Song Of Solomon 5:5

I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped [with] myrrh, and my fingers [with] sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.

I rose up {H6965} to open {H6605} to my beloved {H1730}; and my hands {H3027} dropped {H5197} with myrrh {H4753}, and my fingers {H676} with sweet smelling {H5674} myrrh {H4753}, upon the handles {H3709} of the lock {H4514}.

I got up to open for the man I love. My hands were dripping with myrrh pure myrrh ran off my fingers onto the handle of the bolt.

I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh on the handles of the bolt.

I rose up to open to my beloved; And my hands dropped with myrrh, And my fingers with liquid myrrh, Upon the handles of the bolt.

Commentary

Song of Solomon 5:5 finds the Shulamite woman in a state of awakening and desire, arising to open the door to her beloved after a period of hesitation. This verse is rich with sensory imagery, particularly the overflowing of myrrh, symbolizing the deep affection and preciousness associated with her beloved's presence.

Context

This verse is part of a vivid dream or night vision of the Shulamite, immediately following her beloved's late-night visit and plea to be let in (Song of Solomon 5:2). Her initial reluctance and delay in opening the door (Song of Solomon 5:3-4) set the stage for her eventual decision to rise. The imagery of her hands dripping with myrrh upon the lock suggests she is either encountering the fragrant residue left by her beloved's hand as he tried to open the lock, or that her own eagerness to open is somehow manifesting this rich perfume. This passage is often interpreted allegorically in Christian tradition, representing the soul's relationship with God or Christ and the Church.

Key Themes

  • Awakening and Desire: The woman's transition from slumber and hesitation to an active desire to meet her beloved, signifying a rekindled spiritual fervor or readiness.
  • The Preciousness of Presence: The myrrh, a valuable and fragrant substance, highlights the profound beauty, intimacy, and worth of the beloved's presence. It suggests a sacred and deeply cherished connection.
  • Preparation and Intimacy: Her rising to open signifies an act of welcoming and preparing for intimate communion. The myrrh could also allude to her own anointing or readiness to meet him.
  • Consequence of Delay: While not explicit in this verse, the immediate follow-up in Song of Solomon 5:6 reveals that her beloved has departed, underscoring the cost of spiritual procrastination or missed opportunities for communion.

Linguistic Insights

The prominent word here is "myrrh" (Hebrew: מֹר, mor). Myrrh was a highly prized aromatic resin, used in ancient times for perfumes, incense, anointing oils, and embalming. Its presence throughout the Song of Solomon (e.g., Song of Solomon 1:13, Song of Solomon 4:6) consistently symbolizes love, beauty, and intimate fragrance. The phrase "my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh" emphasizes an abundance of this precious substance, suggesting either the beloved's lingering scent on the lock or the woman's own overflowing devotion manifesting as fragrance. It speaks to a rich, sensory experience of love.

Practical Application

Song of Solomon 5:5 serves as a profound metaphor for our spiritual walk. It encourages believers to cultivate a heart of readiness and vigilance in responding to God's presence and call. Just as the Shulamite eventually rose to open, we are reminded of the importance of not delaying our spiritual response or neglecting opportunities for deeper intimacy with God. The imagery of myrrh can prompt us to consider the preciousness of our relationship with Christ, which should permeate our lives with a fragrant testimony. It's a call to cherish and actively pursue spiritual communion, understanding that the Lord desires our presence and engagement, much like the beloved desired to enter.

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Cross-References

  • Song Of Solomon 5:13

    His cheeks [are] as a bed of spices, [as] sweet flowers: his lips [like] lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.

  • Ephesians 3:17

    That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

  • 2 Corinthians 7:9

    Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:11

    For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, [what] clearing of yourselves, yea, [what] indignation, yea, [what] fear, yea, [what] vehement desire, yea, [what] zeal, yea, [what] revenge! In all [things] ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

  • Song Of Solomon 3:6

    ΒΆ Who [is] this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

  • Song Of Solomon 5:2

    ΒΆ I sleep, but my heart waketh: [it is] the voice of my beloved that knocketh, [saying], Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, [and] my locks with the drops of the night.

  • Revelation 3:20

    Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
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