The big picture
Song of Solomon 2 opens in verse 1 with “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he…”, and closes in verse 17 with “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe…” Repeated or prominent terms include beloved, love, voice, vines, countenance. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Song of Solomon · King James Version · 17Song of Solomon 2:1-6
1–6: I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
Song of Solomon 2:1–6 opens with “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.” and reaches “His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The beloved approaching across the hills as spring returns and the invitation to rise is heard, with particular weight carried by love, hand, lily.
Context that brings the passage to life
“I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.” Naming Sharon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Song of Solomon 2:1-6
King James Version1I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
2As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
3As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
4He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
5Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
6His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
Song of Solomon 2:7-12
7–12: I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds…
Song of Solomon 2:7–12 opens with “I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye…” and reaches “The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The beloved approaching across the hills as spring returns and the invitation to rise is heard, with particular weight carried by beloved, love, voice.
Context that brings the passage to life
“I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Song of Solomon 2:7-12
King James Version7I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
8The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
9My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.
10My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
11For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
12The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
Song of Solomon 2:13-17
13–17: The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender…
Song of Solomon 2:13–17 opens with “The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good…” and reaches “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The beloved approaching across the hills as spring returns and the invitation to rise is heard, with particular weight carried by vines, beloved, countenance.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Song of Solomon 2:13-17
King James Version13The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
14O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
15Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
16My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.
17Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Song of Solomon 2:1 begins with “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.”
Where the chapter turns
Song of Solomon 2:17 forms a natural hinge: “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.”
The final note
Song of Solomon 2:17 leaves the reader with “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words beloved, love, voice, vines, countenance, daughters help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Which gifts come before the prohibition?
Life, the garden, food and meaningful work. The command occurs inside generosity.
How does chapter 2 deepen chapter 1?
It concentrates on dependence, partnership and responsibility within the shared human calling.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- doth
- does
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.