Song of Solomon – Chapter 5

Old Testament • 17 Verses

Chapter Summary

"Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat the fruit of his apple trees. I am come into my garden, O my sister, my spouse, I have…" — so begins Song of Solomon 5. Across its 17 verses, two threads run through the text: love and charity and family and covenant relationships. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat the fruit of his apple trees. I am come into my garden, O my sister, my spouse, I have gathered my myrrh, with my aromatical spices: I have eaten the honeycomb with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends, and drink, and be inebriated, my dearly beloved.

2I sleep, and my heart watcheth: the voice of my beloved knocking: Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is full of dew, and my locks of the drops of the nights.

3I have put off my garment, how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them?

4My beloved put his hand through the key hole, and my bowels were moved at his touch.

5I arose up to open to my beloved: my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers were full of the choicest myrrh.

6I opened the bolt of my door to my beloved: but he had turned aside, and was gone. My soul melted when he spoke: I sought him, and found him not: I called, and he did not answer me.

7The keepers that go about the city found me: they struck me: and wounded me: the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

8I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him that I languish with love.

9What manner of one is thy beloved of the beloved, O thou most beautiful among women? what manner of one is thy beloved of the beloved, that thou hast so adjured us?

10My beloved is white and ruddy, chosen out of thousands.

11His head is as the finest gold: his locks as branches of palm trees, black as a raven.

12His eyes as doves upon brooks of waters, which are washed with milk, and sit beside the plentiful streams.

13His cheeks are as beds of aromatical spices set by the perfumers. His lips are as lilies dropping choice myrrh.

14His hands are turned and as of gold, full of hyacinths. His belly as of ivory, set with sapphires.

15His legs as pillars of marble, that are set upon bases of gold. His form as of Libanus, excellent as the cedars.

16His throat most sweet, and he is all lovely: such is my beloved, and he is my friend, O ye daughters of Jerusalem.

17Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou most beautiful among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside, and we will seek him with thee?

Important Verses in Song of Solomon 5

“Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat the fruit of his apple trees. I am come into my garden, O my sister, my spouse, I have gathered my myrrh, with my aromatical spices: I have eaten the honeycomb with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends, and drink, and be inebriated, my dearly beloved.”

Song of Solomon 5:1

“I opened the bolt of my door to my beloved: but he had turned aside, and was gone. My soul melted when he spoke: I sought him, and found him not: I called, and he did not answer me.”

Song of Solomon 5:6

“What manner of one is thy beloved of the beloved, O thou most beautiful among women? what manner of one is thy beloved of the beloved, that thou hast so adjured us?”

Song of Solomon 5:9

“Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou most beautiful among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside, and we will seek him with thee? ”

Song of Solomon 5:17

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Song of Solomon was written with israel and the Church, invited into covenant intimacy with God in view. Chapter 5 of 8 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 17 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. It opens with the line: "Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat the fruit of his apple trees. I am come into my garden, O my sister, my…" The final verse reads: "Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou most beautiful among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside, and we will seek…" The wider setting of Song of Solomon is this: The Song of Songs is a poem of spousal love between bride and bridegroom. The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: Traditionally linked to Solomon (10th century BC); final form possibly after the exile.

Who Wrote It

Attributed to Solomon

When It Was Written

Traditionally linked to Solomon (10th century BC); final form possibly after the exile

Catholic Commentary

The literal sense of Song of Solomon 5 unfolds through 17 verses that carry forward the message of divine love expressed through spousal imagery. A pivotal line is verse 1: "Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat the fruit of his apple trees. I am come into my garden, O my sister, my spouse, I have gathered my myrrh, with my…" The passage repeatedly touches on love and charity.

According to Catholic interpretation, this chapter contributes to the book's portrait of divine love expressed through spousal imagery. the Church sees this as an allegory of Christ's love for the Church (CIC 1602). The Catechism and the liturgy frequently draw on such passages to nourish faith and moral life (CIC 2215).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God's love is passionate and faithful. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Song of Solomon 5 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • ✓Love of God and love of neighbor sum up the whole law and reveal the very nature of God.
  • ✓The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • ✓From the manna to the Last Supper, God feeds His people — fully in the Eucharist.

Reflection for Today

Sacred Scripture presents Song of Solomon Chapter 5 as a unique stage in salvation history, not merely as background to other books.

St. Thomas Aquinas and other Fathers of the Church meditated on texts like this one, seeing in them instruction for the spiritual life. the Church sees this as an allegory of Christ's love for the Church (CIC 1602). The passage calls believers to grasp that God's love is passionate and faithful.

Let Song of Solomon Chapter 5 deepen your love for the Eucharist, where the Word made flesh continues to feed His people. The same Christ who speaks in Scripture offers Himself sacramentally on the altar.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Song of Solomon Chapter 5 about?

Song of Solomon 5 contains 17 verses. It opens with "Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat the fruit of his apple trees. I am come into my garden, O my sister, my…" and closes with "Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou most beautiful among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside, and we will seek…". The book as a whole is lyric love poetry.

What is a key verse in Song of Solomon 5?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat the fruit of his apple trees. I am come into my garden, O my sister, my spouse, I have gathered my myrrh, with my aromatical spices: I…" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Song of Solomon and when?

Attributed to Solomon. Traditionally linked to Solomon (10th century BC); final form possibly after the exile.

Related Chapters

John 13Shares people and themes with this chapter

Prayers Related to This Chapter

🙏Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love🙏Litany of the Sacred Heart🙏Prayer for the Family🙏Novena to the Holy Family

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