Song of Solomon 4:5
Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern love poetry frequently employed animal imagery from the natural world. Deer were prized for grace, beauty, and gentle innocence—making them appropriate metaphors for intimate beauty. The Song consistently celebrates physical attraction and sexual intimacy within marriage, countering both ascetic denial and pornographic exploitation of sexuality. Early church interpretation struggled with this verse's physicality, often allegorizing it. Origen saw the breasts as Old and New Testaments nourishing believers; Bernard saw them as Christ's compassion and love. The Reformers recovered appreciation for the literal celebration of marital intimacy—Luther argued the Song celebrates God's gift of sexuality. The Puritans taught that marital sexual pleasure is God's good gift, not merely for procreation but for mutual delight and covenant bonding.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Scripture's celebration of physical intimacy within marriage challenge both prudish embarrassment and cultural pornographic obsession?
- What "spiritual nourishment" does the Church provide to believers—and are you regularly feeding on sound doctrine and Christian fellowship?
- In marriage, how can you cultivate the beauty and purity the lilies represent—keeping intimacy both passionate and holy?
Analysis & Commentary
Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies (shney shadayikh kishnsey apharim te'omey tseviyah haro'im bashoshipim, שְׁנֵי שָׁדַיִךְ כִּשְׁנֵי עֲפָרִים תְּאוֹמֵי צְבִיָּה הָרוֹעִים בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים)—this comparison to twin fawns celebrates symmetry, grace, and natural beauty. Young roes (apharim, עֲפָרִים, young deer) are gentle, beautiful, innocent creatures. "Twins" emphasizes perfect matching, while "feed among the lilies" creates imagery of beauty feeding on beauty—purity sustained by purity.
This verse unashamedly celebrates physical intimacy and erotic beauty within covenant marriage. The modest metaphor (fawns rather than explicit description) maintains propriety while affirming sexuality as God's good gift. The lilies represent purity—even erotic love within marriage remains holy and pure (Hebrews 13:4). Church tradition saw the bride's breasts as the Old and New Testaments, or faith and love—spiritual nourishment the Church provides to believers.