Song of Solomon 8:9

Translation
King James Version
If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
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KJV (with Strong's)
If she be a wall H2346, we will build H1129 upon her a palace H2918 of silver H3701: and if she be a door H1817, we will inclose H6696 her with boards H3871 of cedar H730.
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Complete Jewish Bible
If she is a wall, we will build on her a palace of silver; and if she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
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Berean Standard Bible
If she is a wall, we will build a tower of silver upon her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
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American Standard Version
If she be a wall, We will build upon her a turret of silver: And if she be a door, We will inclose her with boards of cedar.
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World English Bible Messianic
If she is a wall, we will build on her a turret of silver. if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. Beloved
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Geneva Bible (1599)
If shee be a wall, we will builde vpon her a siluer palace: and if she be a doore, we wil keepe her in with bordes of cedar.
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Young's Literal Translation
If she is a wall, we build by her a palace of silver. And if she is a door, We fashion by her board-work of cedar.
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See also
Isaiah 58:121 Corinthians 3:101 Corinthians 3:12Ephesians 2:20Ephesians 2:22Isaiah 61:4Zechariah 6:12
In the KJVVerse 17,650 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Song of Solomon 8:9 presents a communal deliberation regarding the character and future of a younger sister, introduced in the preceding verse. Through vivid architectural metaphors, the verse explores two potential states for this young woman—a secure "wall" or a vulnerable "door"—and outlines the corresponding community responses. This passage highlights profound themes of purity, protection, and the intrinsic value of integrity, underscoring the collective responsibility within a community to nurture and safeguard its members, particularly the young, as they mature into spiritual and moral maturity.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This verse appears in the concluding chapter of the Song of Solomon, a poetic masterpiece celebrating the beauty and intimacy of marital love, often interpreted as an allegory for God's love for His people or Christ's love for the Church. Chapter 8 serves as a kind of epilogue, bringing various themes to a climax, particularly focusing on the enduring nature of love and the importance of guarding it. Immediately preceding this verse, in Song of Solomon 8:8, a collective voice, likely the older brothers or the community, expresses concern for a "little sister" who has not yet reached maturity. Their discussion in Song of Solomon 8:9 directly follows this concern, outlining their protective intentions and hopes for her future. The imagery of the "wall" and "door" builds upon the broader themes of guarding one's purity and the beloved's unassailable nature, as seen earlier in the book, for example, in the description of the bride as a "garden locked up, a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain" in Song of Solomon 4:12.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: In ancient Israelite society, the protection and moral upbringing of young women were paramount and a communal responsibility, often falling to the male members of the family or the broader community. A woman's purity and reputation were intimately tied to her family's honor and her prospects for a desirable marriage. City walls were essential for defense and security, symbolizing strength, impregnability, and a protected identity, while doors, though necessary for access, also represented points of vulnerability that required careful guarding. Cedar was a highly prized, durable, and aromatic wood, often associated with significant, valuable structures like Solomon's Temple, which was built with extensive use of "cedar beams and planks" as described in 1 Kings 6:9. Silver symbolized purity, refinement, and wealth, often used for valuable adornments or currency. The "palace of silver" would thus represent a place of honor, beauty, and security, signifying a life of high esteem and value.
  • Key Themes: Song of Solomon 8:9 contributes significantly to several key themes within the book and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it emphasizes Purity and Integrity, using the "wall" metaphor to signify a young woman who has maintained her moral and sexual integrity, secure in her virtue. This aligns with biblical calls to "guard your heart above all else" as seen in Proverbs 4:23. Secondly, it highlights Protection and Guidance, as the "door" metaphor suggests vulnerability, prompting the community to provide necessary safeguards and reinforcement. This reflects the biblical principle of communal care and accountability, where the mature guide the young, reminiscent of the instruction to "train up a child in the way he should go" found in Proverbs 22:6. Thirdly, the verse underscores the Value and Honor bestowed upon a life of steadfastness and virtue, symbolized by the "palace of silver," reflecting divine favor on those who pursue righteousness. Finally, it powerfully illustrates Communal Responsibility, demonstrating the vital role of family and community in nurturing, protecting, and guiding the young toward spiritual and moral maturity, ensuring the well-being of individuals and society as a whole, as encouraged by the exhortation to "bear one another's burdens" in Galatians 6:2.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Wall (Hebrew, chôwmâh', H2346): From an unused root apparently meaning "to join," this term refers to a wall of protection, specifically a city wall. In this context, it symbolizes an unbreachable state of purity, strength, and firm character, representing a young woman who has maintained her integrity and self-control, making her secure against external negative influences.
  • Door (Hebrew, deleth', H1817): From the root דָּלָה (dâlâh), meaning "to swing," this word denotes the valve of a door, a gate, or a leaf. As opposed to a wall, a door implies access and vulnerability; it can be opened, breached, or left ajar. Metaphorically, it suggests a young woman who lacks firm boundaries or is susceptible to temptation, requiring external reinforcement and protection.
  • Inclose (Hebrew, tsûwr', H6696): A primitive root meaning "to cramp" or "confine," this verb encompasses various applications, both literal and figurative, including to beset, besiege, bind up, fortify, or inclose. Here, it signifies the community's proactive and protective action—to fortify or strengthen the "door" with durable materials, thereby reinforcing her character and shielding her from harm.

