentive eye towards growth, fertility, and the promise of rich harvests within the relationship, seeking the initial signs of mature, fruitful love.
Song Of Solomon 6 11 Bonus section
The unique mention of the "garden of nuts" (egoz) carries significant allegorical weight for various scholars. Beyond physical produce, it suggests searching for hidden wisdom, understanding the innermost thoughts, or appreciating veiled beauty that requires breaking open to fully discover. This speaks to the Beloved's desire for the Shulamite's deepest self, an intimacy that probes beyond the surface. Furthermore, the scene emphasizes the initiation of the Bridegroom, presenting a model of proactive love that seeks to understand and affirm the other's potential rather than simply react. It's an investigative love, observing, delighting, and patiently waiting for maturation, resonating with the concept of Christ's constant, vigilant care over His Church, desiring that she bears much fruit (Jn 15:8).
Song Of Solomon 6 11 Commentary
Song of Solomon 6:11 unveils the Bridegroom's active pursuit and attentive care within the private sphere of the relationship, personified by the garden. His "going down" signifies a humble, intentional, and deeply engaged involvement. He is not passively waiting but actively seeking signs of growth and fruitfulness in the "garden," a symbolic representation of his Beloved or their intimate relationship. The specific elements he inspects—new sprouts, the budding vine, and forming pomegranates—are potent symbols of life, vitality, and prosperity in ancient Israel. This highlights his desire to see and cultivate the full flourishing of his Beloved's potential, signifying a love that nurtures, assesses, and takes joy in the developing richness of intimacy. The "garden of nuts" uniquely suggests a hidden, valuable inner core that the Beloved desires to explore, emphasizing an investigative love that delves beyond superficiality. It beautifully illustrates God's watchful and investing love for His people, tending to their spiritual growth and desiring their abundant fruitfulness.