Song of Solomon 7:12
What does Song of Solomon 7:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Song of Solomon 7:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Song of Solomon 7:12 means
She suggests rising early to the vineyards to see whether the vines have budded, blossoms opened, and pomegranates bloomed. The timing matters: love responds to seasons. The vineyard, often a figure for love in the Song, is inspected for ripeness; when the time is right, she promises, “There will I give thee my love.” This is an intentional, thoughtful gift, not a mere reaction. The imagery conveys patience, attentiveness, and joyful readiness. As blossoms signal fruit to come, so the signs in their relationship point to a moment fitting for intimate union, welcomed freely and offered with delight.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Let 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Let 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Let us go out early to the vine-gardens; let us see if the vine is in bud, if it has put out its young fruit, and the pomegranate is in flower. There I will give you my love.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862We lodge in the villages, we go early to the vineyards, We see if the vine hath flourished, The sweet smelling-flower hath opened. The pomegranates have blossomed, There do I give to thee my loves;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Let us get up early to the vineyards, let us see if the vineyard flourish, if the flowers be ready to bring forth fruits, if the pomegranates flourish: there will I give thee my breasts.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890We will go up early to the vineyards, We will see if the vine hath budded, [If] the blossom is opening, And the pomegranates are in bloom: There will I give thee my loves.
Context
The countryside invitation narrows to a specific place and purpose. The agricultural checks—buds, blossoms, pomegranates—mirror the couple’s readiness to enjoy love’s fullness. This prepares the final verse’s mention of mandrakes and stored fruits (verse 13), which heighten the sense of abundance. Seeing verse 12 as a deliberate, time-sensitive plan helps the reader grasp that their intimacy is neither impulsive nor reluctant; it is discerning and joyful, consonant with creation’s rhythms.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 122:5
For there are set thrones for judgment, The thrones of the house of David.
- Romans 5:11
and not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
- Song of Solomon 7:6
How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!
- Hebrews 2:15
and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
- Isaiah 18:5
For before the harvest, when the blossom is over, and the flower becometh a ripening grape, he will cut off the sprigs with pruning-hooks, and the spreading branches will he take away and cut down.
- Hebrews 12:15
looking carefully lestthere beany man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;
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