Song of Solomon 6:11
What does Song of Solomon 6:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Song of Solomon 6:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Song of Solomon 6:11 means
The Shulammite says, “I went down into the garden of nuts, to see the green plants of the valley, to see whether the vine budded, and the pomegranates were in flower.” She seeks signs of life and growth—buds, blossoms, greening. The garden is where love is tended, watched, and encouraged. She is not passive; she goes, looks, and discerns. The imagery suggests patience and seasonality: love has its times of budding and blooming, and wisdom attends to them. The mention of nuts and pomegranates complements earlier spice and lily imagery, enriching the portrait of a relationship that is fruitful, fragrant, and carefully observed, not forced.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I went down into the garden of nuts, To see the green plants of the valley, To see whether the vine budded, Andthe pomegranates were in flower.
KJV
King James Version · 1611I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I went down into the garden of nuts, To see the green plants of the valley, To see whether the vine budded, Andthe pomegranates were in flower.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I went down into the garden of nuts to see the green plants of the valley, and to see if the vine was in bud, and the pomegranate-trees were in flower.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Unto a garden of nuts I went down, To look on the buds of the valley, To see whither the vine had flourished, The pomegranates had blossomed--
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I knew not: my soul troubled me for the chariots of Aminadab.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I went down into the garden of nuts, To see the verdure of the valley, To see whether the vine budded, Whether the pomegranates blossomed.
Context
After the chorus’s exclamation (verse 10), the voice returns to the Shulammite. Her downward movement into the garden recalls verse 2 and restores the setting of intimacy. This prepares for the surprising turn in verse 12, where a sudden, almost involuntary elevation occurs. The flow highlights the dynamic of love: from public admiration back to the quiet work of cultivation, which then unexpectedly leads to honor. The garden remains the anchor where love’s seasons are discerned and enjoyed.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 15:36
And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they fare.
- Isaiah 5:2
and he digged it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also hewed out a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
- Mark 11:13
And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season of figs.
- Song of Solomon 7:12
Let us get up early to the vineyards; Let us see whether the vine hath budded, Andits blossom is open, Andthe pomegranates are in flower: There will I give thee my love.
- Luke 13:7
And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why doth it also cumber the ground?
- Song of Solomon 6:2
My beloved is gone down to his garden, To the beds of spices, To feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
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