5:1KJV I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.
B:E Project I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh and spice, eaten my honeycomb and honey, drunk my wine and milk. [To others:] Eat, friends, and drink - drink deeply, loved ones.
Context: The bridegroom responds to the bride's invitation from 4:16, describing the joy of their union; the final line seems to be a chorus or narrator blessing the couple's joy.
Meaning: This verse marks the consummation of the couple's love in the poem's own imagery - described with warmth and delight, never shame. The closing invitation to 'eat... drink abundantly' broadens out from the couple to a wider blessing, as if the whole community celebrates and affirms their joy, much like guests celebrating at a wedding.
Lesson: Celebrate your commitments openly - don't be ashamed of the good, faithful love you've built with someone. I rejoice with people who rejoice; healthy love between two people is something worth celebrating, not something to apologise for.
See Also: John 2:1-10 - Jesus's presence and blessing at a wedding feast, celebrating a couple's joy rather than treating it with suspicion.
5:2KJV I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.
B:E Project I was asleep, but my heart stayed alert. I heard my beloved knocking, saying, 'Let me in, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one - my head is soaked with dew, my hair with the damp of the night.'
Context: The bride begins recounting a dream (continuing through the chapter) in which her beloved comes to her door at night, having travelled through the cold and wet to reach her.
Meaning: This opens a dream sequence about longing and near-miss - a common and honest experience in relationships, where love isn't always perfectly timed or easy. The beloved has clearly gone out of his way, travelling through the night, to come to her. Being 'asleep but heart awake' pictures a heart that stays tuned to someone even in rest, ready to respond to love.
Lesson: Stay alert to the people who love you, even when life makes you drowsy or distracted. Love that shows up at inconvenient times, travelling through difficulty to reach you, deserves to be noticed and answered.
See Also: Revelation 3:20 - 'Behold, I stand at the door, and knock,' a strikingly similar image, later used of God's own patient, gentle pursuit of a person's heart.
5:3KJV I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?
B:E Project I said, 'I've already taken off my clothes for the night - must I dress again? I've washed my feet - must I get them dirty again?'
Context: Still narrating her dream, the bride recalls her own hesitation - comfortable and settled for the night, she is slow to get up and answer the door.
Meaning: This is an honest, unflattering moment: she hesitates out of comfort and inconvenience, even though it's the person she loves at the door. It's a very human picture of how easy it is to let small comforts and laziness delay us from responding to someone we care about - with real consequences, as the next verses show.
Lesson: Don't let comfort or convenience be the reason you miss someone who's reaching out for you. I know it's easier to stay settled than to get up and answer love when it knocks - but hesitation has a cost, and the people who matter are worth the small effort of getting up.
See Also: Song of Solomon 5:6 - the consequence of this hesitation, where she opens the door too late.
5:4KJV My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.
B:E Project My beloved reached his hand through the opening in the door, and my heart stirred deeply for him.
Context: The bride continues her dream, describing the moment her beloved reaches through the door for her, which finally moves her to get up.
Meaning: Even through her hesitation, the closeness and effort of her beloved eventually stirs her heart - it's his continued nearness and initiative, not just her own decision, that finally moves her. This shows how love often has to persist gently even when met with delay, and how that persistence can be what finally wakes a slower heart.
Lesson: Keep reaching for the people you love, even when they're slow to respond - persistence born of love, not pressure, is often what finally reaches someone's heart.
See Also: Luke 15:20 - the father running to meet the returning son while he was still far off, the same patient reaching towards someone.
5:5KJV I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.
B:E Project I got up to open the door for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, onto the handles of the lock.
Context: The bride finally rises to answer the door, and in doing so leaves fragrant myrrh on the door handles.
Meaning: By the time she moves, there is already evidence of him having been there and of her responding - but the timing has slipped. This detail of fragrance lingering on the lock captures how presence and desire can leave a real trace even in a moment that ultimately turns out to be too late.
Lesson: Even a late response to love still matters and still leaves something behind - don't let past delay convince you it's not worth answering now. It's never too late to reach towards someone, even if the ideal moment has already passed.
See Also: Song of Solomon 5:6 - the disappointment that follows despite her finally rising to answer.
5:6KJV I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
B:E Project I opened the door for my beloved, but he had already turned and gone. My heart sank when he left. I searched for him but couldn't find him; I called out but he didn't answer.
