A Captivated Heart
Reflecting on Song of Songs 4:8–15
[If you want to catch up on our Song of Songs series, there is an Introduction, an Outline, an approach for interpreting the book, and then the sections 1:2–4, 1:5–7, 1:8–11, 1:12–2:2, 2:3–7, 2:8–15, 2:16–3:5, 3:6–11, and 4:1–7. If you’d like full access to these posts, consider becoming a paid subscriber.]
The central event in the Song of Songs is the wedding and wedding night. Dazzling imagery and provocative language occupy 3:6–5:1. Having already reflected on 3:6–11 and 4:1–7, we will focus on 4:8–15.
All the words in Song of Songs 4:8–15 are from the husband. He says:
8 Come with me from Lebanon, my bride;
come with me from Lebanon.
Depart from the peak of Amana,
from the peak of Senir and Hermon,
from the dens of lions,
from the mountains of leopards.
9 You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride;
you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes,
with one jewel of your necklace.
10 How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride!
How much better is your love than wine,
and the fragrance of your oils than any spice!
11 Your lips drip nectar, my bride;
honey and milk are under your tongue;
the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
12 A garden locked is my sister, my bride,
a spring locked, a fountain sealed.
13 Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates
with all choicest fruits,
henna with nard,
14 nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon,
with all trees of frankincense,
myrrh and aloes,
with all choice spices—
15 a garden fountain, a well of living water,
and flowing streams from Lebanon.