Song of Solomon 2:6
What does Song of Solomon 2:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Song of Solomon 2:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Song of Solomon 2:6 means
She depicts a tender, secure embrace: his left hand supports her head; his right hand enfolds her. The language is intimate yet dignified, presenting love as both gentle and strong. The supported head speaks of care and rest; the embrace communicates acceptance and belonging. This is not a passing thrill but a posture of safety. The verse shows how love answers love-sickness: not with distance, but with steadying presence. It affirms that true affection is protective and comforting, capable of holding another at their most vulnerable. Here, intimacy is covenantal in tone—committed and cherishing, rather than grasping or selfish.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000His left handisunder my head, And his right hand doth embrace me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901His left handisunder my head, And his right hand doth embrace me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949His left hand is under my head, and his right hand is round about me.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862His left hand <FI>is<Fi> under my head, And his right doth embrace me.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752His left hand is under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890His left hand is under my head, And his right hand doth embrace me.
Context
Verses 5–6 portray the peak of romantic closeness: first the plea for strength amid love’s intensity, then the experience of stabilizing embrace. Because such intensity can easily run ahead of wisdom, the Song inserts a solemn refrain in verse 7, the first of several in the book, cautioning against prematurely arousing love. This structural pause functions like a guardrail before the next movement begins in verses 8–13, where the beloved’s energetic approach and invitation introduce a fresh scene marked by springtime renewal and a call to come away.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Proverbs 4:8
Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.
- Isaiah 62:4
Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah; for Jehovah delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
- Isaiah 54:5
For thy Maker is thy husband; Jehovah of hosts is his name: and the Holy One of Israel is thy Redeemer; the God of the whole earth shall he be called.
- Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;
- Song of Solomon 8:3
His left handshould beunder my head, And his right hand should embrace me.
- John 3:29
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, that standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is made full.
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