Song Of Solomon 4:16

KJV

Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, [that] the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

KJV (with Strong's)

Awake {H5782}, O north wind {H6828}; and come {H935}, thou south {H8486}; blow {H6315} upon my garden {H1588}, that the spices {H1314} thereof may flow out {H5140}. Let my beloved {H1730} come {H935} into his garden {H1588}, and eat {H398} his pleasant {H4022} fruits {H6529}.

Complete Jewish Bible

[She] Awake, north wind! Come, south wind! Blow on my garden to spread its fragrance. Let my darling enter his garden and eat its finest fruit.

Berean Standard Bible

Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind. Breathe on my garden and spread the fragrance of its spices. Let my beloved come into his garden and taste its choicest fruits.

American Standard Version

Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; Blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, And eat his precious fruits.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Song of Solomon 4:16 encapsulates the Shulamite bride's passionate and reciprocal invitation to her Beloved, following his effusive praises of her beauty. Through vivid garden imagery, she calls upon the winds to activate the inherent fragrances within her "garden," symbolizing her desire for her inner virtues and affections to be fully manifest. This culminates in an ardent plea for her Beloved to enter and partake of her "pleasant fruits," signifying a profound longing for intimate union, shared delight, and mutual belonging within the secure and exclusive bounds of their love.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the Shulamite bride's climactic and active response to the Beloved's extensive and effusive praise of her beauty, detailed in [Song of Solomon 4:1-15](/song_of_solomon/4 "Song of Solomon 4 - The Beloved's Praise"). Having previously described her as a "garden enclosed" and a "fountain sealed" in [Song of Solomon 4:12](/song_of_solomon/4-12 "Song of Solomon 4:12 - A Garden Enclosed"), emphasizing her purity and exclusivity, the Beloved has set the stage for her invitation. Her call to the winds and her Beloved is not merely a passive acceptance of his compliments but an active, desiring reciprocation, demonstrating the profound mutual longing that characterizes their relationship. The verse also anticipates the Beloved's joyful acceptance and entry into the garden in [Song of Solomon 5:1](/song_of_solomon/5-1 "Song of Solomon 5:1 - The Beloved Enters His Garden"), which immediately follows, completing the beautiful cycle of invitation and communion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Gardens in the ancient Near East were highly valued spaces, often symbolic of fertility, beauty, and intimate pleasure, especially for royalty or the wealthy. They were typically enclosed to protect precious plants and ensure privacy, reinforcing the idea of exclusivity and purity, particularly relevant to a bride's honor. The use of "spices" and "perfumes" was common in ancient cultures for personal adornment, religious rituals, and expressions of hospitality and love, signifying allure, honor, and a pleasant atmosphere. The "north wind" (often associated with coolness and clarity) and the "south wind" (bringing warmth and rain, conducive to growth) were recognized for their distinct qualities and effects on vegetation. Their invocation here suggests a desire for both invigorating and nurturing influences to enhance the garden's (and thus, the bride's) aromatic qualities, making her more desirable and prepared for her Beloved.
* **Key Themes:** Song of Solomon 4:16 powerfully encapsulates several central themes of the book. **Mutual Desire and Reciprocity** is paramount, as the Shulamite's active invitation mirrors and responds to the Beloved's expressions of affection, underscoring that genuine love is a dynamic, two-way street. The pervasive theme of **Intimacy and Delight** is vividly portrayed through the "garden" imagery, which represents a private, cultivated space for exclusive communion and shared pleasure. Furthermore, the call for the "spices" to "flow out" speaks to **Preparation and Offering**, where the bride desires her inner beauty, character, and affections to be fully revealed and made available to her Beloved. The subtle yet significant shift from "my garden" to "his garden" in the same verse also highlights the theme of **Possession and Surrender**, where individual identity is joyfully merged within the secure bond of mutual belonging, echoing the sentiment of [Song of Solomon 2:16](/song_of_solomon/2-16 "Song of Solomon 2:16 - Mutual Belonging") where they declare their belonging to each other.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **garden (Hebrew, _gan'_):** From H1588, meaning "a garden (as fenced)." This word is central to the imagery of the Song, representing a place of beauty, cultivation, and, significantly, exclusivity and privacy. In this context, it symbolizes the Shulamite's inner being, her virtues, and her affections, which are set apart for her Beloved.
* **spices (Hebrew, _besem'_):** From H1314, meaning "fragrance; by implication, spicery; also the balsam plant; smell, spice, sweet (odour)." These are aromatic substances, emphasizing the sensory delight and allure associated with the Shulamite's presence. Their "flowing out" suggests a release of her inherent beauty, character, and love, making them perceptible and inviting.
* **beloved (Hebrew, _dôwd'_):** From H1730, meaning "to love; by implication, a love-token, lover, friend; specifically an uncle; (well-) beloved, father's brother, love, uncle." This term is the primary designation for the male protagonist throughout the Song, signifying a deep, affectionate, and intimate relationship. Its use here reinforces the personal and passionate nature of the Shulamite's invitation to her cherished partner.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden,"**: The Shulamite directly addresses the winds, personifying them as active agents capable of stirring and activating. The north wind (traditionally associated with coolness and clarity) and the south wind (bringing warmth and rain, conducive to growth) are invoked to perform a specific action upon her "garden." This signifies a desire for external, perhaps even divine or spiritual, forces to awaken and enhance her inner qualities and affections, preparing her for intimacy.
* **"that the spices thereof may flow out."**: The explicit purpose of the winds' action is to release the "spices," which represent the inherent fragrances, delightful qualities, and virtues of the garden (the Shulamite). This clause expresses the Shulamite's longing for her virtues, beauty, and love to be fully manifest and perceptible, making her more appealing and prepared for her Beloved. It is a desire for her inner essence to be outwardly expressed and experienced.
* **"Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits."**: This is the culmination and heart of the invitation. The Shulamite explicitly invites her Beloved to enter the garden. The profound shift from "my garden" to "his garden" is highly significant, indicating a joyful surrender, shared ownership, and complete unity within their marital bond. "Eating his pleasant fruits" is a tender and passionate metaphor for the deepest form of marital intimacy, shared delight, and the full enjoyment of all that the garden (the bride) has to offer, symbolizing mutual fulfillment and pleasure.

