The Song of Songs
The Song of Songs is one of the poetic works included in the Old Testament. Made up of 8 chapters, this book is found after the book of Ecclesiastes and the book of Proverbs. From the very first verse, the reader understands that the superlative “Song of Songs” is used because the poetic text was said to be the most beautiful ever composed by the author, King Solomon. Read on to learn about the main theme of the Song of Solomon and 8 beautiful, must-read Bible passages!
What is the Song of Songs about?
What is a canticle?
A canticle is a worship song for God, about what He is and what He does. The psalms and hymns are also types of songs. The difference that we can highlight here is that psalms are generally accompanied by an instrument (harp, lute, tambourine, etc.), while hymns are sacred songs, collections of poetic words to celebrate the Lord.
Love is a major theme of these canticles.
The Song of Songs is so entitled because it is the most beautiful canticle written by King Solomon among 1005 songs he composed (1 Kings 5:12). King Solomon celebrates the love that he and the Shulammite feel for one another. He exalts in the beauty, softness, and allure of his beloved. It's a dialogue wherein she too celebrates her beloved’s poise. The poem, written in a very sensual tone, can be read today as the love the Christ, the husband, feels for his wife, the Church.
8 Beautiful Verses from the Song of Songs
Song of Songs 1
SHE: “Take me away with you—let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers.”
FRIENDS: “We rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. How right they are to adore you!” (Song of Songs 1:3-4)
Song of Songs 2
“My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies.” (Song of Songs 2:16)
Song of Songs 3
“Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.” (Song of Songs 3:5)
Song of Songs 4
You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. (Song of Songs 4:7)
Song of Songs 5
“I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking:
HE: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.” (Song of Songs 5:2)
Song of Songs 6
“... but my dove, my perfect one, is unique, the only daughter of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines praised her. Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession?” (Song of Songs 6:9-10)
Song of Songs 7
FRIENDS: “Come back, come back, O Shulammite; come back, come back, that we may gaze on you!”
HE: “Why would you gaze on the Shulammite as on the dance of Mahanaim? How beautiful your sandaled feet, O prince’s daughter! Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work of an artist’s hands.” (Song of Songs 6:13, 7:1)
Song of Songs 8
“Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.” (Song of Songs 8:7)
