Song of Solomon — Chapter 1

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1The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.

2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.

3Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

4Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

5I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

6Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

7Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?

8If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.

9I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.

10Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.

11We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.

12While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

13A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.

14My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi.

15Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.

16Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.

17The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.

1The Song of songs, which is Solomon`s.

2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; For thy love is better than wine.

3Thine oils have a goodly fragrance; Thy name is [as] oil poured forth; Therefore do the virgins love thee.

4Draw me; we will run after thee: The king hath brought me into his chambers; We will be glad and rejoice in thee; We will make mention of thy love more than of wine: Rightly do they love thee.

5I am black, but comely, Oh ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon.

6Look not upon me, because I am swarthy, Because the sun hath scorched me. My mother`s sons were incensed against me; They made me keeper of the vineyards; [But] mine own vineyard have I not kept.

7Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, Where thou feedest [thy flock], Where thou makest [it] to rest at noon: For why should I be as one that is veiled Beside the flocks of thy companions?

8If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, And feed thy kids beside the shepherds` tents.

9I have compared thee, O my love, To a steed in Pharaoh`s chariots.

10Thy cheeks are comely with plaits [of hair], Thy neck with strings of jewels.

11We will make thee plaits of gold With studs of silver.

12While the king sat at his table, My spikenard sent forth its fragrance.

13My beloved is unto me [as] a bundle of myrrh, That lieth betwixt my breasts.

14My beloved is unto me [as] a cluster of henna-flowers In the vineyards of En-gedi.

15Behold, thou art fair, my love; Behold thou art fair; Thine eyes are [as] doves.

16Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: Also our couch is green.

17The beams of our house are cedars, [And] our rafters are firs.

1Solomon’s Most Excellent Love Song.

2The Beloved to Her Lover: Oh, how I wish you would kiss me passionately! For your lovemaking is more delightful than wine.

3The fragrance of your colognes is delightful; your name is like the finest perfume. No wonder the young women adore you!

4Draw me after you; let us hurry! May the king bring me into his bedroom chambers! The Maidens to the Lover: We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine.The Beloved to Her Lover: How rightly the young women adore you!

5The Beloved to the Maidens: I am dark but lovely, O maidens of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Qedar, lovely like the tent curtains of Salmah.

6Do not stare at me because I am dark, for the sun has burned my skin. My brothers were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards. Alas, my own vineyard I could not keep!

7The Beloved to Her Lover: Tell me, O you whom my heart loves, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest your sheep during the midday heat? Tell me lest I wander around beside the flocks of your companions!

8The Lover to His Beloved: If you do not know, O most beautiful of women, simply follow the tracks of my flock, and pasture your little lambs beside the tents of the shepherds.

9The Lover to His Beloved: O my beloved, you are like a mare among Pharaoh’s stallions.

10Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments; your neck is lovely with strings of jewels.

11We will make for you gold ornaments studded with silver.

12The Beloved about Her Lover: While the king was at his banqueting table, my nard gave forth its fragrance.

13My beloved is like a fragrant pouch of myrrh spending the night between my breasts.

14My beloved is like a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En Gedi.

15The Lover to His Beloved: Oh, how beautiful you are, my beloved! Oh, how beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves!

16The Beloved to Her Lover: Oh, how handsome you are, my lover! Oh, how delightful you are! The lush foliage is our canopied bed;

17the cedars are the beams of our bedroom chamber; the pines are the rafters of our bedroom.

1The Song of songs, which is Solomon’s.

2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for your love is better than wine.

3Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured out, therefore the virgins love you.

4Take me away with you. Let us hurry. The king has brought me into his rooms. Friends We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will praise your love more than wine! Beloved They are right to love you.

5I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar’s tents, like Solomon’s curtains.

6Don’t stare at me because I am dark, because the sun has scorched me. My mother’s sons were angry with me. They made me keeper of the vineyards. I haven’t kept my own vineyard.

7Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you graze your flock, where you rest them at noon; For why should I be as one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions?

8If you don’t know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.

9I have compared you, my love, to a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots.

10Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels.

11We will make you earrings of gold, with studs of silver.

12While the king sat at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.

13My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh, that lies between my breasts.

14My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi.

15Behold, you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are doves.

16Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, yes, pleasant; and our couch is verdant.

