Wisdom · Chapter 7 of 8
Song of Solomon 7
The beloved sings a rising praise of the bride from feet to head, admiring her graceful form, her stature like a palm tree, and the sweetness of her mouth like the best wine. She answers with the confident refrain that she is her beloved's and his desire is toward her. Then she invites him out to the fields and vineyards to see whether the vines have budded, promising there to give him her love.
What happens in Song of Solomon 7
The beloved praises the bride from the feet upward: her graceful steps, her rounded form, her waist like a heap of wheat, her neck like a tower of ivory, and her head like Carmel with hair like royal purple that holds the king captive (verses 1-5). He exclaims how fair and pleasant she is, likening her stature to a palm tree he will climb and the sweetness of her mouth to the best wine (verses 6-9). The bride responds with the treasured refrain that she is her beloved's, and his desire is toward her (verse 10).
She invites him to come out into the field, to lodge in the villages, and to rise early to the vineyards to see whether the vines flourish and the pomegranates bud (verses 11-12). There she promises to give him her love, noting the fragrance of the mandrakes and the pleasant fruits, new and old, that she has stored up for her beloved (verses 12-13).
Song of Solomon 7 in context
This chapter offers another wasf, praising the bride's beauty, now answered by her glad invitation to shared delight in the countryside. Traditionally Solomonic, it belongs to the Song's mature celebration of mutual desire, where both lovers give and receive freely.
On its plain level it honours the goodness of married love. Jewish and Christian readers have also heard the refrain his desire is toward me as a picture of God's delight in and desire for His people.
Main themes of Song of Solomon 7
Song of Solomon 7 (KJV)
1How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince’s daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman. 2Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies. 3Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins. 4Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus. 5Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries. 6How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! 7This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes. 8I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples; 9And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak. 10I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me. 11Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. 12Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. 13The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.
Verses to carry from Song of Solomon 7
“I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.”Song of Solomon 7:10
“Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages.”Song of Solomon 7:11
“Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.”Song of Solomon 7:12
Christian typology
How Song of Solomon 7 points to Jesus
Read plainly, this chapter is the beloved's praise and the bride's glad invitation to shared love, and that celebration stands. Yet Christians have heard in it, as interpretation and not prediction, a picture of Christ and His people. The refrain his desire is toward me has moved many to marvel that the Lord not only is desired by His people but desires them, delighting in His church as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.
The bride's initiative, come, my beloved, let us go forth, pictures the soul's eager longing for communion with Christ, and the fruits new and old that she has stored up recall the love and obedience the believer offers back to the Lord. Held modestly, the chapter reflects the mutual delight between Christ and those He loves. This is Christian typology.
Questions about Song of Solomon 7
What is significant about the phrase his desire is toward me?
The bride does not merely say she loves and desires him; she rejoices that his desire is toward her. The wonder is mutuality: the one she longs for also longs for her. For readers who apply the Song to God's love, the phrase is especially moving, for it dares to say that the Lord not only is sought but yearns for His people with genuine delight.
Why does the bride take the initiative in this chapter?
Earlier she was the one seeking; here she invites the beloved out to the fields and vineyards and promises to give him her love. The Song presents love as fully reciprocal, honouring the bride as an equal partner who desires, initiates, and gives freely. Her confident invitation shows a love matured past insecurity into glad, mutual self-giving.
Reflection
Let the refrain his desire is toward me sink in: you are not only called to love God but are loved and desired by Him. Rest in being wanted. Then, like the bride, take the initiative in seeking communion, laying up your best, fruits new and old, as a glad offering to the One whose delight is toward you.
A prayer from Song of Solomon 7
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