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Song of Solomon 2

ScriptureDepth's study of Song of Solomon 2

“He brought me to the banquet hall. His banner over me is love.”

Song of Solomon 2:4

The beloved speaks to the bride, inviting her to the banquet hall, marking a moment of celebration and intimacy under the 'banner' of love.

What Song of Solomon 2 is about

The speaker identifies herself as 'a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys' (v. 1) and compares her beloved to a delightful apple tree among the other trees. She enjoys sitting in his shadow and finds his fruit sweet (vv. 2-3). They are brought to a banquet hall, where love is celebrated (v. 4). The speaker expresses a need for strength and refreshment because of her love (v. 5). A caution is given to the daughters of Jerusalem not to awaken love prematurely (v. 7). The speaker anticipates her beloved’s arrival, describing him as leaping on the mountains and looking in at the windows (vv. 8-9). When he calls her to rise and come away, she notes the arrival of spring with blooming flowers and singing birds (vv. 10-13). She desires intimacy and asks her beloved to see her face and hear her voice (vv. 14-15). They affirm their mutual belonging as he browses among the lilies (vv. 16-17).

The speaker expresses a longing for intimacy and the beautiful promise of love's seasonal renewal.

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Song of Solomon 2 at a glance

  1. Song of Solomon 2:1–3Expressions of Beauty and Uniqueness
  2. Song of Solomon 2:4–6Invitation to Love's Banquet
  3. Song of Solomon 2:7Caution Against Awakening Love
  4. Song of Solomon 2:8–13Joyful Anticipation of Spring
  5. Song of Solomon 2:14–15Desire for Intimacy and Protection
  6. Song of Solomon 2:16–17Mutual Possession and Longing

Key verse: Song of Solomon 2:4

One thing to notice

Throughout the chapter, there is a pattern of mutual possession expressed in the relationship between the speaker and her beloved. In v. 16, she states, 'My beloved is mine, and I am his,' affirming their connection and commitment to one another before it closes with a similar longing in v. 17.

Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.

Chapter text

Read Song of Solomon 2 (WEB)

Expressions of Beauty and Uniqueness Song of Solomon 2:1–3

Verse 1. I am a rose of Sharon,a lily of the valleys.Verse 2. As a lily among thorns,so is my love among the daughters.Verse 3. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood,so is my beloved among the sons.I sat down under his shadow with great delight,his fruit was sweet to my taste.

Invitation to Love's Banquet Song of Solomon 2:4–6

Verse 4. He brought me to the banquet hall.His banner over me is love.Verse 5. Strengthen me with raisins,refresh me with apples;For I am faint with love.Verse 6. His left hand is under my head.His right hand embraces me.

Caution Against Awakening Love Song of Solomon 2:7

Verse 7. I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem,by the roes, or by the hinds of the field,that you not stir up, nor awaken love,until it so desires.

Joyful Anticipation of Spring Song of Solomon 2:8–13

Verse 8. The voice of my beloved!Behold, he comes,leaping on the mountains,skipping on the hills.Verse 9. My beloved is like a roe or a young deer.Behold, he stands behind our wall!He looks in at the windows.He glances through the lattice.Verse 10. My beloved spoke, and said to me,“Rise up, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.Verse 11. For, behold, the winter is past.The rain is over and gone.Verse 12. The flowers appear on the earth.The time of the singing has come,and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.Verse 13. The fig tree ripens her green figs.The vines are in blossom.They give out their fragrance.Arise, my love, my beautiful one,and come away.”

Desire for Intimacy and Protection Song of Solomon 2:14–15

Verse 14. My dove in the clefts of the rock,In the hiding places of the mountainside,Let me see your face.Let me hear your voice;for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.Verse 15. Catch for us the foxes,the little foxes that plunder the vineyards;for our vineyards are in blossom.

Mutual Possession and Longing Song of Solomon 2:16–17

Verse 16. My beloved is mine, and I am his.He browses among the lilies.Verse 17. Until the day is cool, and the shadows flee away,turn, my beloved,and be like a roe or a young deer on the mountains of Bether.

