Song Of Solomon 8:8 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Song Of Solomon 8:8 kjv
We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
Song Of Solomon 8:8 nkjv
We have a little sister, And she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister In the day when she is spoken for?
Song Of Solomon 8:8 niv
We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for?
Song Of Solomon 8:8 esv
We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for?
Song Of Solomon 8:8 nlt
We have a little sister
too young to have breasts.
What will we do for our sister
if someone asks to marry her?
Song Of Solomon 8 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 66:12 | "You shall be nursed... borne upon her side..." | God's maternal care and provision. |
| Hos 1:10 | "In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ there it shall be said to them, ‘You are the sons of the living God.’" | Spiritual growth from unrecognised to sons. |
| Rom 15:1 | "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak..." | Responsibility of mature believers for the weak. |
| Gal 6:2 | "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." | Community care and support for each other. |
| Heb 5:12 | "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles... and you have come to need milk, not solid food." | Spiritual immaturity, needing foundational teaching. |
| Heb 5:13 | "For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child." | Spiritual infant, lacking discernment. |
| 1 Cor 3:1 | "But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ." | Addressed as babes in Christ, carnal. |
| 1 Cor 14:20 | "Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature." | Call to mature thought, not childishness. |
| Eph 4:13 | "until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." | Goal of spiritual maturity and Christ-likeness. |
| Eph 4:14 | "so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine..." | Warning against remaining spiritually childish. |
| 2 Pet 3:18 | "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." | Exhortation to continuous spiritual growth. |
| Matt 18:6 | "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble..." | Protection of new or vulnerable believers. |
| Prov 22:6 | "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." | Parental guidance in foundational stages. |
| Ps 127:3 | "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward." | Children as a gift, emphasizing their value. |
| Jer 2:2 | "I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness..." | Metaphor of Israel's early devotion as a young bride. |
| 2 Cor 11:2 | "For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ." | Paul's desire to present the church as a chaste bride. |
| Eph 5:27 | "that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and blameless." | Christ preparing the Church as a pure bride. |
| Isa 49:22 | "Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and raise my signal to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders." | Nations caring for Israel's returning children. |
| Gen 24:14 | "Let the young woman to whom I say, 'Please let down your jar that I may drink,' and who says, 'Drink, and I will water your camels also'—let her be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac." | Rebekah's readiness for a marriage proposal. |
| 1 Pet 2:2 | "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—" | New believers' need for basic spiritual nourishment. |
| Prov 6:10 | "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—" | The 'little' can be neglected leading to ruin. |
| Rom 14:1 | "As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions." | Welcoming and nurturing the spiritually weak. |
| 1 Thes 5:14 | "And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with them all." | Pastoral instruction to care for different needs. |
Song Of Solomon 8 verses
Song Of Solomon 8 8 meaning
This verse portrays a shared concern within a community, likely the Shulamite's brothers, for their "little sister." She is described as being physically immature ("she hath no breasts"), signifying she is not yet ready for marriage or its responsibilities. The central question posed is how they, as guardians, should act to protect and prepare her for "the day when she shall be spoken for," referring to her eventual betrothal and marriage proposal. It emphasizes the communal responsibility to nurture and safeguard the vulnerable and immature as they approach a significant life transition.
Song Of Solomon 8 8 Context
Song of Solomon 8:8 is near the conclusion of the book. After intense expressions of love between the Shulamite and the Shepherd-King, the focus shifts outward to the community and particularly to the welfare of others. This verse initiates a brief dialogue among the brothers of the Shulamite (or the daughters of Jerusalem, depending on interpretation) regarding a younger, less mature sister. The immediate verses that follow (vv. 9-10) explain the specific plans these guardians have to ensure her purity and readiness for future commitments. Culturally, in ancient Israel, a young woman's purity and preparedness for marriage, including physical maturity signifying readiness for childbearing, were matters of familial and community honor and responsibility. A betrothal, "when she shall be spoken for," was a serious and binding commitment, making her state of readiness and protection critically important. The concern highlights the proactive, protective nature of the family unit against potential exploitation and to ensure a worthy match.
