Song of Solomon 6:2 — Word Study
WLCדּוֹדִי֙ יָרַ֣ד לְגַנּ֔וֹ לַעֲרוּג֖וֹת הַבֹּ֑שֶׂם לִרְעוֹת֙ בַּגַּנִּ֔ים וְלִלְקֹ֖ט שֽׁוֹשַׁנִּֽים׃
BSAMy beloveddôwd [dearly loved one, uncle] has gone downyârad■ [descended to a lower place] to his gardengan [enclosed area] to the bedsʻărûwgâh [raised areas of land, furrows] of spicesbesem [sweet perfume, balsam plant] to pasture [his flock]râʻâh [care for, tend to, those under his care] in the gardensgan [enclosed areas, places of growth] and to gatherlâqaṭ [pick up, collect] liliesshûwshan
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| דּוֹדִי֙ | lover my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| יָרַ֣ד | he has gone down | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| לְגַנּ֔וֹ | to garden his | Preposition, noun common both singular construct, suffix |
| לַעֲרוּג֖וֹת | to [the] beds of | Preposition, noun common feminine plural construct |
| הַבֹּ֑שֶׂם | spice | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| לִרְעוֹת֙ | to graze | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
| בַּגַּנִּ֔ים | in the gardens | Preposition, noun common both plural absolute |
| וְלִלְקֹ֖ט | and to gather | Conjunction, preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
| שֽׁוֹשַׁנִּֽים׃ | lilies | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to pasture his flock in the gardens and to gather lilies. |
| KJV | My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. |
| ASV | My beloved is gone down to his garden, To the beds of spices, To feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. |
| YLT | My beloved went down to his garden, To the beds of the spice, To delight himself in the gardens, and to gather lilies. |
| WEB | My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to pasture his flock in the gardens, and to gather lilies. |
| BBE | My loved one is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to take food in the gardens, and to get lilies. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of דּוֹדִי — see How Translations Differ.
One main verb with multiple phrases detailing actions and locations, creating a layered understanding of the beloved's activities.
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Song of Solomon 6:2
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Beloved's Gardengenerated
Song of Solomon 6:2 presents a vivid picture of the beloved going down to his garden, a place of beauty and intimacy. This passage highlights themes of care and affection, as the beloved tends to his flock and gathers lilies, symbolizing love and beauty. The garden serves as a metaphor for the relationship between the speaker and the beloved, emphasizing closeness and nurturing.
The Key Word — דּוֹדִי֙, do.Digenerated
The word דּוֹד (dod) means 'beloved' and conveys a strong sense of affection. It can also refer to an uncle or a close relative, reflecting familial ties. The term is derived from a root that suggests a boiling or intense love, indicating deep emotional connections.
In this verse, דּוֹדִי specifically denotes the speaker's beloved, emphasizing the personal and intimate nature of their relationship.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses beloved for דּוֹדִי, consistent with the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb יָרַ֣ד (he has gone down) governs the entire verse, with several phrases detailing the beloved's actions and the locations involved. The structure emphasizes the beloved's descent to the garden and the nurturing activities that follow.
The sentence is built around a main verb with multiple prepositional phrases describing the garden and the actions of gathering and tending, creating a rich imagery of care and intimacy.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew יָרַד is rendered as κατέβη (he descended), which maintains the sense of downward movement. This choice aligns with the imagery of descent and care in the garden.
The translation reflects a consistent understanding of the beloved's actions, reinforcing the theme of nurturing within the garden setting.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Song of Solomon 6:2 describes the beloved going down to his garden, where he tends to his flock and gathers lilies. This scene emphasizes the beauty of their relationship and the care the beloved shows in the garden.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The garden symbolizes a place of intimacy and care, reflecting the beloved's nurturing relationship.
Gathering lilies represents beauty and purity, highlighting the cherished nature of the beloved.
The term 'beloved' indicates a deep affection and personal connection between the speaker and the beloved.
This verse encapsulates the themes of love, care, and intimacy that permeate the Song of Solomon, illustrating the depth of the relationship.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I express care and affection in my relationships, similar to the beloved in this verse?
- What does the imagery of the garden teach us about nurturing relationships?
- In what ways can I gather beauty and purity in my life, as the beloved gathers lilies?
- How does understanding the term 'beloved' deepen my appreciation for close relationships?
The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to pasture his flock in the gardens and to gather lilies.
