Song of Solomon 6

Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.

My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.

I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.

Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.

Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.

Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them.

As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks.

There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.

My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.

Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?

I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded.

Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib.

Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.

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Song of Solomon 6:4

“Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.”

Study Summary

The lover reappears, declaring that the beloved is beautiful as Tirzah, lovely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners, establishing her as beautiful as the most beautiful human cities and as awesome as martial might. The comparison of the beloved to cities—places of civilization, governance, and community—establishes that her beauty is not merely personal but participates in the beauty and order of human civilization. The assertion that she is 'terrible as an army with banners' suggests that her beauty is not merely gentle but overwhelming and formidable, capable of conquering the lover completely. This verse theologically suggests that the beloved's beauty encompasses both the refined beauty of civilization and the awesome power of martial strength, establishing her as incomparably magnificent.

Community Reflections

David Chen (test user)1d ago

Rivers of living water — Song of Solomon 6

His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. The early church would have heard this very differently than we do today. There's something deeply comforting about knowing that the same God who spoke these words is the same yesterday, today, and forever.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. The thread of covenant runs through every book of the Bible.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. When we read this alongside the surrounding chapters, the narrative arc becomes clear: God is always working redemption, even in the darkest moments.. This is one of those passages that reads differently in every season of life. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. It implies covenant loyalty, steadfast love that never wavers.. Now I understand why — it's a daily declaration of dependence on God.. God is…

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