Song of Songs is book 22 of the 39 books of the Old Testament and belongs to the Wisdom & Poetry section. See how it fits with the rest in our guide to all 66 books of the Bible.
Quick facts
- Section
- Old Testament · Wisdom & Poetry
- Genre
- Poetry: love songs
- Author (traditional)
- King Solomon, named in the title (1:1).
- Other views on authorship
- Uncertain; the title can mean by, for or about Solomon. Many see an anthology of love songs edited into a unified poem.
- Date (traditional)
- About 950 BC, during Solomon's reign.
- Other views on dating
- Estimates range from Solomon's time to the 4th–3rd century BC, depending on the language and imagery.
- Chapters
- 8
- Verses
- 117
- Reading time
- About 13 minutes (2,536 words in the BSB)
What is Song of Songs about?
The Song of Songs, also called the Song of Solomon, takes its title from a Hebrew way of expressing the best: the finest song of all. It is mostly made up of speeches between a young woman, her beloved and a group of friends called the daughters of Jerusalem. The woman's voice is the most prominent in the book, and she speaks with boldness and desire.
The poems are full of images from the natural world: gardens, vineyards, spices, gazelles, doves, springs and mountains. The lovers praise each other's beauty, long for each other when apart, search for each other through the city and finally come together. Some readers find a loose storyline of courtship, wedding and marriage; others see a collection of separate songs bound by repeated refrains, such as the warning not to awaken love until it pleases.
Interpretation has varied widely. Ancient Jewish readers often saw it as an allegory of God's love for Israel, and it is read at Passover. Many Christian writers saw Christ's love for the church or the soul. Most modern readers take it first as genuine love poetry that honours committed human love and desire, while recognising that the Bible elsewhere uses marriage to picture God's covenant love.
Outline of Song of Songs
| ChaptersCh. | Section |
|---|---|
| 1:1–2:7 | Longing and delight The woman longs for her beloved; they exchange praise and meet. |
| 2:8–3:5 | Spring and searching The beloved invites her into springtime; she searches the city for him at night. |
| 3:6–5:1 | The wedding A royal procession, the beloved's praise of the bride, and the garden of love. |
| 5:2–6:3 | Separation and search A missed meeting, an anxious search and her praise of the beloved. |
| 6:4–8:4 | Renewed praise The beloved's admiration and mutual delight. |
| 8:5–14 | Love strong as death The climax: love that many waters cannot quench, and a closing call to come away. |
Key themes
- Love as God's good gift. The Song celebrates romantic love and physical desire without embarrassment, affirming that they belong to God's good creation.
- Mutuality. The woman and the man speak as equals, each delighting in and belonging to the other (2:16; 6:3).
- The strength of love. Near the end, love is described as stronger than death and unquenchable by floods (8:6–7). It cannot be bought.
- Timing and patience. A recurring refrain warns against awakening love before its time, honouring patience and commitment.
Key people and places
- The young woman (the Shulammite) — The main speaker, whose voice leads the poem.
- The beloved — The man she loves, sometimes portrayed as a shepherd, sometimes as a king.
- Solomon — Named in the title and in the wedding procession.
- The daughters of Jerusalem — A chorus of friends who listen and respond.
Places: Jerusalem, Lebanon, En-gedi, Sharon, Tirzah.
Key verses in Song of Songs
Quoted from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
“He has brought me to the house of wine, and his banner over me is love.”
“My beloved is mine and I am his; he pastures his flock among the lilies.”
“You are altogether beautiful, my darling; in you there is no flaw.”
“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. Mighty waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, his offer would be utterly scorned.”
How Song of Songs fits the big story
The Song of Songs belongs with the wisdom and poetic books, alongside Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. It recalls the garden of Eden, where the first man and woman were made for each other (Adam and Eve); in the Song, love blooms again in a garden. Prophets like Hosea describe God's covenant with Israel as a marriage, and the New Testament speaks of Christ and the church as bridegroom and bride, culminating in the wedding feast of Revelation. Whether read literally, symbolically or both, the Song affirms that love is precious and comes from God.
How to read Song of Songs
At 2 chapters a day you can read Song of Songs in 4 days. Read it aloud as poetry and keep track of who is speaking; many Bible editions add headings for the woman, the man and the friends.