A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Song of Solomon 4:12
What does Song of Solomon 4:12 mean?
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Song of Solomon 4:12
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This verse isn't just describing physical beauty; it's highlighting the preciousness and rarity of true purity and faithfulness, like a hidden spring that is kept safe and untouched. The imagery of a locked garden and sealed fountain emphasizes that these sacred gifts are intended for the beloved alone, a profound statement on exclusive intimacy and trust.
A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This beautiful image of a locked garden and sealed spring comes from Solomon's praise of his beloved. He's describing her purity and exclusivity, highlighting how precious and untouched she is before their union. This imagery sets the stage for the intimacy and celebration that will unfold in the following verses, emphasizing the sacredness of their bond.
Why would a loving relationship be described with imagery of being locked and sealed away? It sounds exclusive, even mysterious.
This verse uses powerful imagery to describe the beloved's purity and the exclusive nature of their intimacy.
A Garden Locked
Think of a beautiful, private garden. It's not just pretty; it's protected. It’s a place of beauty and life, but access is restricted. This symbolizes the beloved's untouched chastity and the sacredness of her being.
A Spring Locked
A locked spring is a source of pure, fresh water, hidden and preserved. It signifies the beloved's inner self, her affections, and her virginity, kept safe for her chosen partner.
A Fountain Sealed
A sealed fountain is similar – a hidden reservoir of life-giving water, protected from contamination. This emphasizes the profound trust and the unique covenant being entered into. This isn't about repression; it's about holy preservation within the context of committed love.
The verse speaks of a 'sister' and 'bride.' What does this dual identity tell us about the relationship?
The imagery of a 'locked garden' and 'sealed fountain' isn't just about individual purity; it’s about the relationship and the intimacy that is unique to it.
Sister and Bride
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The use of both 'sister' and 'bride' highlights different aspects of the relationship. 'Sister' implies deep affection, kinship, and familiarity. 'Bride' signifies commitment, union, and the anticipation of marriage.
Exclusive Union
The locked and sealed imagery underscores that this deep, life-giving intimacy is reserved exclusively for the one who has entered into covenant with the beloved. It’s a beautiful picture of marital fidelity and the sacredness of sexual union within marriage.
This isn't about exclusion out of spite, but about preservation for the right person, within the right covenant. It’s about the beauty of belonging to one another fully and completely.
Understand the original words
gan · Hebrew Noun
A designated place for growth and beauty; symbolically, a garden represents a protected, fertile, and private space of intimacy and delight.
achoth · Hebrew Noun
A term of endearment used by the man to his wife, emphasizing their kinship, closeness, and deep emotional bond within the covenant of marriage.
ma'yan · Hebrew Noun
A source of water; symbolically, it represents life, refreshment, and the inner vitality of a person, often used in Scripture to denote spiritual blessing or the quenching of thirst.
This passage continues the metaphor, showing the beloved responding to the invitation and entering the 'garden' of his bride, highlighting the intimacy described in chapter 4.
Proverbs 31:10-31While a different genre, the virtuous wife praised here embodies qualities of faithfulness and inner worth, reflecting the preciousness and guarded nature of the bride in Song of Solomon.
Matthew 13:44-46Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven being like a hidden treasure or a pearl of great value, illustrating that things of immense worth are often kept secure and revealed only to those who truly seek them.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20This passage directly addresses sexual purity within marriage, linking the body to Christ and emphasizing its sacredness and belonging solely to one's spouse, much like the locked garden is reserved for the beloved.
This verse isn't just describing physical beauty; it's highlighting the preciousness and rarity of true purity and faithfulness, like a hidden spring that is kept safe and untouched. The imagery of a locked garden and sealed fountain emphasizes that these sacred gifts are intended for the beloved alone, a profound statement on exclusive intimacy and trust.
This beautiful image of a locked garden and sealed spring comes from Solomon's praise of his beloved. He's describing her purity and exclusivity, highlighting how precious and untouched she is before their union. This imagery sets the stage for the intimacy and celebration that will unfold in the following verses, emphasizing the sacredness of their bond.
This beautiful image of a locked garden and sealed spring comes from Solomon's praise of his beloved. He's describing her purity and exclusivity, highlighting how precious and untouched she is before their union. This imagery sets the stage for the intimacy and celebration that will unfold in the following verses, emphasizing the sacredness of their bond.
"A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed." — This verse isn't just describing physical beauty; it's highlighting the preciousness and rarity of true purity and faithfulness, like a hidden spring that is kept safe and untouched. The imagery of a…
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Last reviewed October 2026