Song Of Solomon 1:2

¶ Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love [is] better than wine.

Let him kiss {H5401} me with the kisses {H5390} of his mouth {H6310}: for thy love {H1730} is better {H2896} than wine {H3196}.

[She] Let him smother me with kisses from his mouth, for your love is better than wine.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; For thy love is better than wine.

Commentary

Song of Solomon 1:2 (KJV): "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love [is] better than wine."

Context

This verse opens the dialogue in the Song of Solomon, a unique book of biblical poetry celebrating love, often interpreted as an allegory for God's love for His people or Christ's love for the church, alongside its literal reading as a depiction of human romantic love between a bride (the Shulamite) and her beloved (King Solomon or a shepherd). The speaker here is the woman, expressing an intense, direct desire for intimacy with her beloved, immediately establishing the passionate tone of the book. It sets the stage for a narrative exploring the dynamics and depth of their relationship.

Key Themes

  • Intense Desire and Affection: The opening line is a bold expression of longing for physical intimacy, highlighting the depth of her affection and yearning for connection.
  • Superiority of Love: The declaration that "thy love is better than wine" establishes a central theme: the surpassing value and pleasure found in genuine love and relationship compared to even the most prized earthly delights or intoxicants.
  • Intimacy and Relationship: The request for a kiss underscores the importance of close, personal connection in the relationship.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "love" here is not the common ahavah (a broader term for love), but dodim (or dodayik in the possessive form "thy love"). Dodim specifically refers to expressions of love, caresses, or delights associated with intimate affection. This choice of word emphasizes the passionate and physical dimension of the love being described. The word "better" (tov) is a simple but powerful term indicating superiority or goodness, reinforcing the idea that this intimate love provides a deeper satisfaction than wine, which was a symbol of joy and pleasure in ancient culture.

Reflection

Song of Solomon 1:2 speaks powerfully about the profound value of intimate connection. Whether interpreted literally as the beauty of human love or allegorically as the soul's deep longing for communion with God, the message is clear: genuine love offers a satisfaction that surpasses all earthly pleasures. The bold expression of desire can challenge us to consider the intensity of our own spiritual longing for intimacy with the Divine, or to appreciate the richness and depth of committed human relationships. The truth that love is better than material pleasures remains a timeless principle.

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Cross-References

  • Song Of Solomon 4:10

    How fair is thy love, my sister, [my] spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!

  • Isaiah 55:1

    ¶ Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

  • Isaiah 55:2

    Wherefore do ye spend money for [that which is] not bread? and your labour for [that which] satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

  • Song Of Solomon 1:4

    Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

  • Psalms 63:3

    ¶ Because thy lovingkindness [is] better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

  • Psalms 63:5

    My soul shall be satisfied as [with] marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise [thee] with joyful lips:

  • Psalms 36:7

    How excellent [is] thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.