Verse Breakdown

  • "If she [be] a wall,": This clause presents the first metaphorical possibility for the "little sister." A "wall" represents a state of secure, uncompromised purity and strong character. It implies that she has developed internal fortitude and self-control, making her unassailable to external negative influences or temptations, embodying steadfast virtue.
  • "we will build upon her a palace of silver:": This is the community's promised response if the young woman proves to be a "wall." To "build upon her a palace of silver" signifies that her steadfast virtue will be recognized, honored, and celebrated. A "palace" denotes a place of grandeur, distinction, and security, while "silver" symbolizes purity, value, and refinement. This phrase suggests that her integrity will become the foundation for a life of great honor, beauty, and spiritual richness, a testament to her unblemished character and a reward for her faithfulness.
  • "and if she [be] a door,": This clause introduces the alternative possibility: the young woman is a "door." This metaphor implies vulnerability, a lack of firm boundaries, or susceptibility to external pressures. A "door" can be opened, suggesting a potential for compromise or a need for greater protection and guidance to prevent moral or spiritual harm.
  • "we will inclose her with boards of cedar.": This is the community's proactive and protective response if she is a "door." To "inclose her with boards of cedar" means to strengthen, secure, and fortify her character. Cedar, known for its strength, durability, and value, symbolizes robust and lasting protection. This action represents the community's commitment to provide guidance, wisdom, and accountability to help her establish firm boundaries, grow in spiritual maturity, and withstand temptation, ensuring her future well-being and safeguarding her honor.

Literary Devices

Song of Solomon 8:9 is exceptionally rich in Metaphor and Symbolism, using architectural imagery to represent abstract qualities of character and communal responsibility. The "wall" is a profound metaphor for a young woman's unassailable purity, strong character, and moral integrity, symbolizing security, steadfastness, and an impenetrable virtue. Conversely, the "door" metaphorically represents vulnerability, a lack of established boundaries, and susceptibility to external influences. The "palace of silver" symbolizes the honor, value, and beauty that result from a life of integrity, signifying a life of distinction and divine favor. Similarly, "boards of cedar" symbolize strong, durable, and valuable protection provided by the community, indicating robust and lasting support. The verse also employs Antithesis by sharply contrasting the "wall" and "door" states, highlighting two opposing paths or conditions of character. This contrast is further emphasized by the Parallelism in the structure of the two conditional statements ("If she be a wall..." and "and if she be a door...") and their corresponding communal responses, creating a balanced, rhythmic, and emphatic articulation of the community's protective and honoring intentions.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

