Song of Solomon 2:1 Meaning and Explanation
“I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Song pictures love speaking of itself as a wildflower, common and beautiful, growing freely in the open country.
The Context of Song of Solomon 2:1
The Song of Solomon is a book of love poetry, sung back and forth between two lovers. Sharon was a real place, the wide fertile plain along the coast, known for its meadows where wildflowers grew thick in spring. These are flowers of the open field, not rare blooms kept behind a wall.
What Does Song of Solomon 2:1 Mean?
The voice here speaks softly of itself as a flower of the countryside. The rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys are not prized garden rarities; they are the ordinary blossoms that cover the meadows and low places, lovely simply because they are alive and in bloom. There is a humility in it, and a quiet confidence too. To be a wildflower is to be beautiful without effort, given freely to whoever passes by, holding nothing back of its color or its scent.
For a long time those who love Christ have heard His voice in lines like these, for the whole Song has been read as a picture of the love between God and His people. He came down into the low places, into the valleys of our living and dying, and made Himself near and reachable. The beauty of God did not stay locked away above us. It blossomed in a real life, in the open, where any of us might come and find Him.
Song of Solomon 2:1 in the Original Language
chabatstseleth (חֲבַצֶּלֶת), 'rose' -- a meadow flower of uncertain kind, perhaps a crocus or wild bulb, found only here and in Isaiah 35.
How to Apply Song of Solomon 2:1 Today
When we feel ordinary, this verse gives us a gentler picture of beauty, the kind that belongs to a common flower in a wide field. And it points us to the One whose love came down into the low places to be found. We are invited simply to come near, as to a blossom held out in the open.
Frequently Asked Questions About Song of Solomon 2:1
What does Song of Solomon 2:1 mean?
The Song pictures love speaking of itself as a wildflower, common and beautiful, growing freely in the open country.
What is the context of Song of Solomon 2:1?
The Song of Solomon is a book of love poetry, sung back and forth between two lovers. Sharon was a real place, the wide fertile plain along the coast, known for its meadows where wildflowers grew thick in spring. These are flowers of the open field, not rare blooms kept behind a wall.
How can I apply Song of Solomon 2:1 today?
When we feel ordinary, this verse gives us a gentler picture of beauty, the kind that belongs to a common flower in a wide field. And it points us to the One whose love came down into the low places to be found. We are invited simply to come near, as to a blossom held out in the open.