Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
Until the day {H3117} break {H6315}, and the shadows {H6752} flee away {H5127}, I will get {H3212} me to the mountain {H2022} of myrrh {H4753}, and to the hill {H1389} of frankincense {H3828}.
When the day's cool breeze comes up and the shadows lengthen, I will get myself to the mountain of myrrh to the hill of frankincense.
Before the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will make my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense.
Until the day be cool, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, And to the hill of frankincense.
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Song Of Solomon 2:17
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether. -
Song Of Solomon 4:14
Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: -
Luke 1:78
Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, -
Exodus 30:23
Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred [shekels], and of sweet cinnamon half so much, [even] two hundred and fifty [shekels], and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty [shekels], -
Exodus 30:26
And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, -
Exodus 37:29
And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary. -
Revelation 5:8
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Song of Solomon 4:6 is a vivid verse from the beloved's passionate praise of his bride, the Shulamite woman. It speaks to a deep longing for undisturbed intimacy and retreat into a place of profound delight.
Context of Song of Solomon 4:6
This verse is nestled within a larger section (Song of Solomon 4:1-7) where the lover, often identified as King Solomon, expresses his admiration for his beloved's beauty. His words are full of poetic imagery, comparing her features to various natural elements and precious items. Verse 6 marks a moment of intense desire and anticipation, where he expresses his intention to withdraw with her to a place of pure, unadulterated pleasure and communion, symbolized by the "mountain of myrrh" and "hill of frankincense." It anticipates a time when all hindrances ("shadows") will be gone, and their love can flourish in complete light.
Key Themes in Song of Solomon 4:6
Linguistic and Cultural Insights
The spices myrrh (Hebrew: mor) and frankincense (Hebrew: levonah) were significant in ancient Israel. They were expensive commodities, used in religious rituals (such as the holy anointing oil in Exodus 30:23) and as symbols of wealth and honor, famously brought as gifts to the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:11). In Song of Solomon, they denote extreme delight, preciousness, and an intoxicating fragrance associated with the beloved's presence.
The phrase "until the day break, and the shadows flee away" is a poetic way to express the transition from night to day, often symbolizing the end of separation, uncertainty, or darkness, and the beginning of complete presence, clarity, and joy. This imagery is also used elsewhere in the Song of Solomon to denote a longing for the full realization of love, as seen in Song of Solomon 2:17.
Practical Application of Song of Solomon 4:6
This verse offers insights for both human relationships and spiritual life: