Old Testament · 8 chapters
Song of Solomon.
Song of Solomon is a collection of love poetry celebrating desire, beauty, longing, and mutual affection. Its imagery has also shaped Christian reflection on love, while its immediate language centers on the relationship of the lovers.
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Chapter 1.
The lovers express desire, admiration, and delight in one another. Their poetic exchanges introduce the gardens, fragrances, and images that shape the book.
Read chapter 17 versesChapter 2.
Love is pictured through flowers, fruit, and the arrival of spring. The invitation to come away together expresses joy, longing, and the desire for mutual belonging.
Read chapter 11 versesChapter 3.
A nighttime search ends in reunion with the beloved. The scene then shifts to a royal procession and the splendor surrounding Solomon’s wedding.
Read chapter 16 versesChapter 4.
The beloved’s beauty is celebrated through richly patterned comparisons. Garden imagery conveys admiration, exclusivity, and the invitation to shared intimacy.
Read chapter 16 versesChapter 5.
An invitation to the garden is followed by a missed nighttime encounter and an anxious search. The woman describes her beloved with affectionate, elaborate praise.
Read chapter 13 versesChapter 6.
The lovers affirm their belonging and renew their praise of one another. Images of gardens, flocks, and royal splendor continue the celebration of beauty and desire.
Read chapter 13 versesChapter 7.
The beloved’s beauty is praised in detailed poetic imagery. The woman then invites her lover into the countryside to share affection and renewed delight.
Read chapter 14 versesChapter 8.
The lovers long for love to be openly welcomed, and love’s strength is compared with death and fire. Family memories and a final invitation close the collection.
Read chapterKing James Version (KJV). Bible text supplied by eBible.org and the CrossWire Bible Society. Summaries are written with AI assistance and are separate from Scripture. Read the chapter itself when considering its meaning.