#### Literary Devices
Song of Solomon 4:16 is rich in **Imagery**, primarily the extended **Metaphor** of the "garden." The garden symbolizes the Shulamite herself—her beauty, purity, and inner qualities—a place of cultivated delight and exclusivity reserved for her Beloved. The "spices" and "pleasant fruits" further elaborate this metaphor, representing her virtues, affections, and the fullness of her being offered in love. The verse also employs **Personification** and **Apostrophe** by directly addressing the "north wind" and "south wind" as if they are sentient beings capable of responding to her command, emphasizing her active role in preparing for and inviting intimacy. The call for the winds to "blow" and the spices to "flow out" also uses evocative **Sensory Language**, appealing primarily to the sense of smell and taste, thereby creating a vivid, aromatic, and deeply sensual experience for the reader.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The profound intimacy and mutual delight portrayed in Song of Solomon 4:16 resonate deeply with the theological concept of God's relationship with His people, often depicted as a divine spouse. Just as the Shulamite prepares her "garden" and invites her Beloved, believers are called to cultivate the "garden" of their hearts, allowing the Spirit to stir their spiritual "spices"—the fruits of righteousness, worship, and transformed character—so that Christ, the Beloved, may find delight in them. This verse speaks to the active participation of the believer in seeking deeper communion with God, presenting oneself as a fragrant offering of love and devotion, and inviting His presence to dwell richly within. It underscores the reciprocal nature of divine love, where God takes pleasure in His redeemed people, finding joy in their sincere devotion and the spiritual fruit they bear.

* [Psalm 45:10-11](/psalms/45-10 "Psalm 45:10-11 - The King Desires Your Beauty")
* [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1-7 "Isaiah 5:1-7 - The Song of the Vineyard")
* [Revelation 22:1-2](/revelation/22-1-2 "Revelation 22:1-2 - The River of Life and Tree of Life")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Song of Solomon 4:16 offers a beautiful paradigm for intentionality and active participation in cultivating deep, meaningful relationships, particularly within marriage. It challenges us to consider how we "prepare our garden" for our beloved—not just physically, but emotionally, spiritually, and relationally. Are we actively seeking to stir up and release the "spices" of our character, our virtues, and our affections for our spouse? This verse calls for a proactive posture of invitation and vulnerability, where both partners feel desired and cherished, and where there is a joyful surrender to shared intimacy and delight. Beyond marriage, it serves as a powerful metaphor for our spiritual lives, urging believers to invite the Holy Spirit (often symbolized by wind) to awaken and release the "fruit of the Spirit" within them, making their lives a fragrant offering to Christ and inviting Him to take full delight in the "garden" of their hearts. This active cultivation and invitation lead to a deeper, more fulfilling communion with God, where our lives become a testament to His transformative power and grace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do I actively "prepare my garden" for my spouse or for deeper intimacy in my closest relationships?**
* **What "spices" (virtues, affections, gifts) do I desire to "flow out" more freely in my life, and what might be hindering their release?**
* **How does the Shulamite's shift from "my garden" to "his garden" inform my understanding of surrender and shared ownership in relationships, both human and divine?**
* **How can I more intentionally invite Christ to "come into His garden" (my heart and life) and "eat His pleasant fruits" (my worship, service, and transformed character)?**

