Song of Songs 2:3-13·~1 min

The Bride

The bride compares the beloved to an apple tree among forest trees, describing the safety, sweetness, and public delight of being with him. Overcome by love, she speaks of his embrace and then charges the daughters of Jerusalem not to awaken love prematurely, tying delight to restraint.

L³ike an apple tree among the trees of the forest ⁴He has brought me to the house of wine, ⁵Sustain me with raisins; ⁶His left hand is under my head, ⁷O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you

Verse 3The bride says the beloved is like an apple tree among forest trees, giving shade and sweet fruit.

This verse answers praise with her own image of nourishment and delight.

Verse 4She says he brings her into the house of wine and raises a banner of love over her.

This verse portrays love as public joy and protection.

Verse 5She asks to be sustained because she is faint with love.

This verse shows the overwhelming sweetness of desire.

Verse 6She describes the beloved's embrace with tenderness and closeness.

This verse gives bodily form to intimate affection.

Verse 7She charges the daughters of Jerusalem not to awaken love until it pleases.

This verse adds the wisdom of restraint to the chapter's celebration of desire.

The bride hears the beloved coming swiftly over the hills and recalls his invitation to rise and come away. He points to winter's passing, the earth's flowers and singing, and the ripening fig tree, making spring itself a sign that love is being called forward into open joy.

⁸Listen! My beloved approaches. ⁹My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. ¹⁰My beloved calls to me, ¹¹For now the winter is past; ¹²The flowers have appeared in the countryside; ¹³The fig tree ripens its figs;

Verse 8The bride hears the beloved approaching over the mountains.

This verse begins the remembered scene of arrival.

Verse 9She compares him to a gazelle or young stag peering through the windows.

This verse presents the beloved as energetic, alert, and near.

Verse 10The beloved calls the bride to rise and come away with him.

This verse introduces his invitation directly.

Verse 11He says winter has passed and the rains are gone.

This verse marks the turning of the season toward new life.

Verse 12He describes flowers, birdsong, and the season of singing in the land.

This verse widens the invitation through images of renewal.

Verse 13He points to ripening figs and fragrant vines as he again calls the bride to come away.

This verse completes the spring summons with images of fruitfulness and desire.

Passage shape

A quiet block diagram: each row is one authored paragraph movement, with verse numbers kept visible for scanning and deeper work.

vv. 3-7
The bride compares the beloved to an apple tree among forest trees, describing the safety, sweetness, and public delight of being with him. Overcome by love, she speaks of his embrace and then charges the daughters of Jerusalem not to awaken love prematurely, tying delight to restraint.
This paragraph presents the beloved as both nourishing and powerful, while warning that love must unfold in due season.
3 4 5 6 7
vv. 8-13
The bride hears the beloved coming swiftly over the hills and recalls his invitation to rise and come away. He points to winter's passing, the earth's flowers and singing, and the ripening fig tree, making spring itself a sign that love is being called forward into open joy.
This paragraph shifts from restful delight to movement and summons, using the renewal of creation as the backdrop for love's invitation.
8 9 10 11 12 13

Section summaryThe bride responds by praising the beloved as shade, fruit, banner, and voice, remembering both present delight and approaching movement. Her speech holds together rest, desire, caution, and anticipation as she recounts his summons into the season of life and bloom.

Role in the chapterThis section forms the chapter's main movement of remembered delight and invitation.