Song of Solomon 6: Mine and His Again
The Bride finds her beloved once more and the two reaffirm their belonging, as he praises her as unique and incomparable among all.
Song of Solomon 6 (WEB)
1 Where has your beloved gone, you fairest among women? Where has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you? Beloved
2 My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
3 I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine. He browses among the lilies,
4 You are beautiful, my love, as Tirzah, lovely as Jerusalem, awesome as an army with banners.
5 Turn away your eyes from me, for they have overcome me. Your hair is like a flock of goats, that lie along the side of Gilead.
6 Your teeth are like a flock of ewes, which have come up from the washing; of which every one has twins; no one is bereaved among them.
7 Your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your veil.
8 There are sixty queens, eighty concubines, and virgins without number.
9 My dove, my perfect one, is unique. She is her mother’s only daughter. She is the favorite one of her who bore her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed; the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
10 Who is she who looks out as the morning, beautiful as the moon, clear as the sun, and awesome as an army with banners?
11 I went down into the nut tree grove, to see the green plants of the valley, to see whether the vine budded, and the pomegranates were in flower.
12 Without realizing it, my desire set me with my royal people’s chariots. Friends
13 Return, return, Shulammite! Return, return, that we may gaze at you. Lover Why do you desire to gaze at the Shulammite, as at the dance of Mahanaim?
Song of Solomon 6 (KJV)
1 Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.
2 My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
3 I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.
4 Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.
5 Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.
6 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.
7 As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks.
8 There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
9 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.
10 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?
11 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.
12 Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib.
13 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.
Song of Solomon 6 (ASV)
1 Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? Whither hath thy beloved turned him, That we may seek him with thee?
2 My beloved is gone down to his garden, To the beds of spices, To feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
3 I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: He feedeth his flock among the lilies.
4 Thou art fair, O my love, as Tirzah, Comely as Jerusalem, Terrible as an army with banners.
5 Turn away thine eyes from me, For they have overcome me. Thy hair is as a flock of goats, That lie along the side of Gilead.
6 Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes, Which are come up from the washing; Whereof every one hath twins, And none is bereaved among them.
7 Thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate Behind thy veil.
8 There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, And virgins without number.
9 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 called her blessed; Yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
10 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, Fair as the moon, Clear as the sun, Terrible as an army with banners?
11 I went down into the garden of nuts, To see the green plants of the valley, To see whether the vine budded, Andthe pomegranates were in flower.
12 Before I was aware, my soul set me Amongthe chariots of my princely people.
13 Return, return, O Shulammite; Return, return, that we may look upon thee. Why will ye look upon the Shulammite, As upon the dance of Mahanaim?
Summary
The daughters of Jerusalem, moved by the Bride's praise, ask where her beloved has gone so they may seek him with her. She answers that he has gone down to his garden among the beds of spices, and then reaffirms the Song's great confession in reverse order: I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine; he browses among the lilies. The Bridegroom takes up the praise again, calling her beautiful as Tirzah, lovely as Jerusalem, and awesome as an army with banners. He repeats some of his earlier images of her hair, teeth, and temples, then declares that though there are sixty queens, eighty concubines, and countless maidens, his dove, his perfect one, is unique—the only daughter of her mother, blessed and praised even by the queens. He marvels at her, beautiful as the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun. The chapter closes with movement and mystery as the Bride recalls going down to the nut grove, and the friends and lover call for the Shulammite to return so they may gaze upon her. The chapter is the turning point from separation to joyful reunion and renewed belonging.
Main Characters
- The Bride (the Beloved / the Shulammite) — The young woman reunited with her beloved, who reaffirms their mutual belonging and is praised as unique and incomparable among all women.
- The Bridegroom (the Lover) — The beloved who praises the Bride as awesome as an army with banners and unique above queens and concubines, his dove and perfect one.
- The daughters of Jerusalem — The chorus who offer to seek the beloved with the Bride and who call for the Shulammite to return that they may gaze on her.
Key Verse
Song of Solomon 6:3 (WEB)
I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine. He browses among the lilies,
Lessons Learned
- Reunion and reconciliation are part of the rhythm of faithful love.
- Mutual belonging is the steady ground beneath love's ups and downs.
- Love treasures the beloved as unique and incomparable.
- Praise renewed after separation deepens the bond between lovers.
- Belonging is mutual. “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” (Song 6:3, WEB). The confession of belonging anchors love through every season.
- The beloved is incomparable. “My dove, my perfect one, is unique” (Song 6:9, WEB). Love does not compare the beloved with others but treasures her as one of a kind.
- Love is strong and lovely. She is “awesome as an army with banners” (Song 6:4, WEB)—both tender beauty and a strength that overwhelms the heart.
- Reunion renews praise. After separation he praises her afresh (Song 6:4-9, WEB). Restored love finds its voice again and rejoices in the beloved.
- How does the reunion of the lovers complete the painful separation of the previous chapter?
- What does the reaffirmed confession of belonging (6:3) mean for a relationship that has been tested?
- Why does the Bridegroom insist that his beloved is unique among all others (6:8-9)?
- What do the images of dawn, moon, and sun suggest about how he sees her (6:10)?
- How might holding to mutual belonging steady your relationships through their hard seasons?
- After the night of loss and seeking, the Bride locates her beloved and they reaffirm that they are each other's (6:1-3). The reunion shows that faithful love, though tested, recovers and is restored.
- To say “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” after a season of struggle is to ground love in covenant rather than mood. Help the group see belonging as the steady foundation that holds when feelings waver.
- Among many queens and maidens, he treasures her as his one perfect dove (6:8-9). Love refuses comparison and honors the beloved as irreplaceable—a picture of the exclusive devotion at the heart of covenant.
- Dawn, moon, and sun speak of a beauty that is radiant, awe-inspiring, even majestic. The images lift the bride above the ordinary, showing how love sees glory in the beloved.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to consider how a settled commitment, more than passing emotion, carries love through difficulty. As leader, encourage them gently to rest their relationships, and their souls, on faithful belonging.