Song of Solomon 8

1 O that you were to me like a brother [a close relative or friend] who nursed at my mother’s breasts [suckled, received nourishment]! If I found you outdoors [in the street, outside], I would kiss you [show affection, greet warmly], and no one would despise me [hold me in contempt, reject me]. word study 2 I would lead [guide, direct] you and bring [take, escort] you to the house [dwelling place, family home] of my mother [maternal figure, caregiver] who taught [instructed, guided] me. I would give [offer, provide] you spiced [perfumed, fragrant] wine [fermented drink, intoxicating beverage] to drink [consume, savor], the nectar [sweet juice, refreshing drink] of my pomegranates [fruit]. word study 3 His left [north, as in the direction] hand is under [beneath, in a position of support] my head [upper part of the body], and his right [Benjamin, son of Israel] arm [hand, as in the means of embracing] embraces [to clasp tightly, hold closely] me. word study 4 O daughters [women, female children] of Jerusalem, I adjure [solemnly charge, swear an oath] you: Do not arouse [stir up, wake] or awaken [rouse, excite] love [affection, tender emotion] until the time [point in time, season] is right [pleasing, delightful]. word study 5 Who is this coming [coming forth, arising] up from the wilderness [desert, barren land], leaning [resting, trusting] on her beloved [loved one, dear one]? The Bride I roused [awakened, stirred] you under the apple tree [citron tree, symbolic of love]; there [in that place, at that time] your mother [female parent, nurturer] conceived [became pregnant, received life] you; there [in that same place] she travailed [was in labor, experienced pain] and brought you forth [gave birth, delivered you]. word study 6 Set me as a seal [a signet ring] over your heart [the seat of emotions, will, and intellect], as a seal [a token of commitment] upon your arm [the arm as stretched out; strength, might, power]. For love [affection or devotion] is as strong [unyielding, fierce] as death [the ultimate separator], its jealousy [intense passion, zeal] as unrelenting [cruel, severe] as Sheol [the underworld, the grave]. Its sparks [flashes of fire, fiery coals] are fiery flames [blazing intensely], the fiercest blaze [most vehement flame] of all. word study 7 Mighty waters [floods, abundant] cannot quench love [affection, devotion]; rivers [streams, flowing waters] cannot sweep it away [overflow, overwhelm]. If a man [individual, person] were to give all the wealth [substance, riches] of his house [dwelling, family] for love [tender affection, ardent passion], his offer would be utterly [completely, totally] scorned [despised, rejected]. word study 8 We have a little [young, small in stature] sister, and her breasts [the swollen parts of her body] are not yet grown [developed, matured]. What [how, in what manner] shall we do for our sister [a biological sibling, a half-sister, or a close relative] on the day [a literal 24-hour period, a figurative space of time] she is spoken for [promised, betrothed, engaged to be married]? word study 9 If she is a wall [a strong fortress, a protective barrier], we will build a tower [a turret, a palace] of silver [precious metal, wealth] to protect her. If she is a door [a gate, an entrance], we will enclose her with panels [boards, tablets] of cedar [a strong and durable wood]. word study 10 I [the speaker, the beloved] am a wall [of protection, a stronghold], and my breasts [swollen, nursing] are like towers [elevated]. So I have become in his eyes [the gaze of love, the source of delight] like one who brings [finds, attains] peace [shalom, completeness, wellness]. word study 11 Solomon [the king of peace] had a vineyard [a garden or plot of land for growing vines and other crops] in Baal-hamon [lord of abundance, a place of plenty]. He leased [gave, let out] it to the tenants [keepers, guardians]. For its fruit [the produce, the result of labor], each was to bring [pay, give] a thousand [a large number, a multitude] shekels [pieces, units] of silver [money, wealth]. word study 12 But my own vineyard [my body, my garden] is mine to give; the thousand [a large number, a company of] shekels are for you, O Solomon [the king of Israel], and two hundred [a portion, a share] are for those who tend [keep, guard] its fruit [the produce, the result]. word study 13 You who dwell [reside, or abide] in the gardens [enclosed areas, symbolic of a bride or a place for pleasure], my companions [fellow worshippers, united friends] are listening [attentively, with careful heed] for your voice [sound, utterance, or speech]. Let me hear [perceive, obey, or heed] it! word study 14 Come away [make haste, flee away], my beloved [loved one, dear one], and be like [resemble, compare to] a gazelle [roe, young deer] or [as an alternative] a young stag [hart, male deer] on [upon, above] the mountains [hills, high places] of spices [aromatic spices, sweet fragrances]. word study