Song of Solomon Chapter 7
At a Glance
- Chapter 7 turns the page toward a vivid, almost architectural celebration of the beloved’s body as poetry in motion.
- Historical & Literary Context.
- Chapter 7 continues the poetic celebration of a romantic, erotic relationship within the Song of Songs.
- - Intense sensual beauty: The chapter inventories physical form with lavish, almost architectural precision.
- - Mutual desire and consent: The speaker and beloved affirm ongoing desire and reciprocal pursuit.
Chapter Overview
Chapter 7 turns the page toward a vivid, almost architectural celebration of the beloved’s body as poetry in motion. The speaker admires every part with gold, ivory, and precious stones: feet “like jewels,” navel “round goblet,” belly “heap of wheat,” breasts “two young roes,” neck like ivory, eyes like fishpools, nose like Lebanon. The imagery continues with a wave of sensuous metaphors that invites the reader into a tactile, celebratory view of beauty and desire. The beloved’s stature is likened to a palm tree with grapes, and the language moves toward a fragrant climactic moment: the cadence of the mouth like the finest wine, capable of awakening loves. The chapter transitions into a mutual pledge: “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.” They then propose a field trip—going to the vineyards, seeking out the tender grape, and tasting the sweetness of loves in the open air. The mandrakes’ fragrance closes the chapter with a note of intimate, cultivated abundance, symbolizing the layered richness of shared life—new and old fruits laid up for the beloved.
Historical & Literary Context
Chapter 7 continues the poetic celebration of a romantic, erotic relationship within the Song of Songs. The rich, sensuous imagery is characteristic of Hebrew poetry and uses agricultural and vineyard motifs to connect love with fertility, abundance, and harvest. The chapter’s movement from intimate admiration to a plan to go to the fields reflects a natural progression in the lovers’ relationship, underscored by covenantal imagery—mutual possession and desire. The mandrakes echo fertility rites and ancient Near Eastern symbolic language, tying human love to the larger rhythms of creation.
Key Themes
- Intense sensual beauty: The chapter inventories physical form with lavish, almost architectural precision.
- Mutual desire and consent: The speaker and beloved affirm ongoing desire and reciprocal pursuit.
- Outdoor, agricultural imagery: The field, vineyard, and mandrakes link love to harvest and abundance.
- Privacy within public life: The couple’s plans inhabit a space between private affection and public observation.
- The vitality of physical and emotional nourishment: The wine, fruits, and scents suggest nourishment for life and love.
Modern Application
This chapter can encourage readers to celebrate physical beauty and mutual desire within the boundaries of consent and respect. It models how beauty can be a positive, life-affirming force when expressed in a context of loyalty and care. The vineyard motif invites couples to cultivate their relationship as one cultivates a garden—through intentional time, shared experiences, and the deliberate “harvest” of joy. The imagery can also spark conversations about affection, vulnerability, and fidelity, as well as the importance of viewing physical intimacy as a meaningful, covenantal gift rather than merely a private act.
- Song of Solomon 2:3-6; 4:1-7 (continuity of beauty and praise)
- Proverbs 5 (warnings and guidance about sexual integrity)
- Psalm 45 (royal imagery and beauty as blessing)
- Genesis 2:25 (nakedness and belonging in creation)
Recommended Personas
- Solomon (for poetic celebration)
- Jesus (for the depth of love as lifelong covenant)
- David (for lyrical beauty and imagery)