Old Testament

Song of Songs

The Bible's love poem — desire, delight, and love stronger than death.

Poetry / Love song · 8 chapters · About 15 minutes

Traditionally Solomon

Overview

The Song is an exchange between two lovers, full of gardens, vineyards, and longing. It is in the Bible unembarrassed — human love and desire, celebrated as good.

Read one way, it dignifies marriage and bodily love. Read the way the church has for centuries, it also whispers of a greater Lover whose banner over His people is love.

Its climax is one of the strongest claims in Scripture: love is as strong as death; many waters cannot quench it.

What it keeps returning to

Delight

The lovers study each other with admiration. Love notices.

The winter is past

Chapter 2's invitation — 'Arise, my love, and come away' — is springtime theology.

Unquenchable

Love outlasts flood and rivals death itself.

Start here

  • Song of Songs 2:8–13

    'The winter is past… arise, my love.'

  • Song of Songs 4:7

    'You are altogether beautiful.'

  • Song of Songs 8:6–7

    Love strong as death, unquenched by many waters.

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.

Song of Songs 8:7