My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to pasture his flock in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to pasture his flock in the gardens and to gather lilies.
My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the flowerbeds of balsam spices, to graze in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
Tyndale line
My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
My beloved is gone down to his garden, To the beds of spices, To feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
My beloved is gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
I am my welbeloueds, and my welbeloued is mine, who feedeth among the lilies.
Strictly literal
My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, To feed in the gardens and to gather lilies.
My beloved went down to his garden, To the beds of the spice, To delight himself in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
My beloved went down to his garden, || To the beds of the spice, || To delight himself in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
My beloved is gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to graze in the garden and to gather lilies.
From the Latin
I to my beloved, and my beloved to me, who feedeth among the lilies.
Simplified
My love has gone down to his garden, to his flowerbeds of spices. He enjoys feeding in the gardens and plucks lilies.
My loved one is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to take food in the gardens, and to get lilies.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with all nine words matched in the Hebrew and Greek versions. This alignment indicates a consistent transmission of the text across these traditions, preserving the imagery and meaning.
דּוֹדִי֙ יָרַ֣ד לְגַנּ֔וֹ לַעֲרוּג֖וֹת הַבֹּ֑שֶׂם לִרְעוֹת֙ בַּגַּנִּ֔ים וְלִלְקֹ֖ט שֽׁוֹשַׁנִּֽים׃
9 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Song of Solomon 6:2
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
דּוֹד (dod) means 'beloved' and can refer to love in a general sense, as well as specifically to an uncle. It is derived from a root meaning 'to boil,' figuratively relating to love. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to affection and familial ties.
דּוֹד n.m. beloved, love (pl.), uncle
base
H1730 דּוֹד beloved, love (pl.), uncle
1730 dowd dode
or (shortened) dod {dode}; from an unused root meaning
properly, to boil, i.e. (figuratively) to love; by
implication, a love- token, lover, friend; specifically an
uncle:--(well-)beloved, father's brother, love, uncle.
דּוֹד (dod) — beloved.
: beloved
1) beloved, love, uncle
1a) loved one, beloved
1b) uncle
1c) love (pl. abstract)
דּוֹד (dod) — beloved: love.
: love
1) beloved, love, uncle
1a) loved one, beloved
1b) uncle
1c) love (pl. abstract)
דּוֹד (dod) — beloved: male relative.
: male_relative
1) beloved, love, uncle
1a) loved one, beloved
1b) uncle
1c) love (pl. abstract)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word יָרַד (yarad) means to come or go down, covering various contexts such as descending from mountains, going to battle, or sinking in water. It can also refer to divine manifestations descending or being prostrated. The word has different forms including Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, which indicate various nuances of bringing down or being brought down.
יָרַד 380 vb. come or go down, descend
Qal 306
come or go down
go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle
go down to (acc.) threshing-floor
go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt
from Jerusalem
from altar
go down
= sink, in water
go down to She’ôl
fig. going down (dissolving) in tears
= be prostrated
of divine manifestations: descend
of inanimate things
Hiph.
cause to come or go down
bring down
send down rain = cause to flow down
= lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor
bring down to She’ôl
take down (from cart)
let down
Hoph.
be brought down
be taken down
base
H3381 יָרַד come or go down, descend .. . come or go down
. go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle
. go down to (acc.) threshing-floor
. go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt
. from Jerusalem
. from altar
. go down
. = sink, in water
. go down to She’ôl
. fig. going down (dissolving) in tears
. = be prostrated
. of divine manifestations: descend
. of inanimate things
. . cause to come or go down . bring down
. send down rain = cause to flow down
. = lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor
. bring down to She’ôl
. take down (from cart)
. let down
. . be brought down
. be taken down
3381 yarad yaw-rad'
a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or
conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary,
the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to
bring down (in all the above applications); -X abundantly,
bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down,
fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, X
indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to,
let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.
יָרַד (ya.rad) — to go down.
1) to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go or come down
1a2) to sink
1a3) to be prostrated
1a4) to come down (of revelation)
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to bring down
1b2) to send down
1b3) to take down
1b4) to lay prostrate
1b5) to let down
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought down
1c2) to be taken down
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
גַּן (gan) means 'garden' or 'enclosure' and can refer to a physical garden or, figuratively, to a bride. It is derived from a root meaning to fence in. The term is used in various contexts, including the Garden of Eden and specific locations like Beth-haggan.
