Song Of Solomon 4:12

KJV

A garden inclosed [is] my sister, [my] spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

KJV (with Strong's)

A garden {H1588} inclosed {H5274} is my sister {H269}, my spouse {H3618}; a spring {H1530} shut up {H5274}, a fountain {H4599} sealed {H2856}.

Complete Jewish Bible

My sister, my bride, is a garden locked up, a pool covered over, a spring sealed shut.

Berean Standard Bible

My sister, my bride, you are a garden locked up, a spring enclosed, a fountain sealed.

American Standard Version

A garden shut up is my sister, my bride; A spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Song of Solomon 4:12 is a profound declaration of the beloved's admiration for the Shulamite woman, portraying her purity, exclusivity, and life-giving beauty through rich metaphors of a carefully guarded garden, a protected spring, and a sealed fountain. This verse serves as a powerful testament to the sanctity of marital intimacy and the value of exclusive devotion within the covenant of marriage.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal part of the beloved's extended praise (Song of Solomon 4:1-15) of the Shulamite woman, immediately following a detailed description of her physical beauty. The imagery shifts from her external features to her intrinsic character and the exclusive nature of her devotion. The preceding verses establish a tone of deep affection and admiration, setting the stage for this declaration of her unique and cherished status. The verses that follow (Song of Solomon 4:13-15) continue the garden imagery, emphasizing the delightful fruits and fragrant spices that emanate from her, further developing the theme of her life-giving essence, culminating in the beloved's desire to enter his garden (Song of Solomon 4:16).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, private gardens and secure water sources were exceedingly valuable assets, symbolizing wealth, prosperity, and life itself. Water was scarce, making springs and fountains vital for survival and flourishing. A "garden inclosed" (or walled) signified ownership, protection from intruders, and the preservation of its precious contents. Similarly, a "spring shut up" or "fountain sealed" indicated that the water source was reserved for its owner, preventing contamination or unauthorized use. This cultural backdrop underscores the immense value and exclusivity attributed to the Shulamite through these metaphors, highlighting her as a treasured possession, set apart and protected.
* **Key Themes:** Song of Solomon 4:12 encapsulates several core themes prevalent throughout the book. Firstly, it powerfully conveys the theme of **purity and exclusivity** within marital love. The imagery of enclosure and sealing strongly emphasizes the Shulamite's chastity and her exclusive devotion to her beloved, a foundational aspect of the marital covenant as seen in passages like [Proverbs 5:15-18](/proverbs/5-15 "Proverbs 5:15-18 - Drink from Your Own Cistern"). Secondly, it highlights **sacred intimacy**, portraying the marital relationship as a unique and protected space where deep affection and trust can flourish without external interference. The address "my sister, my spouse" underscores a multifaceted relationship built on both covenantal commitment and profound kinship, echoing the intimate bond between Christ and His Church described in [Ephesians 5:25-32](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-32 - Christ and the Church"). Lastly, the metaphors of gardens and water sources subtly point to **fruitfulness and life**, suggesting that true joy, refreshment, and blessing flow from a pure and exclusive marital union, a concept also found in [Psalm 1:3](/psalm/1-3 "Psalm 1:3 - The Blessed Man").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Garden (Hebrew, _gan'_):** From H1588, meaning "a garden (as fenced)." This word immediately evokes a place of beauty, cultivation, and fertility. The fencing or enclosure aspect is inherent in the Hebrew term, signifying a deliberate setting apart and protection. It's not a wild, open field but a cultivated space, implying care, value, and a specific owner.
* **Inclosed (Hebrew, _nâʻal'_):** From H5274, meaning "to fasten up, i.e., with a bar or cord; bolt, inclose, lock, shut up." This term, used for both "inclosed" and "shut up" in the verse, emphasizes the security and inaccessibility of the garden and spring to outsiders. It denotes a deliberate act of safeguarding, ensuring that what is within is preserved exclusively for the rightful owner.
* **Spouse (Hebrew, _kallâh'_):** From H3618, meaning "a bride (as if perfect); hence, a son's wife." This term directly identifies the Shulamite's marital status. The root suggests completeness or perfection, implying that the bride is the culmination of the beloved's desires and the perfect complement to him within the marital covenant. It underscores the covenantal bond that makes her his exclusive possession.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse;":** The beloved begins by comparing the Shulamite to a "garden inclosed." This powerful metaphor immediately establishes her as a place of beauty, delight, and fertility that is set apart and protected. The double address, "my sister, my spouse," highlights the multifaceted nature of their relationship: "spouse" (or bride) denotes the covenantal, marital bond, while "sister" implies a deep friendship, kinship, and purity of affection, suggesting a relationship built on both passionate love and profound respect. The enclosure signifies her exclusive devotion and purity, reserved solely for her husband.
* **"a spring shut up,":** This phrase extends the metaphor, comparing her to a "spring shut up." A spring is a source of fresh, life-giving water, essential for sustenance and flourishing. To be "shut up" (using the same Hebrew root as "inclosed") further emphasizes her inaccessibility to others. It suggests that her life-giving essence, her refreshment, and her deepest intimacy are exclusively reserved for her beloved, protected from external interference or appropriation.
* **"a fountain sealed.":** The final metaphor, "a fountain sealed," reinforces the theme of exclusivity and inviolability. A fountain, like a spring, is a vital source of water. To be "sealed" (Hebrew _châtham_, H2856) implies not only protection but also authentication and ownership. In ancient times, a seal marked property, guaranteed authenticity, and secured contents. Thus, her purity, her affections, and her very being are presented as a precious, authentic, and protected treasure, exclusively belonging to her husband within the sanctity of their marital covenant.

