The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing [of birds] is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
The flowers {H5339} appear {H7200} on the earth {H776}; the time {H6256} of the singing {H2158} of birds is come {H5060}, and the voice {H6963} of the turtle {H8449} is heard {H8085} in our land {H776};
the flowers are appearing in the countryside, the time has come for [the birds] to sing, and the cooing of doves can be heard in the land.
The flowers have appeared in the countryside; the season of singing has come, and the cooing of turtledoves is heard in our land.
The flowers appear on the earth; The time of the singing of birds is come, And the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land;
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Isaiah 55:12
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap [their] hands. -
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. -
Psalms 148:7
¶ Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: -
Psalms 148:13
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory [is] above the earth and heaven. -
Psalms 89:15
¶ Blessed [is] the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. -
Jeremiah 8:7
Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD. -
Isaiah 35:1
¶ The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
Song of Solomon 2:12 is a vibrant poetic verse from King Solomon's invitation to his beloved, the Shulamite woman, to join him as spring arrives. It paints a vivid picture of nature's awakening, signaling a time of renewal, joy, and the flourishing of life.
Context
This verse is part of a larger passage (Song of Solomon 2:8-14) where the lover, often identified as King Solomon, describes his arrival and calls his beloved to come away with him. Following a description of the harsh winter (Song of Solomon 2:11), this verse joyfully announces the complete transformation of the landscape. It sets a scene of idyllic beauty, emphasizing the perfect timing for their shared experience of love and delight in creation. While primarily a celebration of romantic love, many theological interpretations also see the Song of Solomon as an allegory for God's love for His people, or Christ's love for the Church, making this verse a metaphor for spiritual revival and new beginnings.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrase "the voice of the turtle" refers specifically to the turtledove (Hebrew: tôr), a migratory bird whose return to Israel historically marked the arrival of spring. Its distinctive cooing call was a welcome sound after the winter months, making it a powerful symbol of the season's change, as noted in passages like Jeremiah 8:7. The imagery of "singing" and "flowers" bursting forth further emphasizes the vibrancy and sensory richness of this new season, underscoring the completeness of nature's reawakening.
Practical Application
Song of Solomon 2:12 offers profound encouragement and a call to spiritual awareness: