My beloved is mine, and I am his; he grazes among the lilies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
Song of Solomon 2:16
What does Song of Solomon 2:16 mean?
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Song of Solomon 2:16
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This isn't just a poetic declaration of possession; it's a mutual belonging that grounds their intimacy. The striking image of the beloved "grazing among the lilies" reveals that his delight is found in purity and beauty, a direct reflection of his beloved's own character.
My beloved is mine, and I am his; he grazes among the lilies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The lover is responding to her beloved's passionate declarations of love, affirming their mutual belonging. This intimate exchange, filled with imagery of nature and desire, builds towards the anticipation of their union, with his presence among the "lilies" symbolizing his purity and her delight in him. The song continues to explore the complexities and joys of their burgeoning romance, highlighting both the security of their commitment and the sweetness of their longing.
In a world where relationships can feel fragile, the Song of Solomon offers a powerful declaration of belonging. What makes this love so sure?
A Two-Way Street
This verse isn't just a whisper; it's a bold statement: 'My beloved is mine, and I am his.' This is the heartbeat of true intimacy – a mutual, unreserved ownership. It’s not possessiveness, but a profound recognition of covenant and commitment. When you say 'I am his,' you are declaring your trust, your loyalty, and your desire to be wholly known and loved by God.
Rooted in Security
This security in belonging frees us. It allows for vulnerability, knowing you are cherished. For the believer, this echoes the New Testament's description of Christ and the Church. We are His, bought with a price, and He is ours – our all in all. This radical belonging is the foundation for genuine, uninhibited love.
What does it mean for love to 'graze among the lilies'? It paints a picture far richer than we might first assume.
A Scene of Purity and Beauty
The 'lilies' in the ancient Near East often symbolized purity, beauty, and innocence. They grew in lush, perhaps wild, settings. When the bride says her beloved 'grazes among the lilies,' she’s not just saying he’s present in beautiful places, but that his very presence enhances and finds delight in that which is pure and lovely. He is at home in places of virtue and beauty, and his dwelling there speaks of his own character.
Ask a follow-up
The Environment of Love
This imagery also suggests a love that flourishes in an environment of spiritual health and beauty. It’s a love that is attracted to goodness and thrives in it. For us, this means cultivating purity and beauty in our own lives, knowing that this is where our Beloved finds His greatest delight and where our love for Him can flourish most freely.
Understand the original words
dôd · Hebrew Noun
A term of endearment used by the bride to describe her groom, emphasizing deep relational intimacy, mutual affection, and commitment. Biblically, it often mirrors the relationship between God and His people or Christ and His Church.
šûšan · Hebrew Noun
A flowering plant often associated with beauty, purity, and the lush, fertile landscape of the land. In this context, it symbolizes the delightful, fragrant, and attractive environment in which the beloved finds pleasure.
This verse echoes the deep intimacy and mutual belonging described in Song of Solomon, highlighting how believers remain in Christ and Christ in them as the source of their life and connection.
Romans 8:38-39It powerfully affirms the unbreakable bond between God and His people, declaring that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, mirroring the 'mine and his' declaration of exclusive belonging.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20This passage presents a profound truth about Christian identity: that we have been bought at a price and therefore belong wholly to God, reinforcing the reciprocal ownership expressed in the Song of Solomon.
Galatians 3:26It reveals that through faith in Christ, we are all children of God, united with Him and each other, reflecting the intimate, unified relationship sung about in Song of Solomon 2:16.
This isn't just a poetic declaration of possession; it's a mutual belonging that grounds their intimacy. The striking image of the beloved "grazing among the lilies" reveals that his delight is found in purity and beauty, a direct reflection of his beloved's own character.
The lover is responding to her beloved's passionate declarations of love, affirming their mutual belonging. This intimate exchange, filled with imagery of nature and desire, builds towards the anticipation of their union, with his presence among the "lilies" symbolizing his purity and her delight in him. The song continues to explore the complexities and joys of their burgeoning romance, highlighting both the security of their commitment and the sweetness of their longing.
The lover is responding to her beloved's passionate declarations of love, affirming their mutual belonging. This intimate exchange, filled with imagery of nature and desire, builds towards the anticipation of their union, with his presence among the "lilies" symbolizing his purity and her delight in him. The song continues to explore the complexities and joys of their burgeoning romance, highlighting both the security of their commitment and the sweetness of their longing.
"My beloved is mine, and I am his; he grazes among the lilies." — This isn't just a poetic declaration of possession; it's a mutual belonging that grounds their intimacy. The striking image of the beloved "grazing among the lilies" reveals that his delight is found…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026