Song Of Solomon 7:2

KJV

Thy navel [is like] a round goblet, [which] wanteth not liquor: thy belly [is like] an heap of wheat set about with lilies.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thy navel {H8326} is like a round {H5469} goblet {H101}, which wanteth {H2637} not liquor {H4197}: thy belly {H990} is like an heap {H6194} of wheat {H2406} set about {H5473} with lilies {H7799}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Your navel is like a round goblet that never lacks spiced wine. Your belly is a heap of wheat encircled by lilies.

Berean Standard Bible

Your navel is a rounded goblet; it never lacks blended wine. Your waist is a mound of wheat encircled by the lilies.

American Standard Version

Thy body islikea round goblet, Wherein no mingled wine is wanting: Thy waist is like a heap of wheat Set about with lilies.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Song of Solomon 7:2 presents a vivid and intimate poetic description of the Shulamite woman's physical beauty, focusing on her navel and belly. Through rich agricultural and celebratory metaphors, the verse extols her as a source of abundant life, sustenance, and unceasing delight, celebrating the fertility, purity, and aesthetic grace of the beloved within the context of romantic love.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is part of a sustained and passionate "wasf" or descriptive poem (Song of Solomon 7:1-9) where the lover, often identified as King Solomon, praises the physical beauty of his beloved, the Shulamite woman. The description proceeds upwards from her feet, meticulously detailing various parts of her body with rich, often agricultural and natural, imagery. Following the praise of her "feet" and "joints of thy thighs" in Song of Solomon 7:1, this verse continues the upward progression, focusing on her midsection. The entire "wasf" serves to express the profound admiration, desire, and delight the lover finds in his beloved, culminating in an invitation for intimacy. This section is a pinnacle of the Song's celebration of physical attraction and marital love.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery employed in Song of Solomon 7:2 draws heavily from the agrarian and domestic life of ancient Israel. "Goblets" were common household items, often used for wine or other beverages, symbolizing feasting and joy. "Wheat" was the staple crop, representing sustenance, prosperity, and abundance. "Lilies" (likely a type of lotus or water lily common in the region) were admired for their beauty and purity. The description of the body parts, while intimate, is expressed through metaphors that would have been culturally understood as highly complimentary and indicative of health, fertility, and beauty in that society. A well-formed, perhaps slightly rounded, midsection would have been associated with childbearing potential and overall vitality, making these descriptions highly desirable and laudatory.
* **Key Themes:** Song of Solomon 7:2 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Beauty and Admiration**, showcasing the lover's deep appreciation for the beloved's physical form, which is celebrated without shame. Secondly, the imagery of a "goblet, which wanteth not liquor" and a "heap of wheat" powerfully conveys **Fertility and Abundance**, suggesting not only the potential for progeny but also the overflowing richness and satisfaction found within the relationship. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of fruitfulness as a blessing from God, as seen in passages like [Genesis 1:28](/genesis/1-28 "Genesis 1:28 - Be Fruitful and Multiply"). Thirdly, the "goblet" full of "liquor" and the joyous tone evoke **Joy and Celebration** inherent in the union. Finally, the inclusion of "lilies" alongside the "wheat" subtly introduces themes of **Purity and Grace**, indicating that this abundance is not merely physical but also adorned with delicate beauty and moral uprightness, reflecting the holistic nature of the beloved's attractiveness. The Song consistently portrays a love that is both passionate and pure, as exemplified in [Song of Solomon 8:6-7](/song_of_solomon/8-6 "Song of Solomon 8:6-7 - Love is Strong as Death").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **goblet (Hebrew, _ʼaggân'_):** Derived from a root suggesting "pounded out hollow," this term refers to a bowl or basin. In the context of "a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor," it signifies a vessel perfectly shaped and perpetually full, symbolizing unending satisfaction, abundance, and a source of continuous delight. It evokes imagery of feasting and celebration, where provisions are plentiful and joy is unceasing.
* **wanteth (Hebrew, _châçêr'_):** A primitive root meaning "to lack," "fail," or "be abated." When used in the negative ("wanteth not"), it emphasizes completeness, sufficiency, and an absence of deficiency. The phrase "wanteth not liquor" highlights the beloved's capacity to provide continuous joy and fulfillment, suggesting an inexhaustible wellspring of pleasure and life within the relationship.
* **wheat (Hebrew, _chiṭṭâh'_):** This term refers to the grain or the plant itself, a staple food source in ancient Israel. As a "heap of wheat," it powerfully symbolizes abundance, sustenance, prosperity, and the very essence of life-giving provision. It speaks to the beloved's potential for fruitfulness, both literally in terms of childbearing and metaphorically in terms of the richness and nourishment she brings to the relationship.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thy navel [is like] a round goblet, [which] wanteth not liquor:"** The "navel" (H8326, _shôrer_), referring to the umbilical cord or the lower abdomen, is likened to a "round goblet" (H5469, _çahar_ H101, _ʼaggân_). This metaphor emphasizes the aesthetic perfection of its shape – round and pleasing to the eye. The crucial addition "which wanteth not liquor" (H2637, _châçêr_ H4197, _mezeg_) transforms the image from mere beauty to one of perpetual fullness and satisfaction. It suggests an inexhaustible source of joy, sustenance, and perhaps fertility, evoking a sense of unending provision and delight.
* **"thy belly [is like] an heap of wheat set about with lilies."** The "belly" (H990, _beṭen_), often associated with the womb and life, is compared to a "heap of wheat" (H6194, _ʻârêm_ H2406, _chiṭṭâh_). This powerful agricultural image speaks directly to abundance, prosperity, and the capacity for life. A heap of wheat signifies a bountiful harvest, a source of sustenance and wealth. The phrase "set about with lilies" (H5473, _çûwg_ H7799, _shûwshan_) adds a layer of delicate beauty and purity to this image of robust abundance. The lilies, known for their beauty and often associated with purity or grace, frame the "heap of wheat," suggesting that the beloved's life-giving potential is not only rich but also adorned with grace, elegance, and perhaps a spiritual beauty.