גַּן n.m. & f. enclosure, garden
base
H1588 גַּן enclosure, garden
1588 gan gan
from 1598; a garden (as fenced):--garden.
see HEBREW for 01598
גַּן (gan) — Garden (of Uzza).
This name means garden, enclosure
גַּן (gan) — (Beth)-haggan.
Combined with ba.yit (בַּ֫יִת "Beth" H1004H)
גַּן (gan) — garden.
1) garden, enclosure
1a) enclosed garden
1a1) (fig. of a bride)
1b) garden (of plants)
1c) Garden of Eden
Prep | N-cs | Suff — Preposition · noun common both singular construct · suffixHR/Ncbsc/Sp3ms
עֲרוּגָה (aruwgah) refers to a garden terrace or bed, derived from a term meaning something piled up. The entries suggest it can denote a physical structure like a bed or furrow, with a focus on its use in gardening contexts.
[עֲרוּגָה] n.f. garden terrace or bed
base
H6170 עֲרוּגָה
6170 `aruwgah ar-oo-gaw'
or iarugah {ar-oo-gaw'}; feminine passive participle of 6165;
something piled up (as if (figuratively) raised by mental
aspiration), i.e. a paterre:--bed, furrow.
see HEBREW for 06165
עֲרוּגָה (a.ru.gah) — bed.
garden terrace or bed
Prep | N-fp — Preposition · noun common feminine plural constructHR/Ncfpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
בֹּ֫שֶׂם (besem) refers to spice, specifically balsam and the balsam tree, with connotations of fragrance and sweet odor. The word is built from a root related to scent and encompasses meanings like perfume and spicery. It appears in contexts discussing pleasant aromas.
בֹּ֫שֶׂם n.m. spice, balsam, balsam-tree
base
H1314 בֹּ֫שֶׂם spice, balsam, balsam-tree
1314 besem beh'-sem
or bosem {bo'-sem}; from the same as 1313; fragrance; by
implication, spicery; also the balsam plant:--smell, spice,
sweet (odour).
see HEBREW for 01313
בֶּ֫שֶׂם (be.sem) — spice.
1) spice, balsam, balsam tree, perfume
2) (TWOT) sweet, sweet smell, sweet odour
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
The Hebrew word רָעָה (*ra'ah*) is built from a primitive root meaning to tend or pasture a flock. It covers a range of meanings including to graze, rule, associate with, and befriend. The term appears in contexts related to shepherding and companionship, with a specific mention of the 'binding-house of shepherds' in 2 Kings 10:12.
בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים perh. n.pr.loc. (binding-house of the shepherds) 2 K 10:12
base
רָעָה 167 vb. pasture, tend, graze
Qal
trans.
intrans.
Niph. poss.
Hiph. v.
base
[רָעָה] vb. prob. associate with
Qal cherish faithfulness
Hithp. do not make companionship with a bad-tempered man
base
[רָעָה] vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend;—Ju 14:20
ref
H7462a בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים binding-house of shepherds H7462b רָעָה pasture, tend, graze H7462c רָעָה prob. associate with H7462d רָעָה vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend
7462 ra`ah raw-aw'
a primitive root; to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it;
intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);
generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a
friend):--X break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat
up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with,
herdman, keep (sheep)(-er), pastor, + shearing house,
shepherd, wander, waste.
בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים (bet-e.qed ha.ro.im) — House of Shepherds.
Ra'ah = "pasturing"
perh. "binding-house of the shepherds"
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to pasture.
1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to tend, pasture
1a1a) to shepherd
1a1b) of ruler, teacher (fig)
1a1c) of people as flock (fig)
1a1d) shepherd, herdsman (subst)
1a2) to feed, graze
1a2a) of cows, sheep etc (literal)
1a2b) of idolater, Israel as flock (fig)
1b) (Hiphil) shepherd, shepherdess
Also means: ro.i (רֹעִי "to shepherd" H7473)
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to accompany.
1) to associate with, be a friend of (meaning probable)
1a) (Qal) to associate with
1b) (Hithpael) to be companions
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to befriend.
(Piel) to be a special friend
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHR/Vqcc
גַּן (gan) means 'garden' or 'enclosure' and can refer to a physical garden or, figuratively, to a bride. It is derived from a root meaning to fence in. The term is used in various contexts, including the Garden of Eden and specific locations like Beth-haggan.
