Keraia
Song of Solomon 5

Song of Solomon 5:13

The Bride and Her Beloved · Song of Solomon 5:1–16
Read Song of Solomon 5

Translations

Modern
His cheeks are like beds of spice, towers of perfume. His lips are like lilies, dripping with flowing myrrh.
Traditional
His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
Literal
His cheeks are like a bed of spice, towers of perfume. His lips lilies, dripping with flowing myrrh.
Latin
Genæ illius sicut areolæ aromatum, consitæ a pigmentariis. Labia ejus lilia, distillantia myrrham primam.

Original

Hebrew
English
His cheeks are like beds of spice, towers of perfume. His lips are like lilies, dripping with flowing myrrh.

Notes

Song of Solomon 5:13

His cheeks are like spice gardens because he had a full beard, common in his culture. This beard was likely perfumed.

Song of Solomon 5:11–15

The woman describes the man as a statue made of gold, ivory, lapis lazuli, and marble pillars. This suggests he looks god-like, as ancient statues of deities used these precious materials (Exodus 32:1–4; 1 Kings 12:28; Daniel 2:32233; 3:1).

Song of Solomon 5:10–16

This detailed description of the lover in the Song highlights his value to the woman.

Song of Solomon 5:2–6:3

  • One verse earlier, the couple fully enjoys their intimate union. Now the woman feels the pain of separation. In the dramatic interpretation, the woman has been separated from the man twice before and has searched for him (Song of Solomon 1:4–7; 3:1–4). This last time, the separation occurs in her dreams—it is only a nightmare. Her dream seems to continue to Song of Solomon 6:3, given the natural flow of questions and answers between the woman and the young women of Jerusalem.

  • If the Song is a collection of poems, these poems explore love rather than recounting actual events. This poem reminds us that an intimate relationship is not always easy or perfectly satisfying.

Theme notes and profiles

Human Sexuality

Glossary

Lily Perfume Song of Solomon

Topics

Flower of Sharon Flowers: Sweet Flowers: The Graces of Christ Lilies Lily of the Lips of the Beloved Love to Christ: His Personal Excellence is Deserving of Myrrh used As a Perfume Preciousness of Christ: Illustrated