Context: The bride's dream reaches its painful turn: her hesitation cost her the moment, and now her beloved is gone, leaving her searching in vain.
Meaning: This is the emotional low point of the dream - a picture of missed connection and the ache of searching for someone who isn't there to answer. It echoes an earlier search sequence in the book (3:1-4), showing that longing, missed timing, and the fear of losing someone are honest parts of even a strong, loving relationship, not signs the love itself has failed.
Lesson: Don't be afraid of the ache of missing someone or the fear of losing them - it's part of loving someone deeply, and it doesn't mean the love is broken. Keep seeking, keep calling out; love worth having is worth the search.
See Also: Song of Solomon 3:1-2 - an earlier, similar night search for the beloved, showing this fear and searching is a recurring, honest part of the couple's story.
5:7KJV The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
B:E Project The watchmen patrolling the city found me as I searched; they struck me and wounded me. The guards on the walls tore my veil away from me.
Context: Still in her dream, the bride describes being mistreated by the city's watchmen while out searching desperately for her beloved at night.
Meaning: This is a startling, dreamlike moment of vulnerability and even violence, reflecting how consuming and disorienting deep longing can feel - a dream distorting real anxiety about being exposed, unprotected, and misunderstood while searching for someone she loves. It doesn't need to be over-interpreted; it conveys how much this search costs her emotionally.
Lesson: Loving someone deeply can leave you feeling exposed and vulnerable to a world that doesn't understand what you're going through - I see that cost, and it's not something to be ashamed of. Vulnerability in pursuing real love is never wasted, even when it hurts.
See Also: Song of Solomon 3:3 - the watchmen appearing again in an earlier search scene, this time without harm, showing the same recurring image.
5:8KJV I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.
B:E Project I charge you, young women of Jerusalem - if you find my beloved, tell him I am faint with love for him.
Context: The bride turns to the chorus of young women and pleads with them to pass on a message to her beloved if they find him first.
Meaning: 'Sick of love' means overwhelmed and weakened by longing, not unwell - an ancient way of expressing how consuming her love and current heartache are. She isn't hiding this vulnerability; she's asking others to help carry the message. It shows that being open about the intensity of love, and asking for help when you're missing someone, is honest and healthy rather than embarrassing.
Lesson: You don't have to carry longing alone - it's alright to ask others to help you reach the person you love. Being open about how much someone means to you is a strength, not a weakness.
See Also: Song of Solomon 2:5 - 'for I am sick of love,' the same phrase used earlier in the book.
5:9KJV What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
B:E Project What makes your beloved better than any other, most beautiful of women? What makes him so special that you'd ask this of us?
Context: The chorus of young women responds to the bride's plea with a genuine question, prompting her to describe exactly what makes her beloved so remarkable.
Meaning: This question sets up the famous description that follows (verses 10-16). It's an invitation for the bride to put her love into words - which she does at length and with obvious delight. The question itself models genuine curiosity about why someone loves who they love, rather than dismissiveness.
Lesson: Ask people about who they love, and really listen to the answer - it's one of the most honouring questions you can ask someone. Being asked to describe what makes someone dear to you is an invitation, not an interrogation.
See Also: 1 Peter 3:15 - being ready to give an answer for the hope within you, when genuinely asked, applied here to love instead.
5:10KJV My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
B:E Project My beloved is radiant and glowing with health, outstanding among ten thousand others.
Context: The bride begins her detailed, admiring description of the bridegroom, answering the chorus's question about what makes him so special.
Meaning: 'White and ruddy' describes a fresh, healthy, vigorous complexion - the ancient equivalent of saying someone looks radiant and full of life. 'Chiefest among ten thousand' means that out of a huge crowd, he stands out above everyone else to her. This is mutual admiration in the poem: just as he praised her at length in chapter 4, she now praises him just as fully and openly.
Lesson: Love should go both ways - don't just receive admiration, give it back generously. The healthiest relationships are the ones where both people delight in each other equally, not where affection only flows one direction.
See Also: Song of Solomon 2:3 - the bride comparing her beloved favourably to all others, 'as the apple tree among the trees of the wood.'
5:11KJV His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
B:E Project His head is like the finest gold; his hair is thick and wavy, black as a raven.
Context: The bride continues describing her beloved's appearance, beginning at the top of his head, mirroring the structure of his earlier praise of her in chapter 4.
