Song of Solomon 8: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Song of Solomon 8 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

The woman longs for affection, wishing her beloved were like a brother, where she could openly kiss him without shame (vv. 1-2). She imagines leading him to her mother’s house, where they would share spiced wine and intimate moments (vv.

Key verse

“Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of Yahweh.”
Song of Solomon 8:6 (WEB)

Outline

Song of Solomon 8:1–2 Longing for Affection
Song of Solomon 8:3–4 The Embrace of Love
Song of Solomon 8:5–7 The Strength of Love
Song of Solomon 8:8–10 Protection and Responsibility
Song of Solomon 8:11–12 Mutual Possession in Love
Song of Solomon 8:13–14 A Call to Intimacy

Discussion questions

In v1, what familial relationship does the bride wish to compare to her beloved?
What does the bride express a desire for in v2 when bringing her beloved to her mother's house?
The imagery of 'floods' in v7 suggests what about the nature of love?
In vv. 9-10, how do the expressions about the sister contrast with the bride's own declaration of being 'a wall'?
When has the strength of love felt 'like a flame' in your own life?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Song of Solomon 8: Song of Solomon 2, Song of Solomon 3, Isaiah 40.

Before next time: read Isaiah 1.