Song Of Solomon 8:11 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Song Of Solomon 8:11 kjv
Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.
Song Of Solomon 8:11 nkjv
Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon; He leased the vineyard to keepers; Everyone was to bring for its fruit A thousand silver coins.
Song Of Solomon 8:11 niv
Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon; he let out his vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand shekels of silver.
Song Of Solomon 8:11 esv
Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard to keepers; each one was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver.
Song Of Solomon 8:11 nlt
Solomon has a vineyard at Baal-hamon,
which he leases out to tenant farmers.
Each of them pays a thousand pieces of silver
for harvesting its fruit.
Song Of Solomon 8 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 5:7 | For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel... | God's chosen people as His vineyard. |
| Ps 80:8-9 | You brought a vine out of Egypt... planted it. | Israel as a vine rescued and established by God. |
| Matt 21:33-41 | A landowner... planted a vineyard... let it out to tenants... | Parable of tenants and their responsibility. |
| Lk 19:12-27 | A nobleman... called ten of his servants and delivered to them ten minas... | Parable of minas; stewardship and accountability. |
| John 15:1-8 | I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. | Christ as the true source of life and fruit. |
| Jer 2:21 | Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. | Israel's unfaithfulness despite God's care. |
| 1 Cor 9:7 | Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? | Laborers deserve their reward. |
| Prov 31:16 | She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. | Wise woman's financial prudence. |
| Matt 20:1-16 | For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out... hired laborers for his vineyard. | Parable of laborers in the vineyard, divine grace. |
| Song 1:6 | My mother's sons were angry with me; They made me the keeper of the vineyards; but my own vineyard I have not kept. | The Shulamite's earlier unkept state. |
| Song 8:12 | My vineyard, my very own, is before me. You, O Solomon, may have the thousand, and those who keep its fruit two hundred. | Direct contrast: personal vs. royal ownership. |
| Exod 22:5 | If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed, and lets loose his animal... he shall make restitution. | Responsibility for vineyards/property. |
| Deut 28:30 | You shall plant a vineyard, but you shall not eat of its fruit... | Consequence of disobedience; loss of blessing. |
| Num 13:23-24 | They came to the Valley of Eshcol... carried a cluster of grapes... | Abundance of promised land, including vineyards. |
| Deut 6:10-11 | Houses full of all good things, hewn wells... vineyards and olive trees... | God's blessing includes fruitful lands. |
| Eccles 2:4 | I built myself houses and planted myself vineyards. | Solomon's pursuits and extensive projects. |
| Ps 127:3 | Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. | Offspring as a precious possession, analogous to valuable assets. |
| Prov 24:30-31 | I went by the field of the sluggard, and by the vineyard of the man lacking understanding... overgrown with thorns. | Diligence required for a fruitful vineyard. |
| Zeph 1:13 | They shall build houses, but not inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine. | Divine judgment and lack of fruit. |
| Isa 27:2-3 | In that day, "Sing to her, a vineyard of red wine! I, the Lord, keep it..." | God's protective care for His people (Israel/Church). |
| Joel 1:12 | The vine has dried up... because joy has withered away from the sons of men. | Vine as a symbol of joy and prosperity. |
| Hag 1:6 | You plant much, but harvest little; you eat, but never have enough... | Fruitlessness due to lack of spiritual priority. |
Song Of Solomon 8 verses
Song Of Solomon 8 11 meaning
Song of Solomon 8:11 describes a scenario where King Solomon possessed a vineyard located in a place called Baal-hamon, which he entrusted to various keepers. Each of these keepers was expected to return a substantial sum, "a thousand pieces of silver," from the yield of its fruit. This verse, presented as an observation, sets a scene of great wealth and external management, often used to contrast with the Shulamite's personal "vineyard" of herself and her love. It speaks of a king's vast domain and his business dealings, emphasizing material prosperity and the profitable stewardship of assets.
Song Of Solomon 8 11 Context
Song of Solomon 8:11 appears near the conclusion of the book, after the Shulamite's yearning for greater intimacy and public acknowledgment of her love for her beloved. The immediate verse context provides a contrast. The Shulamite, in Song 8:12, declares "My vineyard, my very own, is before me," directly responding to this depiction of Solomon's vast, externally managed estate. Her "vineyard" (a metaphor for her body, her love, her chastity, and her self-possession) is deeply personal, exclusive to her beloved, and not subject to others' keeping or profitable exploitation.
The chapter 8 generally reinforces the permanence and invincibility of true love. It begins with the Shulamite longing to be seen openly with her beloved, then discusses the protective upbringing of a younger sister, emphasizing the value of preserving purity. The description of Solomon's vineyard here serves to highlight, by contrast, the unique and priceless nature of the Shulamite's self-possessed love. It distinguishes worldly wealth and commercial dealings from the intimate, devoted, and exclusive love celebrated throughout the Song. Historically, in ancient Israel, vineyards were highly valuable assets, symbols of prosperity, national identity, and blessings from God. Their care was a significant economic activity. King Solomon, renowned for his immense wealth and expansive kingdom, would naturally own many such valuable properties, managed by administrators, illustrating a worldly standard of riches and governance.
