Song Of Solomon 8:6

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love [is] strong as death; jealousy [is] cruel as the grave: the coals thereof [are] coals of fire, [which hath a] most vehement flame.

Set {H7760} me as a seal {H2368} upon thine heart {H3820}, as a seal {H2368} upon thine arm {H2220}: for love {H160} is strong {H5794} as death {H4194}; jealousy {H7068} is cruel {H7186} as the grave {H7585}: the coals {H7565} thereof are coals {H7565} of fire {H784}, which hath a most vehement flame {H7957}.

[She] Set me like a seal on your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, passion as cruel as Sh'ol; its flashes are flashes of fire, [as fierce as the] flame of Yah.

Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all.

Set me as a seal upon thy heart, As a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as Sheol; The flashes thereof are flashes of fire, A very flame of Jehovah.

Context of Song of Solomon 8:6

The Song of Solomon 8:6 appears near the conclusion of this ancient Hebrew love poem, often interpreted as a celebration of pure, exclusive, and passionate marital love between a man and a woman, traditionally Solomon and the Shulamite. This verse is a fervent plea from the Shulamite to her beloved, encapsulating the depth and intensity of her desire for an enduring, unyielding bond. It serves as a powerful summary of the book's central themes concerning the nature of true affection and commitment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Unwavering Commitment and Possession: The plea "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm" speaks to a desire for indelible belonging and security. A seal (or signet ring) was a mark of ownership, authority, and authenticity in ancient times. To be a seal on the heart signifies emotional and spiritual possession, while on the arm implies active, visible protection and strength. This portrays a desire for an all-encompassing bond, both inwardly and outwardly.
  • The Irresistible Power of Love: "For love [is] strong as death." Death is an ultimate, unconquerable force that no human can resist. By comparing love to death, the verse highlights its immense power and inevitability. True love, like death, is an overwhelming force that transforms and dictates life's course, enduring all challenges and ultimately prevailing. This echoes the sentiment that love endures all things.
  • The Fierce Intensity of Jealousy: "Jealousy [is] cruel as the grave." Here, "jealousy" (Hebrew: qin'ah) is not necessarily negative envy, but rather a fierce, protective passion for exclusive devotion. Like the grave (Sheol), which consumes all and yields nothing back, this jealousy demands absolute loyalty and brooks no rivals. It underscores the exclusive nature of true love, mirroring God's own divine jealousy for His people, demanding their full devotion.
  • The Consuming Fire of Passion: "The coals thereof [are] coals of fire, [which hath a] most vehement flame." Love is depicted as a fiery, unquenchable passion. This imagery emphasizes its intensity, warmth, and purifying nature. It's a powerful, active force that consumes and transforms, not a passive sentiment.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "most vehement flame" in the KJV translates the Hebrew shalhevet-yah, which literally means "flame of Yah" or "flame of the Lord." This is a significant nuance, suggesting that true, passionate love, with its irresistible strength and consuming fire, is not merely human emotion but has a divine origin or is divinely kindled. It implies that such love is pure, sacred, and perhaps even given by God Himself.

Practical Application

Song of Solomon 8:6 offers profound insights for relationships today:

  • For Marital Relationships: It serves as an ideal for the depth of commitment, passion, and exclusivity that should characterize a marriage. Spouses are called to seek to be a "seal" upon each other's hearts and lives, demonstrating a love that is strong, fiercely protective, and passionately enduring.
  • For Understanding God's Love: This verse beautifully foreshadows the intensity of God's love for His people and Christ's love for His Church. Just as the Shulamite desires to be indelibly marked on her beloved, God has inscribed us on the palms of His hands and sealed believers with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of His ownership and commitment. His love is indeed stronger than death, conquering sin and the grave through Christ's sacrifice.
  • For Personal Reflection: The verse challenges us to consider the quality of our own love, whether for God or for others. Is it strong, exclusive, and passionately devoted, or is it lukewarm? It reminds us that genuine love is a powerful, active force, capable of overcoming immense obstacles.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 49:16

    Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of [my] hands; thy walls [are] continually before me.

  • Revelation 12:11

    And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

  • Philippians 1:20

    According to my earnest expectation and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all boldness, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death.

  • Philippians 1:23

    For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

  • Song Of Solomon 5:8

    I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I [am] sick of love.

  • John 21:15

    ¶ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

  • John 21:19

    This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

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