### FAQ
**Is the "garden" in Song of Solomon 4:16 a literal garden or a metaphor?**

Answer: While the imagery is drawn from a literal garden, in the context of the Song of Solomon, the "garden" in [Song of Solomon 4:16](/song_of_solomon/4-16 "Song of Solomon 4:16 - The Shulamite's Invitation") is primarily a rich **metaphor**. It symbolizes the Shulamite bride herself, representing her beauty, purity, exclusivity, and the inner qualities and affections she offers to her Beloved. The "spices" and "pleasant fruits" within the garden further extend this metaphor to her virtues, character, and the delights of her love and intimacy. This metaphorical interpretation is consistent with the highly poetic and symbolic nature of the entire book, which often uses natural imagery to convey profound human and divine love.

**What do the "north wind" and "south wind" symbolize in this verse?**

Answer: The "north wind" and "south wind" in [Song of Solomon 4:16](/song_of_solomon/4-16 "Song of Solomon 4:16 - The Shulamite's Invitation") are often interpreted symbolically. The north wind (H6828, _tsâphôwn_) in ancient Near Eastern thought could be associated with cool, strong, and even invigorating breezes, while the south wind (H8486, _têymân_) was often seen as warm, gentle, and bringing rain or growth. In this context, their invocation suggests a desire for both refreshing and nurturing influences to activate and release the "spices" (fragrances) of the garden. Theologically, these winds are frequently seen as symbolic of the Holy Spirit, who "blows" where He wills ([John 3:8](/john/3-8 "John 3:8 - The Wind and the Spirit")) to stir up spiritual affections, cultivate virtues, and make the believer's life a fragrant offering to God, preparing the heart for deeper communion with Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Song of Solomon 4:16, while a celebration of human marital love, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the relationship between Christ and His Church, or the individual believer. Christ, our Beloved, has already lavished praise upon His bride, the Church, seeing her as a "garden enclosed," pure and set apart by His grace and sacrificial love ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ Loves the Church")). In response, this verse becomes the Church's ardent invitation to her Lord. We, as believers, are called to cry out for the "winds" of the Holy Spirit ([Acts 2:2-4](/acts/2-2-4 "Acts 2:2-4 - The Coming of the Holy Spirit")) to "blow upon our garden"—our hearts and lives—that the "spices" of our worship, obedience, and the fruit of the Spirit ([Galatians 5:22-23](/galatians/5-22-23 "Galatians 5:22-23 - The Fruit of the Spirit")) may "flow out," becoming a fragrant offering pleasing to Him ([2 Corinthians 2:14-16](/2_corinthians/2-14-16 "2 Corinthians 2:14-16 - The Aroma of Christ")). Our deepest longing, then, is that our Beloved, Jesus, would "come into His garden"—to dwell richly within us individually ([Colossians 3:16](/colossians/3-16 "Colossians 3:16 - Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You")) and collectively in His Church—and "eat His pleasant fruits," taking delight in our communion, our transformed lives, and the harvest of souls gathered for His glory ([John 15:8](/john/15-8 "John 15:8 - Bearing Much Fruit")). This verse beautifully captures the mutual desire for intimate communion between Christ and His redeemed people, anticipating the glorious and eternal joy of the marriage supper of the Lamb ([Revelation 19:7-9](/revelation/19-7-9 "Revelation 19:7-9 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb")).

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

Song Of Solomon 6:2

My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.

Song Of Solomon 5:1

¶ I am come into my garden, my sister, [my] spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

Song Of Solomon 7:12

Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, [whether] the tender grape appear, [and] the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.

Song Of Solomon 7:13

The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates [are] all manner of pleasant [fruits], new and old, [which] I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.

Song Of Solomon 4:13

Thy plants [are] an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,

Song Of Solomon 4:14

Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

Ezekiel 37:9

Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.