Song of Solomon 2:13
The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Early figs (pagim) appeared in May/June before the main fig crop, providing delicious early fruit. Grape blossoms in April/May filled vineyards with sweet fragrance before producing grapes. Ancient Israelites lived by agricultural cycles—these signs meant prosperity, abundance, and God's blessing approaching. The Song uses agricultural imagery throughout because original readers understood vineyard, orchard, and garden metaphors intuitively. Early church fathers saw the 'green figs' and 'tender grapes' as beginning fruit of sanctification—early evidence of grace's work, promise of fuller maturity ahead. The Reformers distinguished between positional righteousness (immediate at justification) and progressive sanctification (the 'green figs' growing toward maturity). The Puritans emphasized 'examining fruit'—evidence of genuine conversion and Spirit's indwelling. Modern readers, often disconnected from agriculture, can recover the power of these metaphors by understanding ancient agrarian life.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'green figs' and 'tender grapes'—early evidence of spiritual fruit—is Christ producing in your life as signs of His indwelling and promise of greater harvest?
- How does Christ's repeated invitation 'arise and come away' challenge complacency or reluctance to fully engage with Him and His purposes?
Analysis & Commentary
The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. The Hebrew 'hate'enah chaneta pageyha' (הַתְּאֵנָה חָנְטָה פַגֶּיהָ, the fig tree ripens its early figs) and 'gefarim semadar' (גְּפָנִים סְמָדַר, vines in blossom) describe specific agricultural signs of spring—edible early figs (pagim, פַּגִים) and fragrant grape blossoms. Give a good smell (natenu reyach, נָתְנוּ רֵיחַ) emphasizes fragrance—spring brings not only visual beauty but aromatic delight.
The beloved repeats his invitation (from verse 10): Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away—now supported by comprehensive evidence that the time is right. Fig ripening and vine blossoming signal not just beauty but promise of fruitfulness—today's blossoms become tomorrow's harvest. The beloved invites the bride to share in creation's fertility, beauty, and abundance. Spiritually, Christ calls believers into fruitful life—no longer barren but bearing fruit through union with Him (John 15:5). The Spirit produces fragrant 'fruit' (Galatians 5:22-23) in yielded lives. Christ's invitation promises both present beauty (relationship with Him) and future harvest (eternal fruit).