Song Of Solomon 8 8 Word analysis
- We: The plural pronoun signifies a communal voice, typically interpreted as the Shulamite's older brothers (who were mentioned earlier in 1:6) or a collective of women reflecting on another. This implies shared responsibility and a united front.
- have a little sister: (ʾaḥôt qeṭannāh) The Hebrew word qeṭannāh emphasizes her youth, immaturity, and vulnerability. She is not yet of marriageable age or disposition. In spiritual allegory, this can represent new converts, immature believers, a fledgling church, or a community still developing its spiritual strength.
- and she hath no breasts: (wĕšadayim ʾêyn lāh) Literally, she lacks the physical maturity characteristic of womanhood, particularly the capacity for nursing. Symbolically, this signifies an absence of readiness for love's full expression, for bearing fruit (spiritual fruitfulness or progeny), for sustaining others, or for the deep commitment that comes with spiritual maturity. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, breasts were a prominent symbol of a woman's attractiveness, maturity, and capacity for motherhood, signifying her readiness for marriage and the establishment of a family.
- what shall we do for our sister: This is a question born out of proactive concern and a sense of protective duty. It reflects a communal ethic where the welfare of the most vulnerable is paramount. It's not a question of doubt but of planning and preparation.
- in the day when she shall be spoken for?: (bəyôm yədubbār bāh) This refers to the time of betrothal or when a marriage proposal is made for her. "Spoken for" denotes the moment a definitive decision or commitment regarding her future would be made. In a spiritual sense, this can signify a time of crucial spiritual decision, testing, or a calling into deeper covenant with God or Christ, for which she must be adequately prepared and protected. It is a critical juncture requiring prior investment and care.
Words-group analysis
- "We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts": This phrase succinctly sets up the dilemma – possession of a cherished but immature and vulnerable family member. It immediately establishes the context of protection and development before readiness.
- "what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?": This entire question encapsulates the communal responsibility for pre-emptive care. The brothers acknowledge the inevitability of the "day" and their obligation to act wisely before that crucial moment arrives. Their love is expressed through practical planning for her well-being.
Song Of Solomon 8 8 Bonus section
- The Brothers' Identity: While typically seen as the Shulamite's literal brothers, allegorical interpretations extend this to spiritual leaders, elder believers, or the corporate church acting in a pastoral capacity.
- The Nature of the Concern: The concern is not judgmental but loving and proactive. It anticipates the future and plans accordingly, emphasizing that protection isn't solely reactive but involves deliberate measures.
- Spiritual Application: Many scholars see the "little sister" as symbolic of new converts, the nascent Gentile church, or individual believers in their early spiritual development. The community's responsibility is to nurture and protect these "infants in Christ" until they achieve maturity, become capable of spiritual fruitfulness, and are prepared for their ultimate presentation to Christ as His Bride (the "day she shall be spoken for").
- Contrasting Responses in vv. 9-10: The verse sets up the contrasting actions detailed in the next two verses: if she is a "wall" (steadfast, pure), they will build on her; if she is a "door" (easily swayed, open), they will enclose her. This shows varied strategies of protection depending on the individual's inherent character and need.
Song Of Solomon 8 8 Commentary
Song of Solomon 8:8 underscores the profound theme of communal responsibility and proactive care for the vulnerable and immature within a community, a concept highly relevant in both physical and spiritual dimensions. The "little sister" without "breasts" is a vivid image of one not yet ready for the weighty demands of mature relationship or life, highlighting immaturity and dependence. Her guardians—whether literal brothers or a concerned spiritual community—do not ignore her state but actively strategize for her protection and preparation for the inevitable "day when she shall be spoken for," a metaphor for critical life-changing commitments, spiritual betrothal to Christ, or moments of public discernment. This is not about leaving her vulnerable but about building "walls" of protection or ensuring proper "doors" of access to safeguard her purity and allow for appropriate, mature engagement. It signifies that true love and maturity within the community are evidenced not just in personal union but in the selfless stewardship and nurturing of those who are growing, ensuring they blossom in wisdom, purity, and readiness for their ultimate divine calling.