This verse, while set in the context of human relationships and the protection of purity, offers profound theological insights into the nature of integrity, communal responsibility, and God's valuing of character. It implicitly teaches that integrity is not merely a personal pursuit but a communal concern, reflecting God's design for His people to bear one another's burdens and foster spiritual growth, as exhorted in Galatians 6:2. The "wall" represents a life lived in accordance with divine wisdom, guarding the heart and mind, which God honors and blesses. The "door" signifies a need for spiritual fortification, which the community, in imitation of God's protective care, is called to provide. This passage foreshadows the New Testament emphasis on the church as a body where members are responsible for one another's spiritual well-being, encouraging purity and offering support in times of vulnerability, striving for sanctification as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Song of Solomon 8:9 provides timeless wisdom for both individuals and communities, urging a proactive stance on purity and protection. For individuals, it serves as a powerful call to cultivate an inner "wall" of character—a disciplined heart and mind that guards against the myriad temptations and compromises of the world. This involves intentional choices to pursue purity, integrity, and self-control, recognizing that true honor and lasting beauty stem from an unblemished life lived in devotion to God. For families, churches, and communities, the verse underscores the sacred responsibility to nurture and protect the young and vulnerable. It challenges us to identify "doors" of susceptibility in those around us—areas of weakness, lack of boundaries, or susceptibility to negative influences—and to proactively "inclose them with boards of cedar." This means providing robust spiritual guidance, accountability, loving support, and practical wisdom. This collective care is not about control, but about empowering individuals to build a foundation of virtue that will lead to a life honored by God and others, a "palace of silver" built upon integrity and divine favor.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what areas of my life am I more like a "door" than a "wall," and how can I invite God and my community to help fortify those areas?
  • How can my church or community better identify and support its "little sisters" and "little brothers" in cultivating purity and integrity, offering both honor for steadfastness and protection for vulnerability?
  • What practical steps can I take to "build a palace of silver" upon my own life, reflecting God's value for purity and steadfastness, and how can I contribute to building up others in their pursuit of integrity?

FAQ

What does the "wall" metaphor signify in Song of Solomon 8:9?

Answer: The "wall" metaphor in Song of Solomon 8:9 signifies a young woman who has maintained her purity, integrity, and self-control. Like a city wall, she is unbreachable, secure in her virtue, and has developed strong internal boundaries against external temptations or compromises. This state of character is highly valued and leads to honor and distinction within the community.

What does the "door" metaphor imply, and what is the community's response?

Answer: The "door" metaphor suggests vulnerability or a lack of firm boundaries. Unlike a wall, a door can be opened or breached, implying susceptibility to negative influences or a need for greater protection. In response, the community commits to "inclose her with boards of cedar." This means they will provide the necessary protection, guidance, and reinforcement to strengthen her character, help her establish firm boundaries, and shield her from harm, ensuring her spiritual and moral well-being and safeguarding her future.

Who is the "we" in "we will build" and "we will inclose"?

Answer: The "we" refers to the collective voice of the community, most likely the older brothers or other mature members of the family or community, who are discussing the "little sister" introduced in Song of Solomon 8:8. This highlights the communal responsibility in ancient Israelite society for the moral upbringing and protection of its members, especially young women, reflecting a shared commitment to their well-being, honor, and spiritual development.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Song of Solomon 8:9, with its imagery of purity, protection, and communal care, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ and His relationship with the Church. Christ is the ultimate "wall of salvation" for His people, offering an impregnable defense against sin, spiritual harm, and the schemes of the enemy. Through His atoning sacrifice, He purifies His bride, the Church, making her "without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" as described in Ephesians 5:27. For those who are "a wall" in their devotion and purity, having been sanctified by His grace, Christ builds upon them a "palace of silver"—a spiritual dwelling of honor and glory, where they are co-heirs with Him in His eternal kingdom, inheriting "an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade" as promised in 1 Peter 1:4. Furthermore, for those who are "a door"—vulnerable and in need of fortification—Christ, through the Holy Spirit and the community of believers, "incloses them with boards of cedar." He provides the enduring strength and wisdom needed to stand firm in faith, equipping His followers to guard their hearts and live righteously, for "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). The church, as the body of Christ, is called to embody this communal protection, nurturing its members in holiness and preparing them for the glorious appearing of their Bridegroom.

