In Song Of Solomon 7 What Does The Imagery In This Chapter Reveal About The Nature Of Love And Desire?
Exploring the Imagery of Song of Solomon 7: The Nature of Love and Desire
Song of Solomon 7 stands out as one of the most vivid and poetic passages in the Bible, dedicated to celebrating love, beauty, and desire within the context of marriage. The chapter is filled with sensual imagery and metaphorical language that draws readers into the intimate world of the beloved and the lover. As we study this chapter, we will consider what these images reveal about the nature of love and desire from a biblical perspective, always bearing in mind the high view of Scripture and the centrality of Christ.
1. The Beauty of Marital Love
The chapter opens with the lover admiring the physical features of his beloved, using rich and sometimes surprising metaphors:
How beautiful are thy feet in sandals, O prince's daughter! Thy rounded thighs are like jewels, The work of the hands of a skilful workman. - Song of Solomon 7:1 ASV
The admiration continues through verses 2-9, enumerating features from her navel to her head, comparing them to wheat, lilies, ivory, and royal tapestry (Song of Solomon 7:2-5 ASV). This poetic language is not meant to be taken as literal descriptions but rather communicates adoration, delight, and appreciation for the beloved’s unique beauty. In the context of marriage, these verses celebrate the goodness of physical attraction as part of God’s design.
2. The Sacredness of Desire
Desire in Song of Solomon 7 is expressed openly but within the covenant of marriage. The lover’s words culminate in longing:
I said, I will climb up into the palm-tree, I will take hold of the branches thereof: Let thy breasts be as clusters of the vine, And the smell of thy breath like apples, And thy mouth like the best wine, That goeth down smoothly for my beloved, Gliding through the lips of those that are asleep. - Song of Solomon 7:8-9 ASV
Here, physical desire is not condemned but celebrated as something beautiful and natural within marriage. The Bible affirms that romantic desire, when expressed in the right context, is a gift from God (Genesis 2:24 ASV; Hebrews 13:4 ASV). This stands in contrast to cultural extremes—either devaluing physical love or idolizing it outside God's design.
3. Mutual Delight and Commitment
The beloved responds, expressing her own desire and belonging:
I am my beloved’s, And his desire is toward me. - Song of Solomon 7:10 ASV
This mutuality is a recurring theme in Song of Solomon (see also Song of Solomon 2:16 ASV and 6:3 ASV). Love is not one-sided but shared, marked by mutual admiration, desire, and commitment. This reflects the biblical ideal for marriage—a partnership of love and respect (Ephesians 5:25 ASV).
4. Love’s Invitation and Fruitfulness
The beloved invites her lover to come away with her:
Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; Let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards; Let us see whether the vine hath budded, and its blossom is open, and the pomegranates are in flower: There will I give thee my love. - Song of Solomon 7:11-12 ASV
Here, the imagery of vineyards and blossoming plants symbolizes the fruitfulness and growth of love. Marital love is not static but dynamic, growing and deepening over time. This reflects the biblical principle that love in marriage is to be cultivated and nurtured, bearing fruit that blesses both partners and, potentially, future generations (Psalm 128:3 ASV).
5. Christ and the Church: A Deeper Allegory?
While the primary meaning of Song of Solomon is a celebration of marital love, throughout church history, many have seen a secondary allegorical meaning—a picture of Christ’s love for His Church (see Ephesians 5:25-27 ASV). The delight, desire, and intimacy expressed are, in a greater sense, a dim reflection of the love Christ has for His people—a love that is sacrificial, pursuing, and eternal.
Conclusion
The imagery in Song of Solomon 7 reveals that love and desire, when rooted in God’s design, are good and holy. The chapter affirms the beauty of marital love, the legitimacy of desire, and the importance of mutual delight and commitment. Ultimately, such love points beyond itself to the faithful, passionate love of Christ for His Church, inviting us to see romantic love as a gracious gift and a shadow of an even greater reality.