Song of Solomon 8:9
If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern culture valued female chastity highly—a woman's sexual purity directly affected family honor and marriage prospects. Brothers exercised protective authority over unmarried sisters. A 'wall' symbolized strength, defense, and boundaries—impenetrable to assault. A 'door' suggested access and potential vulnerability. Silver palaces represented honor and celebration; cedar enclosures provided protection and restriction. The brothers' commitment to respond appropriately to their sister's character shows wise, protective love. Church fathers interpreted this as God's response to believers: those who remain faithful receive honor (silver palace), while those who struggle with temptation receive protective discipline (cedar boards). Both responses demonstrate love.
Questions for Reflection
- How does your character invite either honor and freedom ('silver palace') or protective restriction ('cedar enclosure')?
- What does it mean to be a 'wall'—firm in character, resistant to temptation, maintaining godly boundaries?
- How can Christian community wisely provide both celebration of virtue and protection for vulnerability?
Analysis & Commentary
If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver (אִם־חוֹמָה הִיא נִבְנֶה עָלֶיהָ טִירַת כָּסֶף)—the brothers propose two scenarios based on the younger sister's character. If she's a 'wall' (chomah, חוֹמָה), meaning firm, strong, chaste, resistant to improper advances, they will honor her by building a 'palace of silver' (tirat kasef, טִירַת כָּסֶף)—adorning and celebrating her virtue. Silver represents value, beauty, and honor. And if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar (וְאִם־דֶּלֶת הִיא נָצוּר עָלֶיהָ לוּחַ אָרֶז)—if she's a 'door' (delet, דֶּלֶת), meaning open, easily accessed, lacking firm resistance, they will protect her by enclosing her with cedar boards—imposing boundaries and restrictions for her protection.
This teaches that character determines response: virtue is honored and adorned; weakness is protected and restricted. The wall/door contrast represents self-control versus vulnerability. Church tradition saw the 'wall' as spiritual strength and the 'door' as susceptibility to temptation, requiring community protection.