The Bridegroom

The bridegroom declares the bride beautiful and then praises her eyes, hair, teeth, lips, temples, neck, and breasts with carefully chosen comparisons drawn from flocks, towers, ribbons, and fawns. The sequence culminates in his declaration that she is altogether beautiful and without flaw, presenting admiration that is detailed, joyful, and unashamed.

H¹ow beautiful you are, my darling— ²Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep ³Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon, ⁴Your neck is like the tower of David, ⁵Your breasts are like two fawns, ⁶Before the day breaks and the shadows flee, ⁷You are altogether beautiful, my darling;

The bridegroom calls the bride away with him from Lebanon and says she has captured his heart with the slightest glance. He delights in her love as sweeter than wine and in the fragrance and sweetness that mark her lips and garments, showing that admiration has become personal, emotional surrender.

⁸Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, ⁹You have captured my heart, ¹⁰How delightful is your love, ¹¹Your lips, my bride,

The bridegroom describes the bride as a locked garden, sealed spring, orchard, and fountain filled with choice fruits, spices, and living water. These layered images portray her love as protected, fruitful, fragrant, and life-giving, joining exclusivity with abundance.

¹²My sister, my bride, you are a garden locked up, ¹³Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates ¹⁴with nard and saffron, with calamus and cinnamon, ¹⁵You are a garden spring,