ScriptureDepth's study of Song of Solomon 6
“I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine. He browses among the lilies,”
Song of Solomon 6:3
The Beloved declares her mutual belonging with her lover, and this commitment shapes their relationship and the yearning expressed in the chapter.
What Song of Solomon 6 is about
The daughters of Jerusalem ask the 'fairest among women' where her beloved has gone, so they may seek him with her. She answers that he has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to gather lilies (vv. 1-2). She says she belongs to her beloved and he to her (v. 3). Then she is praised: beautiful as Tirzah, lovely as Jerusalem, 'awesome as an army with banners' (v. 4). She is asked to turn her eyes away, for they have overcome the speaker. Her hair is like a flock of goats, her teeth like ewes from the washing, her temples like a piece of pomegranate (vv. 5-7).
There are sixty queens, eighty concubines and virgins without number. The dove is unique, her mother's only daughter, praised by the queens, 'clear as the sun' (vv. 8-10). The speaker goes down to the nut tree grove to see whether the vine has budded, and desire sets him among royal chariots. Voices cry 'Return, return, Shulammite!', and a question follows: why gaze at her (vv. 11-13)?
A reader is left holding a woman who is one among eighty and sixty, and eyes that overcome the one who praises them.
Song of Solomon 6 at a glance
- Song of Solomon 6:1–2Searching for the Beloved
- Song of Solomon 6:3–4Mutual Affection Expressed
- Song of Solomon 6:5–7Praise for Beauty
- Song of Solomon 6:8–10Uniqueness and Worth
- Song of Solomon 6:11–13Journey and Return
Key verse: Song of Solomon 6:3
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 6 (WEB)
Searching for the Beloved Song of Solomon 6:1–2
1Verse 1. Where has your beloved gone, you fairest among women?Where has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you?2Verse 2. My beloved has gone down to his garden,to the beds of spices,to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
Mutual Affection Expressed Song of Solomon 6:3–4
3Verse 3. I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.He browses among the lilies,4Verse 4. You are beautiful, my love, as Tirzah,lovely as Jerusalem,awesome as an army with banners.
Praise for Beauty Song of Solomon 6:5–7
5Verse 5. Turn away your eyes from me,for they have overcome me.Your hair is like a flock of goats,that lie along the side of Gilead.6Verse 6. Your teeth are like a flock of ewes,which have come up from the washing;of which every one has twins;no one is bereaved among them.7Verse 7. Your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your veil.
Uniqueness and Worth Song of Solomon 6:8–10
8Verse 8. There are sixty queens, eighty concubines,and virgins without number.9Verse 9. My dove, my perfect one, is unique.She is her mother’s only daughter.She is the favorite one of her who bore her.The daughters saw her, and called her blessed;the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.10Verse 10. Who is she who looks out as the morning,beautiful as the moon,clear as the sun,and awesome as an army with banners?
Journey and Return Song of Solomon 6:11–13
11Verse 11. I went down into the nut tree grove,to see the green plants of the valley,to see whether the vine budded,and the pomegranates were in flower.12Verse 12. Without realizing it,my desire set me with my royal people’s chariots.13Verse 13. Return, return, Shulammite!Return, return, that we may gaze at you.LoverWhy do you desire to gaze at the Shulammite,as at the dance of Mahanaim?
World English Bible (public domain)
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Main themes in Song of Solomon 6
Love
In this chapter, love is portrayed through mutual possession and desire between the beloved and her lover. In verse 3, the beloved states, 'I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine,' expressing a deep connection and belonging. The mutual affection continues as the lover praises her beauty in verses 4-5, indicating that their love is both personal and deeply emotional.
Explore love in the Bible →Beauty
Beauty is vividly described through metaphors associated with nature and splendor in this chapter. For instance, in verse 4, the beloved is compared to 'Tirzah' and 'Jerusalem,' cities known for their beauty and allure. Further praise in verses 5-7 uses striking imagery, such as 'your hair is like a flock of goats,' to convey her attractiveness, and establishes beauty as a key element of their relationship.