Meaning: Gold represents supreme value and worth; describing his head this way says he is, to her, priceless. The description that follows is deliberately structured like his praise of her - showing that this poem gives the woman just as full, sensory and appreciative a voice as the man, describing male beauty with the same openness usually reserved in ancient literature for women.
Lesson: Admiration and desire aren't one person's job in a relationship - both people get to look, delight, and speak up. I want love between people to be mutual and equally expressed, not lopsided.
See Also: Song of Solomon 4:1-15 - the bridegroom's earlier, matching description of the bride, showing the mutuality of admiration in the book.
5:12KJV His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.
B:E Project His eyes are like doves beside flowing streams, washed clean in milk, perfectly set.
Context: The bride continues describing her beloved's eyes, using the same gentle dove imagery he once used of hers in 4:1.
Meaning: By echoing his own words back to describe him, the bride shows how thoroughly they see each other in similar terms - a mirroring that reflects real intimacy and shared language between two people who know each other well. The picture is one of clarity, gentleness and calm in his gaze.
Lesson: Notice how the language of love you share with someone becomes its own private world, built over time - cherish and keep using it.
See Also: Song of Solomon 4:1 - 'thou hast doves' eyes,' the same image, now returned to describe him.
5:13KJV His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
B:E Project His cheeks are like a garden bed of spices, like sweet-scented flowers; his lips are like lilies, dripping with sweet myrrh.
Context: The bride continues her admiring description, moving to her beloved's face and the pleasure of being near and kissing him.
Meaning: As with his earlier praise of her lips (4:11), fragrance and sweetness stand in for the pleasure of closeness and kissing. The mirrored imagery across the book, used for both partners, suggests a relationship of true equals, each finding the other equally delightful.
Lesson: In love that's healthy, both people should feel equally treasured and equally free to say so. Don't let one partner do all the admiring while the other stays silent - speak up about what delights you in the person you love.
See Also: Song of Solomon 4:11 - the bridegroom's earlier praise of her lips 'dropping as the honeycomb,' now answered in kind.
5:14KJV His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.
B:E Project His hands are like rounded gold set with jewels; his body is like polished ivory inlaid with sapphires.
Context: The bride's description moves down to her beloved's hands and torso, continuing to use precious materials to convey his worth and appeal to her.
Meaning: Gold, jewels, ivory and sapphires were the most valuable materials available in the ancient world. Describing a person's body this way is poetic, not literal - it communicates that, to her, he is a treasure worth more than any material wealth. It's another clear example of the Bible speaking about physical attraction between spouses with total comfort and admiration.
Lesson: Let yourself value a person you love as more precious than any possession you could own. Genuine love treasures people, not things - and it's alright to say so plainly.
See Also: Proverbs 31:10 - an excellent spouse's worth being 'far above rubies,' the same use of precious materials to express a person's value.
5:15KJV His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
B:E Project His legs are like pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold; his whole presence is like Lebanon, majestic as its cedar trees.
Context: The bride finishes her physical description of her beloved, comparing his stature and bearing to grand architecture and towering trees.
Meaning: Marble pillars and cedar trees of Lebanon were both famous symbols of strength, stability and grandeur in the ancient world. This isn't just praising looks but describing someone dependable, strong and impressive in his overall presence - a whole-person admiration, not a narrow physical checklist.
Lesson: When you love someone, let your admiration take in their whole presence - the way they carry themselves, the stability they offer - not just isolated features. That kind of seeing is where lasting attraction lives.
See Also: Psalm 92:12 - the righteous flourishing 'like the cedar in Lebanon,' the same tree used as an image of strong, enduring growth.
5:16KJV His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
B:E Project His mouth is sweetness itself; everything about him is lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, young women of Jerusalem.
Context: The bride concludes her description of the bridegroom to the chorus of young women, summing up her admiration and calling him her friend as well as her lover.
Meaning: The closing phrase 'this is my friend' is significant - it shows that what she treasures about him isn't only physical attraction but genuine friendship and companionship. This rounds out a healthy picture of romantic love: passion held together with real friendship, part of what makes committed love last.
Lesson: The strongest relationships combine desire with real friendship - want the whole package, not just one or the other. I call the people I love my friends, and I want that for you too: love that likes the person, not just longs for them.
See Also: John 15:15 - 'I have called you friends,' the same combination of deep love expressed through the language of friendship.