World English Bible (public domain)

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Main themes in Song of Solomon 2

Romantic Love

Expressions of romantic love appear throughout this chapter, particularly in verses 10 to 14. In these verses, the beloved invites the lover to 'rise up' and 'come away', suggesting a longing for intimacy and connection. The imagery of spring and flourishing nature, with references to 'the flowers appear on the earth' and 'the time of the singing has come', further enhance the theme of love blossoming together with nature.

Natural Beauty

Natural beauty is woven into the descriptions of the beloved and the environment, seen in verse 1 with 'rose of Sharon' and 'lily of the valleys'. This imagery conveys uniqueness and attractiveness, setting the beloved apart. Verses 12 and 13 mention 'the flowers' and 'the vines' that 'give out their fragrance', creating a vivid backdrop of blooming life that complements the romantic expressions of the chapter.

Mutual Admiration

Mutual admiration is expressed through intimate exchanges between the lovers, especially in verse 16. The lover states, 'My beloved is mine, and I am his', which shows their deep connection and appreciation for one another. Verse 14 further illustrates this admiration as the speaker longs to see the beloved's face and hear her voice, conveying the recognition of her beauty and charm.

Divine Gift

In verse 4, the beloved brings the speaker to the 'banquet hall' and declares 'his banner over me is love'. This moment depicts a sacred and joyful relationship, highlighting love as a cherished gift they share. The chapter concludes with an invitation to enjoy this love until the day cools, affirming the experience of love as both divine and precious.

Chapter outline

How Song of Solomon 2 unfolds

  1. Song of Solomon 2:1–3 Expressions of Beauty and Uniqueness

    The speaker declares her beauty, comparing herself to 'a rose of Sharon' and 'a lily of the valleys' (v. 1) while expressing the uniqueness of her love in relation to others (v. 2).

  2. Song of Solomon 2:4–6 Invitation to Love's Banquet

    The beloved brings the speaker to the banquet hall and states, 'His banner over me is love' (v. 4). She requests, 'Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples' (v. 5), while he comforts her with his embrace (v. 6).

  3. Song of Solomon 2:7 Caution Against Awakening Love

    In a cautionary tone, the speaker urges the 'daughters of Jerusalem' not to awaken love prematurely (v. 7), emphasizing the need for patience in matters of the heart.

  4. Song of Solomon 2:8–13 Joyful Anticipation of Spring

    The speaker hears the beloved approaching joyfully, likening him to a deer (v. 9), and expresses a longing for togetherness as the seasons change from winter to spring (vv. 11-13).

  5. Song of Solomon 2:14–15 Desire for Intimacy and Protection

    The speaker desires intimacy with her beloved, asking him to see her and hear her voice, which she finds sweet (v. 14), while also expressing a need for protection from external threats (v. 15).

  6. Song of Solomon 2:16–17 Mutual Possession and Longing

    The speaker affirms mutual possession in their relationship, 'My beloved is mine, and I am his' (v. 16), and expresses a longing for his presence as day transitions to evening (v. 17).

Key verses

  • Song of Solomon 2:4The beloved speaks to the bride, inviting her to the banquet hall, marking a moment of celebration and intimacy under the 'banner' of love.

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Study questions

Questions for studying Song of Solomon 2

SummarizeObserveInterpretApply

Uses your daily Ask questions.

  1. observeIn v1, what does the bride mean when she calls herself a 'rose of Sharon'?
  2. observeIn v4, what does the 'banner' over her signify in their relationship?
  3. interpretThe longing expressed in v7: why does the bride warn the daughters of Jerusalem?
  4. interpretThe imagery in vv. 12-13 about the blossoms: what does this suggest about the season of their love?
  5. applyWhen has love made you feel as if you needed to 'come away' from your surroundings?

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Cross-references

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Song of Solomon 2: frequently asked questions

What is Song of Solomon 2 about?+
The speaker identifies herself as 'a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys' (v. 1) and compares her beloved to a delightful apple tree among the other trees.
What is the key verse in Song of Solomon 2?+
Song of Solomon 2:4: “He brought me to the banquet hall. His banner over me is love.”
What are the main themes of Song of Solomon 2?+
The main themes of Song of Solomon 2 are Romantic Love, Natural Beauty, Mutual Admiration, Divine Gift.

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Study Notes