1 I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.
2 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.
3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?
4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.
5 I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.
6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
7 The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.
9 What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
10 My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
11 His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
12 His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.
13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
14 His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.
15 His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
16 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
The Song of Solomon, also known as the Song of Songs or Canticles, is a poetic book of the Holy Bible, that primarily focuses on the theme of love, specifically the romantic love between a man and a woman. The book is unique, as it does not contain laws, genealogy, or even explicitly religious content. Instead, it is an intimate dialogue of love and desire, full of rich metaphors and vivid imagery. The fifth chapter, our focus in this essay, is a pivotal part of the book, where the dynamics of the relationship between the lovers change. The chapter is filled with passion, confusion, longing, and a sense of loss, which are all integral parts of any profound love relationship.
Chapter 5 begins with the man inviting his beloved to enjoy the fruits of their love. The invitation is open and full of desire, making it clear that the man is deeply in love with the woman. However, the woman initially refuses the man's advances, stating that she has already retired for the night and does not wish to be disturbed. This refusal, however, is not an outright rejection of the man's love, but rather a playful tease, a common element in romantic relationships.
In the subsequent verses, the woman regrets her decision and decides to open the door for her beloved. She is filled with anticipation and desire, further emphasizing the depth of her love for the man. However, when she opens the door, she finds that her beloved has already left, leaving her devastated. This sudden disappearance of the man can be interpreted as a symbolic representation of the transient nature of love and the pain of separation.
The Song of Solomon is filled with rich symbolism, and Chapter 5 is no exception. The man's invitation and the woman's initial refusal can be seen as a representation of the chase and playful resistance often seen in romantic relationships. The woman's change of heart and the man's disappearance symbolize the unpredictability and the emotional ups and downs associated with love.
Moreover, the descriptions of the man by the woman in the latter part of the chapter are full of admiration and longing, further emphasizing her deep love for him. The detailed description also serves as a metaphorical representation of the man's desirable qualities, making him an ideal lover in the eyes of the woman.
While the Song of Solomon is primarily a love poem, it has often been interpreted in religious and spiritual contexts. From this perspective, the love between the man and the woman in Chapter 5 can be seen as a metaphor for the love between God and His people, or Christ and the Church.
In this interpretation, the man's invitation and the woman's initial refusal can be seen as God's invitation to His people to partake in His love and their initial resistance due to worldly distractions. The woman's change of heart and the man's disappearance can be seen as the realization of God's love and the sense of loss felt when one strays away from God's path.
In conclusion, Chapter 5 of the Song of Solomon in the KJV Holy Bible is a rich and complex exploration of the dynamics of love. It captures the passion, the longing, the playfulness, and the pain associated with love, making it an integral part of the book's overall theme.
While the chapter can be enjoyed as a beautiful love poem, it also offers deeper interpretations when viewed from religious and spiritual perspectives. Regardless of how one chooses to interpret it, Chapter 5 of the Song of Solomon serves as a reminder of the profound and complex nature of love, making it a timeless piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers across different cultures and eras.
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