Also known as the Song of Songs, or Canticle, the Song of Solomon is arguably the first great love song in written history, but its place in the Bible has been controversial from the outset, mainly because of its erotic nature. Though it does share some qualities with the rest of the Bible's wisdom literature – for example, its tone is earthy, human and eternal, and the narrative is less anchored in historical time compared to other Old Testament books – it's not really about knowledge or wisdom, but more a celebration of the joys of love, emotional as well as physical.
There are traditionally four different types of biblical interpretation: literal, moral, allegorical and anagogical (allusions to the afterlife). In the Jewish tradition, Song of Solomon is an account of God's love for Israel, but it posed a challenge to some early Christian scholars, mainly because it was a sexually suggestive love poem. This led to a tendency for allegorical interpretations, the most famous of which is by Origen, a Christian theologian born in Egypt in the 2nd century AD. To summarise briefly, he explained the poem as being an expression of love between the church (Ecclesia) and her bridegroom (Christ), or as a union between the soul and the Logos (divine word or wisdom). However, despite the book's long history of interpretation, its real meaning still remains obscure.
What I enjoy most about the Song of Solomon is that it retains its poetic power in translation, whereas I can't help feeling that it might have been better to read Proverbs in the original Hebrew (personally, I find the KJV and modern versions pretty dull and repetitive). The sense of burning desire between two lovers is palpable from the outset, expressed in natural and sensuous metaphors, from both the male and female gaze:
If you're after a good modern translation, then I'd recommend this one from poet Marcia Falk. Her commentary, especially on verse 1:5, is also worth reading; for example, compare "I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon" in the KJV, to her translation:
The "and" instead of the "but" in the first line is not only acceptable as a translation of the Hebrew, but also a powerful female affirmation, with Solomon's lover declaring pride in her origins.
At its heart, the song has a clear message about the transcendent power of love, and it serves as a welcome break from the philosophical musings that precede it and the gloomy jeremiads to follow:
There are traditionally four different types of biblical interpretation: literal, moral, allegorical and anagogical (allusions to the afterlife). In the Jewish tradition, Song of Solomon is an account of God's love for Israel, but it posed a challenge to some early Christian scholars, mainly because it was a sexually suggestive love poem. This led to a tendency for allegorical interpretations, the most famous of which is by Origen, a Christian theologian born in Egypt in the 2nd century AD. To summarise briefly, he explained the poem as being an expression of love between the church (Ecclesia) and her bridegroom (Christ), or as a union between the soul and the Logos (divine word or wisdom). However, despite the book's long history of interpretation, its real meaning still remains obscure.
What I enjoy most about the Song of Solomon is that it retains its poetic power in translation, whereas I can't help feeling that it might have been better to read Proverbs in the original Hebrew (personally, I find the KJV and modern versions pretty dull and repetitive). The sense of burning desire between two lovers is palpable from the outset, expressed in natural and sensuous metaphors, from both the male and female gaze:
Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue;
and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits (4:11-13)
If you're after a good modern translation, then I'd recommend this one from poet Marcia Falk. Her commentary, especially on verse 1:5, is also worth reading; for example, compare "I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon" in the KJV, to her translation:
Yes, I am black! and radiant,
O city women watching me,
As black as Kedar's goathair tents
Or Solomon's fine tapestries
The "and" instead of the "but" in the first line is not only acceptable as a translation of the Hebrew, but also a powerful female affirmation, with Solomon's lover declaring pride in her origins.
At its heart, the song has a clear message about the transcendent power of love, and it serves as a welcome break from the philosophical musings that precede it and the gloomy jeremiads to follow:
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 (8:6)
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