Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that graze among the lilies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Song of Solomon 4:5
What does Song of Solomon 4:5 mean?
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Song of Solomon 4:5
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This imagery isn't just about physical beauty, but speaks to the nurturing vitality of the beloved. The fawns, young and gentle, grazing peacefully among lilies, suggest a life that is both beautiful and full of a natural, life-giving sweetness. It paints a picture of a profound, innocent flourishing that God delights in.
Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that graze among the lilies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Song of Solomon is a beautiful love poem, and this passage comes amidst a series of vivid, intimate descriptions where the lover praises his beloved's physical beauty. He's comparing her body parts to graceful, pure natural imagery, building to a crescendo of admiration before transitioning to a call for intimacy. This verse is part of a larger section where the speaker is captivated by his lover's appearance from head to toe.
Song of Solomon uses vivid, natural imagery to describe love. What does this unique language tell us about intimacy?
The Song of Solomon is a book written in poetry, using metaphors and similes drawn from the natural world to express the depth and beauty of romantic love.
Nature's Mirror
Think of a painter using the richest colors to capture a breathtaking landscape. The lover in Song of Solomon uses the most beautiful parts of creation – like fawns and gazelles – to describe his beloved.
This isn't crude or common language; it's elevated, tender, and deeply appreciative. The comparison of breasts to 'two fawns, twins of a gazelle' highlights their grace, gentleness, and natural beauty. It speaks of a love that sees and cherishes every part of the other person with awe.
The verse ends with a beautiful picture: 'that graze among the lilies.' What does this setting add to our understanding of intimacy?
The imagery of fawns grazing among lilies isn't just about physical description; it's about the environment and state of the beloved.
Purity and Peace
Lilies often symbolize purity, beauty, and innocence. Fawns grazing among them suggests a scene of peace, safety, and untouched loveliness. The lover sees his beloved not just as beautiful, but as dwelling in a place of purity and tranquility.
This paints a picture of a love that is cherished, protected, and found in a place of sacred beauty. It implies that true intimacy thrives in an atmosphere of respect, peace, and shared purity.
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Understand the original words
shad · Hebrew Noun
These are associated with the feminine form and are used in this context to represent the tenderness, youthfulness, and allure of the beloved.
tsebi · Hebrew Noun
Wild, graceful creatures often mentioned in the Bible to convey beauty, speed, and agility; in poetry, they represent the vibrancy of nature and youthful vitality.
shoshannah · Hebrew Noun
Flowers associated with elegance and natural beauty; in this context, they signify a setting of peace, growth, and flourishing life.
This passage also uses imagery of the beloved's body, specifically her belly and breasts, comparing them to beautiful, round objects, reinforcing the theme of physical admiration within the Song.
Proverbs 5:19This proverb speaks of a husband being captivated by his wife's breasts and love, mirroring the intimate and appreciative tone found in the Song of Solomon's descriptions.
Ezekiel 16:11While used in a different context of judgment and restoration, this verse still employs imagery of breasts as a symbol of fullness and beauty, showing how this imagery carries symbolic weight across different biblical texts.
Genesis 2:24This foundational verse about marriage, stating a man will leave his parents and hold fast to his wife, forms the backdrop for the deep intimacy and unity that the poetic descriptions in Song of Solomon celebrate.
This imagery isn't just about physical beauty, but speaks to the nurturing vitality of the beloved. The fawns, young and gentle, grazing peacefully among lilies, suggest a life that is both beautiful and full of a natural, life-giving sweetness. It paints a picture of a profound, innocent flourishing that God delights in.
The Song of Solomon is a beautiful love poem, and this passage comes amidst a series of vivid, intimate descriptions where the lover praises his beloved's physical beauty. He's comparing her body parts to graceful, pure natural imagery, building to a crescendo of admiration before transitioning to a call for intimacy. This verse is part of a larger section where the speaker is captivated by his lover's appearance from head to toe.
The Song of Solomon is a beautiful love poem, and this passage comes amidst a series of vivid, intimate descriptions where the lover praises his beloved's physical beauty. He's comparing her body parts to graceful, pure natural imagery, building to a crescendo of admiration before transitioning to a call for intimacy. This verse is part of a larger section where the speaker is captivated by his lover's appearance from head to toe.
"Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that graze among the lilies." — This imagery isn't just about physical beauty, but speaks to the nurturing vitality of the beloved. The fawns, young and gentle, grazing peacefully among lilies, suggest a life that is both beautif…
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Last reviewed October 2026