Song of Solomon 5:13
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Song of Solomon 5:13
13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
Chapter Context
Song of Solomon 5 is a poetic love song chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of love, holiness. Written during Solomon's reign (c. 970-930 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Ancient Near Eastern love poetry often used agricultural and royal imagery.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-16: Central message and teachings
This chapter is significant because it provides essential context for understanding God's covenant relationship with His people. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Song of Solomon and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Song of Solomon 5:13
13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
Analysis
His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers (lechayyav ka'arugat habosem migdelot merqachim, לְחָיָיו כַּעֲרוּגַת הַבֹּשֶׂם מִגְדְּלוֹת מֶרְקָחִים)—the beloved's cheeks are compared to spice beds—cultivated gardens producing aromatic plants. "Sweet flowers" (migdelot merqachim, מִגְדְּלוֹת מֶרְקָחִים) literally means "towers of perfumers" or "raised beds of fragrant herbs." His very presence is aromatic—being near him is like walking through fragrant gardens.
His lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh (siphteha shoshanim notephot mor over, שִׂפְתֹתָיו שׁוֹשַׁנִּים נֹטְפוֹת מוֹר עוֹבֵר) describes lips as lilies (purity, beauty) that drip myrrh (precious, fragrant, costly). His speech is both pure and precious—words that carry fragrant grace. This represents Christ's gracious words (Luke 4:22)—speech that blesses, teaches, and transforms. His presence and words both spread fragrance.
Historical Context
Cultivated spice gardens were luxury items—kings and wealthy landowners maintained elaborate gardens of imported aromatic plants. "Towers" or "raised beds" (migdelot, מִגְדְּלוֹת) may reference terraced garden architecture maximizing fragrance. The beloved's cheeks suggest his very presence creates aromatic atmosphere. Lilies represented purity and beauty throughout Scripture. Myrrh's costly fragrance represented devotion and suffering. The beloved's lips dropping myrrh suggested that every word carried precious, fragrant worth. Early church fathers saw Christ's "cheeks as spice beds" as His incarnate presence making earth fragrant with heaven—wherever He went, spiritual fragrance followed (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). His lips dropping myrrh represented gospel words—both sweet and costly, gracious yet calling to sacrificial discipleship. The Reformers emphasized Christ's words as more precious than gold (Psalm 19:10)—Scripture carries His fragrant speech to believers. The Puritans taught meditation on Christ's words—savoring their beauty, fragrance, and nourishing power.
Reflection
- How does Christ's presence spread spiritual "fragrance" in your life—making ordinary moments holy through awareness of His nearness?
- What "sweet smelling myrrh" (precious, costly words) has Christ spoken into your life through Scripture that you need to remember and cherish?
- In what ways do your words drop fragrance or poison—do you speak with the gracious, life-giving quality of the beloved's myrrh-dropping lips?
Cross-References
- Related: Song of Solomon 1:10, 2:1, 6:2