Song Of Solomon 6:13

Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.

Return {H7725}, return {H7725}, O Shulamite {H7759}; return {H7725}, return {H7725}, that we may look {H2372} upon thee. What will ye see {H2372} in the Shulamite {H7759}? As it were the company {H4246} of two armies {H4264}.

[Chorus] Come back, come back, girl from Shulam! Come back, come back to where we can see you! Why are you looking at the girl from Shulam as if she were dancing for two army camps?

Come back, come back, O Shulammite! Come back, come back, that we may gaze upon you. Why do you look at the Shulammite, as on the dance of Mahanaim?

Return, return, O Shulammite; Return, return, that we may look upon thee. Why will ye look upon the Shulammite, As upon the dance of Mahanaim?

Commentary

Context

Song of Solomon 6:13 appears near the end of a section where King Solomon has been extolling the unparalleled beauty and majesty of the Shulamite, his beloved (Song of Solomon 6:4-10). The verse is a direct address, likely from the "daughters of Jerusalem" or other onlookers (as seen in earlier chapters like Song of Solomon 1:5), who are captivated by her presence. They call for her to "return" so they might gaze upon her, expressing their profound admiration. The Shulamite then asks what they expect to see, to which they respond with the enigmatic phrase, "As it were the company of two armies."

Key Themes

  • Captivating Beauty and Admiration: The repeated plea, "Return, return," underscores the intense desire of the onlookers to behold the Shulamite. Her beauty is so striking that it draws immediate and powerful attention.
  • Mysterious Majesty: The comparison to "the company of two armies" (or "the dance of Mahanaim") suggests a beauty that is not merely delicate or passive, but also strong, awe-inspiring, and perhaps even formidable. It speaks to a powerful presence that commands attention and respect.
  • Allegorical Significance: Many interpreters see the Song of Solomon as an allegory for the love between Christ and His Church. In this view, the Shulamite represents the Church or individual believer, called to display the glory and beauty of Christ. Her appearance, likened to "two armies," can symbolize the Church's spiritual power and majesty, both in its unity and its victorious stand.

Linguistic Insights

The most debated phrase in this verse is "the company of two armies." The Hebrew word is Mahanaim (מַחֲנָיִם), which literally means "two camps" or "two armies." This term is also a geographical place name where Jacob encountered angels. In the context of the Shulamite's beauty, many scholars understand Mahanaim here not as a literal military formation, but as a reference to a specific, perhaps processional or stately, dance known as "the dance of Mahanaim" or "the dance of the two camps." This interpretation suggests a graceful yet powerful movement, evoking a sense of wonder and awe, consistent with a majestic display.

Significance and Application

This verse offers profound insights into the nature of true beauty and spiritual presence:

  • Inner and Outer Radiance: The Shulamite's beauty is both external and internal, evoking deep admiration. For believers, this points to a beauty that comes from a transformed life, a spiritual radiance that reflects Christ's glory.
  • Strength in Beauty: The comparison to "two armies" challenges conventional notions of feminine beauty as solely delicate. It highlights a powerful, confident, and majestic aspect. Spiritually, the Church, as the Bride of Christ, possesses not only grace but also divine strength and authority, capable of standing firm against spiritual opposition.
  • A Call to Display God's Glory: If the Shulamite represents the Church, then the call to "return, return" can be seen as an invitation for believers to live out their faith boldly, displaying the multifaceted glory of God to a watching world. Just as the Shulamite’s presence was captivating, the Church’s witness, empowered by the Holy Spirit, should draw others to behold the beauty of Christ.
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Cross-References

  • Genesis 32:2 (5 votes)

    And when Jacob saw them, he said, This [is] God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

  • Galatians 5:17 (2 votes)

    For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

  • Romans 3:29 (2 votes)

    [Is he] the God of the Jews only? [is he] not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

  • 2 Samuel 17:24 (2 votes)

    Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

  • Song Of Solomon 2:14 (2 votes)

    ¶ O my dove, [that art] in the clefts of the rock, in the secret [places] of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet [is] thy voice, and thy countenance [is] comely.

  • Psalms 76:2 (2 votes)

    In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:10 (2 votes)

    When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.