#### Literary Devices
Song of Solomon 7:2 is rich in **Metaphor**, comparing the beloved's body parts to objects that evoke specific qualities: her navel to a "round goblet" and her belly to a "heap of wheat." These comparisons are not literal but transfer the qualities of the objects (fullness, abundance, sustenance, beauty) to the beloved. The phrase "wanteth not liquor" employs **Litotes**, a form of understatement where an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite, emphasizing the goblet's perpetual fullness and the beloved's unending capacity for delight. **Imagery** is paramount, creating vivid sensory pictures of overflowing goblets, golden heaps of wheat, and delicate white lilies, appealing to sight and a sense of abundance. The entire verse is an example of **Hyperbole**, as the praise is exaggerated to convey profound admiration and desire, elevating the beloved's beauty to an idealized, almost mythical, status.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse, within the broader context of the Song of Solomon, offers profound insights into the divine design for human love and intimacy. It affirms the goodness of physical beauty and its celebration within the bounds of a committed relationship, showcasing a love that is both passionate and pure. The imagery of abundance—a goblet that never empties, a heap of wheat—speaks to the overflowing joy, satisfaction, and fruitfulness that God intends for marriage. It suggests a relationship that is not merely functional but deeply satisfying, life-giving, and perpetually delightful, reflecting God's own generous nature. Theologically, it reminds us that the physical body, as part of God's creation, is good and capable of expressing profound love and commitment.