#### Literary Devices
Song of Solomon 4:12 is rich in **Metaphor** and **Symbolism**. The Shulamite woman is not literally a garden, spring, or fountain, but these natural elements serve as extended metaphors for her character, purity, and the exclusive nature of her love. The **Symbolism** of the "garden inclosed," "spring shut up," and "fountain sealed" is profound: the garden symbolizes her inner beauty, fertility, and the delightful intimacy she offers; the spring and fountain symbolize her life-giving essence, refreshment, and the source of pure affection. The acts of "inclosing," "shutting up," and "sealing" are all symbolic of **Exclusivity**, **Purity**, **Protection**, and **Ownership** within the context of marital fidelity. The repeated use of similar concepts (inclosed, shut up, sealed) creates a sense of **Emphasis** and reinforces the central message of her being set apart for her beloved. The address "my sister, my spouse" is an example of **Apposition**, highlighting the dual nature of their bond as both intimate partners and covenantal kin.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly underscores the biblical value of sexual purity and the sanctity of the marital covenant. It presents exclusive devotion within marriage as a beautiful, cherished, and life-giving reality, not a restrictive burden. The imagery celebrates the wife's unique identity as a treasured source of delight and refreshment, reserved for her husband alone. This exclusivity fosters trust, deepens intimacy, and creates a secure foundation for a flourishing relationship, reflecting God's design for marriage as a sacred bond set apart from all other relationships.

* [Proverbs 5:15-18](/proverbs/5-15 "Proverbs 5:15-18 - Drink from Your Own Cistern")
* [Hebrews 13:4](/hebrews/13-4 "Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage Should Be Honored")
* [1 Corinthians 7:2-5](/1_corinthians/7-2 "1 Corinthians 7:2-5 - Marital Rights and Purity")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Song of Solomon 4:12 offers a beautiful and challenging vision for relationships, especially marriage. It invites us to consider the profound value of purity and exclusivity, not as outdated concepts, but as cornerstones for deep, lasting, and fulfilling intimacy. For those contemplating marriage, it underscores the beauty of reserving oneself for one's spouse, creating a unique and sacred bond. For those already married, it serves as a powerful reminder to cherish and protect the intimacy shared with one's spouse, seeing them as a private, invaluable source of joy and refreshment, set apart from all others. It encourages husbands and wives to cultivate an exclusive garden of love, where trust and devotion can flourish, reflecting the preciousness of their covenant before God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of a "garden inclosed" or "fountain sealed" challenge or affirm your understanding of purity and exclusivity in relationships today?**
* **In what ways can married couples actively cultivate and protect the "inclosed garden" of their intimacy and devotion to one another?**
* **How does valuing a spouse as a "spring shut up" or "fountain sealed" impact the way we view and interact with others outside of our marriage?**

### FAQ

**Is Song of Solomon 4:12 solely about virginity before marriage?**

Answer: While the imagery of a "garden inclosed," "spring shut up," and "fountain sealed" has traditionally been interpreted to emphasize the Shulamite's virginity prior to marriage, its primary and broader message extends to the concept of **exclusive devotion and purity within the marital covenant**. The verse speaks to the idea that a spouse's affections, body, and deepest intimacy are reserved solely for their husband or wife. This encompasses both pre-marital chastity and ongoing marital fidelity. The beloved's praise celebrates the Shulamite as a treasured, set-apart possession, a source of life and delight exclusively for him, which is a beautiful picture of the commitment and trust that should characterize a lifelong marriage, as encouraged in [Proverbs 5:18-19](/proverbs/5-18 "Proverbs 5:18-19 - Rejoice in the Wife of Your Youth").

**How does this verse apply to modern marital relationships?**

Answer: Song of Solomon 4:12 provides timeless principles for modern marriages. It encourages spouses to cultivate a unique and protected space for their intimacy, ensuring that their deepest affections and physical union are reserved exclusively for each other. This means prioritizing the marital bond above all other earthly relationships, guarding against emotional or physical infidelity, and actively nurturing the trust and security that comes from exclusive devotion. It calls husbands and wives to see each other as precious, invaluable treasures, a private "garden" or "fountain" from which they draw unique joy and refreshment, reinforcing the biblical call for marital fidelity found in [Hebrews 13:4](/hebrews/13-4 "Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage Should Be Held in Honor").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Song of Solomon 4:12, with its rich imagery of an "inclosed garden," "shut up spring," and "sealed fountain," finds its ultimate spiritual fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ and His relationship with His Church. Christ Himself is the ultimate "fountain sealed" and "spring shut up" of living water, the exclusive source of eternal life and spiritual refreshment, as He declared in [John 4:14](/john/4-14 "John 4:14 - Jesus, the Living Water") and [John 7:38](/john/7-38 "John 7:38 - Rivers of Living Water"). His purity is absolute, His devotion to His Father unwavering, and His sacrifice on the cross (foreshadowed by the [Lamb of God in John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")) secured the New Covenant, making Him the exclusive way to salvation ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")). Moreover, the Church, as Christ's bride ([Ephesians 5:25-32](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-32 - Christ and the Church")), is likened to a "garden inclosed"—a consecrated people, set apart by His blood, whose spiritual fruitfulness flows from their exclusive union with Him. Just as the Shulamite's purity was reserved for her beloved, the Church's devotion and worship are to be exclusively directed towards Christ, her perfect Bridegroom, who has sealed her with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of her inheritance ([Ephesians 1:13-14](/ephesians/1-13 "Ephesians 1:13-14 - Sealed with the Holy Spirit")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Proverbs 5:15

¶ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

Proverbs 5:18

Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

Revelation 21:27

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

1 Corinthians 6:13

Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body [is] not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

Isaiah 61:10

¶ I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels.

Isaiah 61:11

For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

1 Corinthians 7:34

There is difference [also] between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please [her] husband.