Song Of Solomon 8 11 Word analysis
- A vineyard (כֶּרֶם, kerem): This Hebrew word commonly refers to a cultivated grape orchard. In biblical literature, the vineyard is a potent and recurring metaphor, representing prosperity, sustenance, joy (as wine makes glad the heart), and often, allegorically, the nation of Israel (e.g., Isa 5, Ps 80) or later, the Church. Its value and maintenance are central to agrarian life.
- had Solomon: This establishes direct ownership by King Solomon. It speaks to his immense wealth, power, and vast holdings. Solomon, known for his wisdom, also became synonymous with great riches, luxury, and expansive enterprises (1 Kgs 10:23-25, Eccles 2:4).
- at Baal-hamon (בַּעַל הָמוֹן, Ba‘al Hamon): The name Ba‘al Hamon can mean "owner of abundance/multitude" or "Lord of a multitude." The exact geographical location is unknown but is generally assumed to be a fertile, productive region, perhaps one renowned for its fruitfulness. The name itself signifies a place of great yield or where many people live or work. It enhances the idea of Solomon's grand scale of operations—a vineyard so vast or productive it merited such a name, suggesting it's not a small, intimate plot but a substantial estate managed on a commercial level.
- he let out to keepers (נְתָנוֹ לְנֹטְרִים, n'tano l'noṭ'rim):
- He let out: Implies an act of entrusting management, an ancient form of tenant farming or lease agreement common for agricultural properties. It highlights delegation and professional management, rather than personal tending.
- to keepers: (noṭ'rim from naṭar meaning "to keep, guard, observe"). These were tenant farmers, stewards, or managers responsible for cultivating, protecting, and harvesting the grapes, often in exchange for a portion of the yield or a fixed payment. It denotes professional management for profit.
- Each one was to bring for its fruit (יָבִיא אִישׁ בְּפִרְיוֹ, yāvî' 'îsh b'piryo): This specifies the expected yield or rent from each keeper, implying accountability and a fixed contractual agreement. The "fruit" is the grapes produced by the vineyard, and by extension, the economic return derived from them.
- a thousand pieces of silver (אֶלֶף כָּסֶף, ʾelef kasef): A significant amount of currency. In ancient times, a "piece of silver" was commonly a shekel. A thousand shekels would represent a substantial annual payment, indicative of the immense profitability and value of Solomon's vineyard. This highlights the large-scale commercial operation and the considerable wealth it generated for the king.
Words-group analysis:
- A vineyard had Solomon at Baal-hamon: This phrase paints a picture of a large-scale, valuable enterprise owned by an immensely wealthy and powerful king. It's a detached, commercial asset, contrasting sharply with the personal "vineyard" of the Shulamite.
- he let out to keepers; each one was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver: This group of words emphasizes the economic, profit-driven nature of Solomon's vineyard. It's an investment, a source of significant revenue, managed by agents for a prescribed, substantial return. It symbolizes the material, worldly value and organized enterprise that characterized Solomon's kingdom.
Song Of Solomon 8 11 Bonus section
The allegorical interpretation often views "Solomon's vineyard" as representing God's kingdom or His people (Israel/the Church), which He entrusts to "keepers" (spiritual leaders, pastors, or even individual believers) for care and fruitfulness. The "thousand pieces of silver" then symbolize the expected spiritual fruit, the tithes, the dedicated service, or the souls won for God's glory. This interpretation emphasizes the concept of divine stewardship and the accountability of those entrusted with God's precious 'vineyard'. The contrast in Song 8:12—"My vineyard, my very own, is before me"—can then represent the believer's personal walk, their unique devotion to Christ, or the Church's relationship with Christ, which is not merely a matter of yielding profit but of intimate, exclusive love and submission. This verse underscores the sacred responsibility of spiritual caretaking alongside the paramount importance of personal, wholehearted devotion.
Song Of Solomon 8 11 Commentary
Song of Solomon 8:11 serves as a crucial point of contrast. Solomon, a symbol of immense wealth and power, possesses a vineyard (a highly valuable asset in that culture) so productive that he can lease it out and expect a considerable annual profit of "a thousand pieces of silver" from each manager. This depicts a detached, commercial relationship—a king managing vast assets for profit, indicative of the material world. However, the subsequent verse immediately contrasts this with the Shulamite's declaration, "My vineyard, my very own, is before me," implying that her love, her self, her purity, is a far more precious possession, something intimately cherished and entirely under her own discretion, not for sale or external management. Her "vineyard" is for personal giving, exclusively to her beloved, symbolizing pure, committed love beyond material valuation. This verse, therefore, highlights the difference between external, worldly possessions and the inestimable value of internal, devoted love, reinforcing the core message of the Song.