Song Of Solomon 8:12 kjv
My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.
Song Of Solomon 8:12 nkjv
My own vineyard is before me. You, O Solomon, may have a thousand, And those who tend its fruit two hundred.
Song Of Solomon 8:12 niv
But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.
Song Of Solomon 8:12 esv
My vineyard, my very own, is before me; you, O Solomon, may have the thousand, and the keepers of the fruit two hundred.
Song Of Solomon 8:12 nlt
But my vineyard is mine to give,
and Solomon need not pay a thousand pieces of silver.
But I will give two hundred pieces
to those who care for its vines.
Song Of Solomon 8 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Song of Songs 4:12 | "A garden locked is my sister, my bride; a spring locked, a sealed fountain." | Exclusive possession, purity |
| Proverbs 5:15-17 | "Drink water from your own cistern, and flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for you alone, and not for strangers with you." | Chastity, exclusive marital love |
| 1 Corinthians 7:2 | "But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband." | Marital exclusivity, mutual respect |
| Hebrews 13:4 | "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous." | Holiness of marriage |
| Song of Songs 4:16 | "Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden, let its spices flow." | Intimacy and fruitfulness |
| Song of Songs 5:1 | "I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice." | Intimacy and gifting |
| Ephesians 5:22-23 | "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church." | Marital roles, Christ-church parallel |
| Psalm 127:3 | "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward." | Children as fruit of marriage |
| Isaiah 5:1-7 | Parable of the vineyard | God's ownership and expectation |
| Matthew 21:33-41 | Parable of the tenants | Accountability for stewardship |
| Song of Songs 7:12-13 | "Let us go out early to the vineyards; let us see if the grapevines have budded, if the blossoms have opened and the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love." | Shared affection, cultivation |
| John 15:1-5 | "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser." | Christ as the source of life |
| 1 Corinthians 3:9 | "For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building." | Believers as God's cultivation |
| Song of Songs 2:15 | "Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom." | Protecting marital purity |
| Proverbs 31:10-12 | Description of a capable wife | Value of a wife, marital partnership |
| Romans 7:2-3 | "For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is alive, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive." | Marital bond |
| Song of Songs 6:11 | "I went down to the garden of nuts to look at the green plants of the valley, to look at whether the vine had budded, whether the pomegranates had bloomed." | Searching for and admiring the Beloved |
| Malachi 3:8 | "Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In your tithes and contributions." | Faithful giving, stewardship |
| Luke 10:7 | "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages." | Righteous compensation |
| 1 Corinthians 9:11 | "If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?" | Mutual support in ministry |
Song Of Solomon 8 verses
Song Of Solomon 8 12 Meaning
The Beloved is stating that his vineyard, which represents his wife, is exclusively his, and he intends to keep it that way. He acknowledges the value of the vineyard (his wife) and expresses his intention to give the profits to those who tend to it, signifying his devotion and exclusive claim over her, yielding abundance for those who support their union. The "thousand pieces of silver" and "two hundred for the keepers of the fruit" illustrates the immense value and the appropriate reward for nurturing this precious possession.
Song Of Solomon 8 12 Context
In the Song of Solomon, chapter 8 continues the passionate dialogue between the Beloved (Solomon) and the Sulamite woman. This specific verse, 8:12, comes at the end of their discourse, where the Beloved is assuring his commitment and possession of his wife. Following a description of his desires and her responses, he shifts to a metaphor of his vineyard. This metaphor is rooted in ancient Near Eastern agrarian society, where vineyards were highly valued possessions, symbolizing fertility, productivity, and exclusive ownership. The surrounding verses describe his love for her and his desire for her unique presence. The closing verses of the chapter offer reflections on the value of their love and the desire for its permanence, echoing sentiments of guarding their relationship.
Song Of Solomon 8 12 Word Analysis
- "My vineyard" (Hebrew: כַּרְמִ֕י, karmî): Possessive form of kerem, meaning vineyard, plantation, garden. In biblical metaphor, vineyards often represent God's people, or in this intimate context, the wife and the fruitfulness of their union.
- "which is mine" (Hebrew: לִ֫י, lî): A possessive pronoun indicating exclusive ownership and belonging.
- "you shall have the thousand" (Hebrew: אַחַ֣ת, ’aḥat): This phrase can be interpreted as "you shall have one thousand." The Hebrew numeral 'one' is understood, implying a very large but singular portion. It signifies a massive sum.
- "and two hundred for those who keep its fruit" (Hebrew: וּמָאתַ֥יִם, ûmāṯayim): Meaning "and two hundred." This refers to a smaller, yet still substantial, sum given to those who tend to the vineyard. In the marital context, this could refer to the rewards for maintaining purity, nurturing the relationship, or even supporting the family unit. The contrast highlights the immense value attributed to the vineyard itself, with a generous allocation for its caretakers.
Song Of Solomon 8 12 Bonus Section
The metaphor of the vineyard in Song of Solomon 8:12 draws parallels with broader biblical themes. God's ownership of Israel is often described as a vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7). Here, the intimate application shifts to the husband's claim on his wife, reflecting the covenantal nature of marriage. The division of earnings for caretaking can also be seen in parables where laborers are rewarded for their work (Matthew 20:1-16; Luke 10:7), highlighting the principle of fair compensation for service. This verse underscores the beauty and sanctity of marital intimacy, where the wife is seen as a cherished possession to be exclusively loved and fruitfully maintained.
Song Of Solomon 8 12 Commentary
This verse uses the imagery of a vineyard to express the exclusivity and immense value the speaker places on his beloved. He declares her to be his alone, like a valuable vineyard entrusted to him. The "thousand pieces of silver" and "two hundred" represent the great worth and the proper return for diligent care. It emphasizes the preciousness of the marital union and the blessings that flow from its exclusive and devoted nurturing. The dedication of rewards to those who tend the vineyard reinforces the idea of committed stewardship within their intimate relationship, potentially extending to the blessings and responsibilities of marriage and family.