Song of Solomon 4:14
What does Song of Solomon 4:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Song of Solomon 4:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Song of Solomon 4:14 means
The list—spikenard, saffron, calamus, cinnamon, all trees of frankincense, myrrh, aloes, and the chief spices—gathers the rarest fragrances known in the region. These are the scents of celebration, devotion, and luxury. By piling image upon image, the groom declares that every exquisite aroma is present in her garden. The effect is cumulative: love within covenant is not thin but layered, complex, and deeply satisfying. The variety also suggests that different seasons of love yield different delights, all valuable. The bride is honored as the keeper and source of such richness, her life and love presenting a feast for the senses within the safety of their pledged union.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Spikenard and saffron, Calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; Myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Spikenard and saffron, Calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; Myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Spikenard and safron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Cypresses with nard--nard and saffron, Cane and cinnamon, With all trees of frankincense, Myrrh and aloes, with all chief spices.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Spikenard and saffron, sweet cane and cinnamon, with all the trees of Libanus, myrrh and aloes with all the chief perfumes.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Spikenard and saffron; Calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; Myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
Context
This continues the inventory begun in verse 13, intensifying the sense of opulence and delight. The abundance prepares the way for verse 15’s emphasis on living waters—the dynamic source that makes such a garden possible. After the garden’s contents and vitality are set forth, the bride will finally speak in verse 16, inviting the winds to release these fragrances and welcoming her beloved to enter and enjoy. The movement is from description to consummation, with the bride’s voice providing the final, necessary consent.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 19:39
And there came also Nicodemus, he who at the first came to him by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
- Numbers 24:6
As valleys are they spread forth, As gardens by the river-side, As lign-aloes which Jehovah hath planted, As cedar-trees beside the waters.
- 2 Chronicles 9:9
And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and spices in great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
- Song of Solomon 5:1
I am come into my garden, my sister, my bride: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends; Drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.
- Mark 16:1
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.
- Genesis 43:11
And their father Israel said unto them, If it be so now, do this: take of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spicery and myrrh, nuts, and almonds;
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Song of Solomon 4
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Song of Solomon 4.