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Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers . Public domain.
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BedeAD 735
Commentary on the Song of Songs
If she is a wall, let us build on it, etc. It is customary for the Lord Himself often to be designated in Sacred Scripture by the name of a wall or door. For He is rightly called a wall because He fortifies His Church on all sides, lest it be plundered by enemies; a door rightly, because it is only through Him that we enter either the fellowship of the Church or the ramparts of the eternal kingdom. For He says of Himself, I am the door of the sheep; if anyone enters by me, he will be saved (John 10). And again, No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14). The prophet, foretelling future gifts to the Church, says of Him: A wall and a rampart will be set within it (Isaiah 26). The wall indeed is He Himself appearing in the flesh; the rampart, however, is the revelation of prophecy, which by predicting Him to be incarnate from the world's beginning, greatly aided the structure of the Church. But He who, by appearing in the flesh, deigned to make the Church His sister, also granted her the participation of His name, so that she might also be called a wall and door: a wall indeed in those who, endowed with greater knowledge and power of the Spirit, are strong enough to fortify and defend the minds of the faithful from the incursions of error by resisting the weapons of iniquity; a door in those who, though less trained to repel the sophisms of heretics or pagans, are nevertheless wholesomely imbued with the simplicity of the Catholic faith, would open the entrance of the kingdom to those who wished by preaching, and lead them through the mystery of second regeneration into the courts of the heavenly life: just as He did not refrain from bestowing other names of virtues that undoubtedly specially pertain to Him to the more perfect members of His Bride. For instance, You are the light of the world (Matthew 10), and again, Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves (Luke 10); although He Himself is the true light that enlightens everyone coming into this world (John 1). He is the immaculate and uncontaminated Lamb who took away the sin of the world. Therefore, if she is a wall, He says, our sister, let us build upon her silver bulwarks; as if He were openly saying, If the Church of the Gentiles is suitable in some of its members, having men apt to teach, either naturally clever or instructed by philosophical training, we should not by any means deprive them of the ministry of teaching truth, but rather assist them by giving them the sacred pages of Scriptures, so that they may more strongly and easily guard the weak from the traps either of deceiving doctrine or corrupting example. For indeed silver bulwarks are the sacred words of divine eloquence, about which it is said above, Your neck is like the tower of David, built with bulwarks, and about which in the psalm: The words of the Lord are pure words, silver tried in a furnace, proved in the earth (Psalm 12). If she is a door, let us panel her with cedar boards; if there are those in her who know how to imbue the little ones with the word of simple doctrine, and lead them into the inner parts of holy conversation, let us propose to them the unfading examples of former just ones, by which they may more effectively fulfill the office entrusted to them: for it is often said that the virtues of the chosen are signified by cedars. Indeed, the figure of the boards expresses the width of their hearts in which they receive the memory of heavenly words; about which the prophet says, I run the way of Your commandments, for You have enlarged my heart (Psalm 119). It was fitting that the Apostle desired his listeners to be adorned with these boards, when he said: Our mouth is open to you, O Corinthians, our heart is enlarged. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections; but having the same recompense, I speak as to my children, you also be enlarged (2 Corinthians 6). Wherefore Solomon also admonishes the lover of wisdom, saying; Write her on the tablets of your heart (Proverbs 7). Hearing these counsels or promises of her Redeemer concerning her, the Church did not wait for the Synagogue's assent or answer to whom He was speaking, but immediately sprang up and responded to Him with a devoted voice:
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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