Commitment
In verses 9-10, the beloved is called 'my dove, my perfect one,' which signifies her uniqueness and the lover's deep devotion. The mutual search and desire for one another throughout the chapter demonstrate a bond that goes beyond mere attraction. This commitment is evident as the lovers express their affection and appreciation, underscoring a relationship marked by loyalty and deep emotional connection.
Mutual Admiration
Mutual admiration is a recurring theme in this chapter, where both lovers express deep appreciation for one another. In verses 4-7, the lover admires the beloved's features, praising her beauty through various similes. Similarly, the beloved's longing for her lover, as seen in verses 12-13, demonstrates a reciprocation of admiration, indicating a balanced and harmonious relationship.
Chapter outline
How Song of Solomon 6 unfolds
Song of Solomon 6:1–2 Searching for the Beloved
Inquiring voices ask, 'Where has your beloved gone, you fairest among women?' (v. 1), prompting a search for him. The speaker replies, 'My beloved has gone down to his garden' (v. 2).
Song of Solomon 6:3–4 Mutual Affection Expressed
The speaker declares, 'I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine' (v. 3), affirming mutual possession. The beloved admires her, saying, 'You are beautiful, my love, as Tirzah' (v. 4).
Song of Solomon 6:5–7 Praise for Beauty
The beloved requests the speaker to turn away her eyes, saying, 'Your hair is like a flock of goats' (v. 5) and continues with detailed praises of her features, including her teeth (vv. 6-7).
Song of Solomon 6:8–10 Uniqueness and Worth
The beloved identifies the speaker as 'my dove, my perfect one' (v. 9), emphasizing her uniqueness. Others recognize her beauty, as they call her blessed and ask, 'Who is she who looks out as the morning?' (v. 10).
Song of Solomon 6:11–13 Journey and Return
The speaker describes a journey to observe the beauty of nature, including the nut tree grove (v. 11). The desire for closeness with royal companions is expressed, culminating in a call for the Shulammite to return for a mutual gaze (vv. 12-13).
Key verses
Song of Solomon 6:3The Beloved declares her mutual belonging with her lover, and this commitment shapes their relationship and the yearning expressed in the chapter.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Song of Solomon 6
- observeIn v2, where does the beloved go in the garden?
- observeWhat does the beloved compare the woman's hair to in v5?
- interpretIn v9, why are the daughters calling the Shulammite woman 'blessed'?
- interpretIn v12, what does the Shulammite mean by 'my desire set me with my royal people’s chariots'?
- applyWhen have you felt 'unique' like the Shulammite, as described in v9?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Song of Solomon 6
- Song of Solomon 4Song of Solomon 6:5 and Song of Solomon 4:1Both describe beautiful hair: Song of Solomon 6:5 speaks of hair as goats, while Song of Solomon 4:1 also likens hair to goats.
- Song of Solomon 2Song of Solomon 6:3 and Song of Solomon 2:16Both affirm mutual belonging: Song of Solomon 6:3 states I am my beloved’s, while Song of Solomon 2:16 similarly affirms I am his.
- Song of Solomon 5Song of Solomon 6:1 and Song of Solomon 5:9Both inquire about the beloved: Song of Solomon 6:1 asks where he has gone, while Song of Solomon 5:9 questions his uniqueness.
- Psalm 45Song of Solomon 6:8 and Psalm 45:14Both mention queens: Song of Solomon 6:8 counts sixty queens, while Psalm 45:14 speaks of a queen led to the king.
- Song of Solomon 1Song of Solomon 6:1 and Song of Solomon 1:8Both ask about the beloved: Song of Solomon 6:1 seeks to find him, while Song of Solomon 1:8 offers guidance to follow tracks.
- Proverbs 31Song of Solomon 6:8 and Proverbs 31:10Both evaluate worth: Song of Solomon 6:8 lists queens, while Proverbs 31:10 asks about finding a worthy woman.
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