Song Of Solomon 6:11

ยถ I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, [and] to see whether the vine flourished, [and] the pomegranates budded.

I went down {H3381} into the garden {H1594} of nuts {H93} to see {H7200} the fruits {H3} of the valley {H5158}, and to see {H7200} whether the vine {H1612} flourished {H6524}, and the pomegranates {H7416} budded {H5132}.

[She] I had gone down to the nut orchard to see the fresh green plants in the valley, to see if the vine had budded,

I went down to the walnut grove to see the blossoms of the valley, to see if the vines were budding or the pomegranates were in bloom.

I went down into the garden of nuts, To see the green plants of the valley, To see whether the vine budded, Andthe pomegranates were in flower.

Commentary

Song of Solomon 6:11 describes the Shulamite woman's desire to visit a garden, observing the state of its flora, symbolizing perhaps her internal state or her longing to understand the condition of her beloved and their relationship.

Context

This verse is spoken by the Shulamite, who has just been praised by King Solomon in the preceding verses (Song of Solomon 6:4-10). Her "going down" into the garden signifies a deliberate act of seeking, introspection, or a return to a cherished place. Gardens throughout the Song of Solomon are powerful metaphors for intimacy, beauty, and growth within the relationship between the lovers. The "garden of nuts" (often interpreted as a walnut grove) and "fruits of the valley" suggest a place of abundant fertility and natural beauty, a private sanctuary where she can assess the vitality of life and love.

Key Themes

  • Seeking and Observation: The act of intentionally going to the garden highlights a desire to inspect and understand. This reflects a proactive engagement with life and relationships, wanting to see if things are thriving. This echoes the sentiment of the Shulamite's earlier search for her beloved.
  • Growth and Fertility: The specific focus on "whether the vine flourished" and "the pomegranates budded" speaks to an interest in potential, development, and ripeness. These are common biblical symbols of prosperity, fruitfulness, and the flourishing of life. For instance, the vine often represents Israel or a spiritual connection, as seen in Jesus' teaching about the true vine in John 15:5.
  • Intimacy and Nurturing: The garden setting frequently symbolizes the cherished and cultivated space of the marital relationship. Her desire to check on its health reflects a deep care for the vitality and blossoming of her love. It's a desire to nurture and ensure the relationship is fruitful.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "garden of nuts" (Hebrew: ื’ึดึผื ึทึผืช ืึฑื’ื•ึนื–, ginnat egoz) is unique in the Bible. Some commentators suggest it refers to a specific type of orchard, perhaps hinting at a place of hidden or mature delights, as nuts require breaking open to reveal their core. The "fruits of the valley" (Hebrew: pirye han-nachal) suggests produce from a well-watered, fertile area, indicating richness and abundance. The verbs "flourished" (ื ึธืฆึทืฅ, natsats) and "budded" (ืคึธึผืจึทื—, parach) convey images of vibrant life and new beginnings, emphasizing the potential for growth and bloom, suggesting vitality and promise.

Practical Application

This verse offers a beautiful metaphor for the intentionality required in nurturing any valuable relationship, whether marital, familial, or spiritual. It encourages us to "go down into our gardens"โ€”to take time for introspection, to observe the state of our spiritual lives, and to assess the health of our relationships. Are we flourishing? Are new buds of grace and understanding emerging? Just as the Shulamite sought to ensure the vitality of her physical garden, we are called to actively cultivate and care for the "gardens" of our lives, ensuring they are places of growth, beauty, and fruitfulness. It reminds us that true intimacy and flourishing require observation, care, and a willingness to engage with the natural rhythms of growth and development.

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Cross-References

  • 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.

  • Genesis 2:9

    And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

  • Psalms 92:12

    The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

  • Psalms 92:15

    To shew that the LORD [is] upright: [he is] my rock, and [there is] no unrighteousness in him.

  • Mark 11:13

    And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not [yet].

  • Isaiah 5:2

    And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

  • Isaiah 5:4

    What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
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