* [Proverbs 5:18-19](/proverbs/5-18 "Proverbs 5:18-19 - Rejoice in the Wife of Your Youth")
* [Genesis 2:24](/genesis/2-24 "Genesis 2:24 - One Flesh Union")
* [1 Corinthians 7:3-5](/1_corinthians/7-3 "1 Corinthians 7:3-5 - Marital Rights and Duties")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Song of Solomon 7:2 invites us to appreciate the beauty and vitality of the human form as a gift from God, designed for love and intimacy within the covenant of marriage. It challenges us to cultivate relationships that are marked by admiration, affirmation, and a deep appreciation for our beloved, seeing them as a source of unending joy and sustenance, much like the imagery of the full goblet and the abundant wheat. For those in committed relationships, this verse encourages a celebratory and unashamed embrace of physical intimacy, recognizing it as a sacred expression of love. Beyond the literal, the verse's themes of abundance and satisfaction can inspire us to seek a life of spiritual fruitfulness and contentment, recognizing that true fulfillment comes from a relationship where needs are met and joy overflows. It also prompts us to consider how we express appreciation and delight in those we love, using words that build up and affirm.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of "a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor" and "an heap of wheat" challenge or affirm your understanding of satisfaction and abundance in relationships?**
* **In what ways can we, as individuals or couples, cultivate a relationship that is characterized by the "unending liquor" and "heap of wheat" of joy, sustenance, and fruitfulness?**
* **How does the Song of Solomon's unashamed celebration of physical beauty within marriage inform your perspective on the body and intimacy?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the "navel" and "belly" in this verse?**

Answer: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the navel (often referring to the lower abdomen or umbilical region) and belly were frequently associated with life, vitality, and fertility. The description here is not merely anatomical but symbolic. The "navel" being like a "round goblet, which wanteth not liquor" suggests a perfectly formed, beautiful vessel that is perpetually full, symbolizing unending satisfaction and an inexhaustible source of delight and life. The "belly" as a "heap of wheat set about with lilies" powerfully conveys abundance, sustenance, and the potential for fruitfulness (like a bountiful harvest), adorned with purity and grace. Together, they celebrate the beloved's life-giving potential, her beauty, and her capacity to provide deep, continuous fulfillment within the relationship, echoing themes of blessing and prosperity found in passages like [Psalm 127:3](/psalm/127-3 "Psalm 127:3 - Children are a Heritage from the Lord").

**Is this verse meant to be interpreted literally or allegorically?**

Answer: Song of Solomon 7:2, like the entire book, is primarily a celebration of human romantic and physical love within marriage, and its imagery is deeply literal in its praise of the beloved's beauty. However, due to the book's inclusion in the biblical canon and its profound themes of love, desire, and union, it has historically been interpreted allegorically by both Jewish and Christian traditions. Jewish tradition often sees it as an allegory of God's love for Israel, while Christian tradition commonly interprets it as an allegory of Christ's love for His Church. Both interpretations find rich meaning in the imagery of abundance, beauty, and unwavering devotion. While the primary meaning is the celebration of marital love, the allegorical interpretations offer spiritual nourishment by drawing parallels to the divine-human relationship, as seen in [Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ's Love for the Church").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Song of Solomon 7:2 primarily celebrates the beauty and abundance of human marital love, its rich imagery finds a profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the relationship between Christ and His Church. The "round goblet, which wanteth not liquor" can be seen as a beautiful foreshadowing of Christ, who is the inexhaustible source of living water, satisfying every spiritual thirst (as promised in [John 4:14](/john/4-14 "John 4:14 - Living Water") and [John 7:37-38](/john/7-37 "John 7:37-38 - Rivers of Living Water")). He is the one who provides unending spiritual sustenance and joy, ensuring that His people "want not." Similarly, the "heap of wheat set about with lilies" beautifully portrays the Church, Christ's beloved, as a source of spiritual fruitfulness and abundance, made pure and beautiful by His grace. Just as wheat provides life-sustaining bread, Christ is the "bread of life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - The Bread of Life")), and through Him, the Church is empowered to bear much spiritual fruit for the world, adorned with the beauty of holiness ([Ephesians 5:27](/ephesians/5-27 "Ephesians 5:27 - A Radiant Church")) and the purity of Christ's righteousness ([Revelation 19:8](/revelation/19-8 "Revelation 19:8 - Righteous Deeds of the Saints")). This verse, therefore, points to the ultimate satisfaction, unending provision, and glorious beauty found in the divine Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, and His beloved Bride, the Church.

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

Isaiah 46:3

Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne [by me] from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

Psalms 45:16

Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.

Song Of Solomon 5:14

His hands [are as] gold rings set with the beryl: his belly [is as] bright ivory overlaid [with] sapphires.

Proverbs 3:8

It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Romans 7:4

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, [even] to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Jeremiah 1:5

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.