17The beams of our house are cedars. Our rafters are firs.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

The beginning of love — the Bride expresses her longing for the Bridegroom's kisses, acknowledges her humble sun-darkened appearance to the Daughters of Jerusalem, and the lovers exchange their first mutual admiration.

Authorship & Background

Author: Solomon (1:1). Also called 'Canticles' or 'Song of Songs' (the greatest song). A love poem celebrating marital love — the only extended treatment of romantic/sexual love in Scripture. Interpreted on multiple levels: (1) literal — celebrating human love within marriage; (2) allegorical — picturing God's love for Israel or Christ's love for the Church (Ephesians 5:25-32). Key themes: the beauty and dignity of marital love, desire and fulfillment, the beloved's pursuit, and love 'strong as death' (8:6).
Historical Context: Chapter 1 opens the Song with its title verse identifying Solomon as author (v.1). Solomon composed 1,005 songs (1 Kings 4:32), yet this is called "The Song of Songs" — his greatest, the superlative of all songs. The setting is the royal court and countryside of ancient Israel. The Bride (the Shulamite) introduces herself to the Daughters of Jerusalem, expressing her longing for the Bridegroom while acknowledging her humble appearance. She is darkened by the sun from vineyard labor — not a palace princess but a working woman. The mutual admiration between Bride and Bridegroom begins immediately, establishing the passionate tone that governs the entire poem. Allegorically, this chapter pictures the soul's first longing for communion with God — the initial drawing, the sense of unworthiness, and the Bridegroom's reassuring affirmation of beauty.
Speakers:
  • The Bride (Shulamite): vv.2-7, 12-14, 16
  • The Bridegroom (Solomon): vv.8-11, 15
  • The Daughters of Jerusalem: v.4 (partial), v.11
  • Title/Narrator: v.1

Map & Geography

  • Jerusalem (v.5): Capital of Judah; the holy city where the Temple stood.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes that the Song opens with unashamed longing — the Bride does not apologize for her desire. This is God's design for marital love: passionate, expressive, mutual. The Bride's self-consciousness ("I am black") is met not with correction but with affirmation ("thou art fair"). Guzik emphasizes the allegorical dimension: every believer approaches Christ feeling unworthy, yet Christ's response is always to affirm what He sees in His redeemed Bride.
  • Charles Spurgeon: "The Song of Songs! It is the holy of holies of sacred poetry. As the common priest might not enter the innermost sanctuary, so the immature believer may not fully appreciate this book. It is for those who have walked with Christ and know His love — not merely as doctrine, but as experience. Here is love expressed in the tenderest language, and those who know the Bridegroom will hear His voice in every line."

Reflection

  • 1. Love begins with desire (v.2). The Bride's opening words are longing — she wants His presence, His kisses, His nearness. In marriage: never lose the longing for your spouse. Keep desire alive through pursuit, not passive coexistence. Spiritually: do you still LONG for God's presence? Or has familiarity dulled your hunger? "Let Him kiss me" is the cry of a soul that will not settle for distance.
  • 2. You are beautiful despite your self-doubt (v.5). The Bride feels inadequate — sun-darkened, neglected, made to serve others. Yet the Bridegroom calls her "fair." In marriage: speak beauty over your spouse, especially when they feel unworthy. Spiritually: Christ does not see your failures — He sees His righteousness covering you. Stop disqualifying yourself from intimacy based on your appearance or performance.
  • 3. Don't neglect your own vineyard (v.6). "Mine own vineyard have I not kept." She served others' vineyards (responsibilities, demands) while neglecting her own soul, her own relationship. In marriage: don't let busyness steal your intimacy — tend your own marriage first. Spiritually: you can serve in ministry and still neglect your personal communion with Christ. Tend your own vineyard.
  • 4. Pursue — don't wait passively (v.7). The Bride asks, seeks, pursues: "Tell me... where thou feedest." Love is not passive. In marriage: actively seek your spouse — ask where they are, what they need, how to find them. Spiritually: seek Christ actively in prayer, Scripture, and worship. "Seek, and ye shall find" (Matthew 7:7).
  • 5. His love is "better than wine" (v.2). Wine represents the best of earthly pleasures — celebration, joy, satisfaction. Yet His love surpasses all earthly joys. In marriage: marital love at its best points beyond itself to something greater. Spiritually: no earthly pleasure can substitute for intimate communion with Christ. Have you tasted that His love is better than anything this world offers?