גַּן n.m. & f. enclosure, garden
base
H1588 גַּן enclosure, garden
1588 gan gan
from 1598; a garden (as fenced):--garden.
see HEBREW for 01598
גַּן (gan) — Garden (of Uzza).
This name means garden, enclosure
גַּן (gan) — (Beth)-haggan.
Combined with ba.yit (בַּ֫יִת "Beth" H1004H)
גַּן (gan) — garden.
1) garden, enclosure
1a) enclosed garden
1a1) (fig. of a bride)
1b) garden (of plants)
1c) Garden of Eden
Prep | N-cp — Preposition · noun common both plural absoluteHRd/Ncbpa
Gardens
Mentioned in Scripture, of Eden (Gen. 2:8, 9); Ahab’s garden of herbs (1 Kings 21:2); the royal garden (2 Kings 21:18); the royal garden at Susa (Esther 1:5); the garden of Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:41); of Gethsemane (John 18:1).
The “king’s garden” mentioned 2 Kings 25:4, Neh. 3:15, was near the Pool of Siloam.
Are often mentioned in Scripture, though in a sense somewhat peculiar; for in the language of the Hebrews, every place where plants and trees were cultivated with greater care than in the open field, was called a garden. Fruit and shade trees, with aromatic shrubs, sometimes constituted the garden; though roses, lilies, and various gardens were used only for table vegetables, Ge 2:8-10 15:1-21 1Ki 21:2 Ec 2:5,6. They were located if possible beside a river or fountain, Ge 13:10 Nu 24:6. In other places reservoirs were provided, from which the water was distributed in various ways, as occasion required,
לָקַט (laqat) means to pick up or gather, specifically referring to the act of gleaning. It has various forms, including Qal (to gather), Piel (to collect or gather up), and Pual (to be picked up). The entries highlight its use in contexts of gathering, both in agriculture and in collecting money.
[לָקַט] vb. pick or gather up, specif. glean
Qal
pick up, gather
specif. glean
Pi.
gather, gather up
fig. collect (money)
specif. glean
Pu. ye shall be picked up
Hithp. and there collected themselves worthless men unto Jephthah
base
H3950 לָקַט pick or gather up, specif. glean
3950 laqat law-kat'
a primitive root; properly, to pick up, i.e. (generally) to
gather; specifically, to glean:--gather (up), glean.
לָקַט (la.qat) — to gather.
1) to pick up, gather, glean, gather up
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pick up, gather
1a2) to glean
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to gather, gather up
1b2) to collect (money)
1b3) to glean
1c) (Pual) to be picked up
1d) (Hithpael) to collect oneself
Conj | Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Conjunction · preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHC/R/Vqcc
gath'-er ('acaph, qabhats; sullego, sunago):
"Gather," transitive "to bring together," "collect," etc., and intransitive "to come together," "assemble," etc., occurs frequently and represents many Hebrew and Greek words. It is the translation of 'acaph, "to bring together," in Jos 6:9, the King James Version margin "gathering host"; Ps 27:10, the King James Version margin "The Lord will gather me"; compare Nu 12:14,15; Isa 52:12 King James Version margin. The phrases "gather thee unto thy fathers," "gathered unto his fathers," "gathered into the grave," etc., are frequently used for "to die" and "death" (Ge 25:8,17…
שׁוּשַׁן (shuwshan) refers primarily to a lily, likely encompassing any lily-like flower. It can also denote a type of trumpet due to its shape. The term appears in various forms, including שׁוֹשַׁנָּה (shoshanah) and is associated with the title of Psalm 45:1 as Shoshannim. The word is derived from a root meaning related to whiteness.
שׁוּשַׁן, שׁוֹשָׁ֑ן n.m. שׁוֹשַׁנָּה n.f. usually lily, prob. any lily-like flower
base
H7799 שׁוּשַׁן, שׁוֹשָׁ֑ן, שׁוֹשַׁנָּה, שׁוּשַׁן עֵדוּת, שֹׁשָׁן
7799 shuwshan shoo-shan'
or showshan {sho-shawn'}; or shoshan {sho- shawn'}; and
(feminine) showshannah {sho-shan-naw'}; from 7797; a lily
(from its whiteness), as a flower of arch. ornament; also a
(straight) trumpet (from the tubular shape): lily, Shoshannim.
see HEBREW for 07797
שׁוּשַׁן (shu.shan) — lily.
1) lily
1a) probably any lily-like flower
1b) Shoshannim, in title of Ps 45:1
N-cp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa