Old Testament
Song of Solomon 6
Overview
The daughters of Jerusalem, moved by the bride's praise, ask where her beloved has gone so they can seek him with her; she answers that he has gone down to his garden, and reaffirms the union, "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine; he grazes among the lilies." The bridegroom then resumes his praise, again admiring her eyes, hair, teeth, and cheeks, and exalts her above all the queens, concubines, and maidens, calling her uniquely his "dove, my perfect one," the only one of her mother. He marvels at her as one who appears "awesome as an army with banners," and the chapter closes with a brief, somewhat mysterious exchange about the bride coming up among the nut trees and the dance of "the Shulammite."
1Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.
2My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
3I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.
4Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.
5Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.
6Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them.
7As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks.
8There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
9My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea , the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
10Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?
11I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded.
12Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib.
13Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.