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Song of Solomon 1 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Song of Solomon 1 begins with a strong expression of love between the bride and bridegroom. The chapter moves between longing, praise, and gentle conversation, showing mutual delight and admiration. It also sets the tone for the rest of the book by presenting love as both personal and poetic.

What happens in Song of Solomon 1?

The chapter opens with a declaration from the bride, who longs for the love of her beloved and speaks of his name and presence with deep delight. She describes her own appearance honestly, noting both her hardship and her beauty, and asks where her beloved tends his flock. The beloved responds with affectionate praise, comparing her to fine and striking images and speaking warmly of her beauty. The chapter ends with mutual admiration, as both voices express delight in one another and the setting suggests a shared place of rest and closeness.

This is the opening chapter of Song of Solomon, a book of lyrical poetry centered on love between a bride and bridegroom. Chapter 1 introduces the voices, emotions, and imagery that shape the rest of the song. It establishes longing, praise, and relational closeness before the dialogue continues in the chapters that follow.

  • LongingThe bride speaks openly about her desire to be near the one she loves.
  • AffectionBoth speakers use warm, vivid language to honor one another.
  • BeautyThe chapter presents love through images of personal beauty, fragrance, and delight.
  • What does the bride's opening longing reveal about her heart?
  • How do the bride and bridegroom speak to each other with honor?
  • What images in this chapter help show the depth of their affection?

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Song of Solomon

Song of Solomon 1

The Bride Confesses Her Love

1This is Solomon’s Song of Songs.

The Bride

2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!

For your love is more delightful than wine.

3The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing;

your name is like perfume poured out.

No wonder the maidens adore you.

4Take me away with you—let us hurry!

May the king bring me to his chambers.

The Friends

We will rejoice and delight in you;

we will praise your love more than wine.

The Bride

It is only right that they adore you.

5I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem,

like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.

6Do not stare because I am dark,

for the sun has gazed upon me.

My mother’s sons were angry with me;

they made me a keeper of the vineyards,

but my own vineyard I have neglected.

7Tell me, O one I love,

where do you pasture your sheep?

Where do you rest them at midday?

Why should I be like a veiled woman

beside the flocks of your companions?

The Friends

8If you do not know, O fairest of women,

follow the tracks of the flock,

and graze your young goats

near the tents of the shepherds.

The Bridegroom

9I compare you, my darling,

to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.

10Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments,

your neck with strings of jewels.

The Friends

11We will make you ornaments of gold,

studded with beads of silver.

The Bride

12While the king was at his table,

my perfume spread its fragrance.

13My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh

resting between my breasts.

14My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms

in the vineyards of En-gedi.

The Bridegroom

15How beautiful you are, my darling!

Oh, how very beautiful!

Your eyes are like doves.

The Bride

16How handsome you are, my beloved!

Oh, how delightful!

The soft grass is our bed.

The Bridegroom

17The beams of our house are cedars;

our rafters are fragrant firs.

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