Song of Solomon 7:2
Your navel is a rounded bowl that never lacks mixed wine. Your belly is a heap of wheat, encircled with lilies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The imagery here isn't just about physical beauty; it points to abundance and life-giving generosity. The "rounded bowl that never lacks mixed wine" suggests a continuous, overflowing source of joy and sustenance, while the "heap of wheat encircled with lilies" speaks of fertility and purity, promising continued life and sweetness.
This passage comes during a passionate praise of the beloved, continuing the imagery from the previous chapter where the lover describes their beloved’s physical beauty in vivid, poetic terms. The poem is building towards its climax of intimacy and desire, using rich metaphors drawn from the natural world and daily life to express deep affection and attraction. The descriptions here are part of an escalating poem that celebrates the beauty and allure of the beloved's body, culminating in a desire for union.
This verse describes the beloved with imagery of fullness and abundance. What does this say about the nature of a healthy, loving relationship?
A Wellspring of Delight
The imagery of the "rounded bowl that never lacks mixed wine" speaks of generosity and constant pleasure. In ancient Near Eastern culture, wine was often mixed with spices and served at feasts, symbolizing hospitality, celebration, and even divine blessing. This isn't just about physical beauty, but about the qualities of the beloved that bring joy and satisfaction. It suggests a love that is giving, refreshing, and always sufficient.
Richness and Purity
The "heap of wheat, encircled with lilies" combines sustenance with beauty. Wheat represents provision, fertility, and the core of life. The lilies add a touch of purity, delicacy, and refined beauty. Together, they paint a picture of someone who is not only life-giving and substantial but also possesses an exquisite and pure loveliness.
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Why would the Bible use such vivid, almost earthy, physical descriptions in a book about love? What's the bigger picture here?
Celebrating the Physical
Song of Solomon is unapologetically physical. It celebrates the beauty of the human body within the context of committed love between a husband and wife. This shouldn't shock us; God created us with physical bodies and intended for them to be a source of pleasure and expression of love in marriage.
Beyond the Surface
While the descriptions are physical, they point to deeper qualities. The "rounded bowl" suggests a pleasing form and a capacity for giving, while the "heap of wheat" speaks of life, fruitfulness, and sustenance. The "lilies" bring in an element of purity and delicate beauty. These aren't just anatomical descriptions; they are metaphors for the beloved's character and the life they bring to the relationship.
Understand the original words
mezeg · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the fermented juice of grapes. Symbolically, it often represents joy, celebration, and the exhilarating nature of covenantal love and intimacy.
shushan · Hebrew Noun
A plant often associated with beauty, fragrance, and purity. In this context, it signifies the delicate, elegant, and pleasant nature of the beloved.
This verse also uses imagery of abundance and beauty, comparing the beloved's neck to chains of jewels and their nose to a tower, highlighting themes of exquisite decoration and desirability.
Song of Solomon 5:11-12Here, the beloved's physical attributes are described with vivid comparisons to precious materials and abundant nature, like his hair being black as ravens and his eyes like doves by streams, echoing the rich, detailed praise found in chapter 7.
Proverbs 5:15-19While this passage speaks of marital intimacy, it uses imagery of satisfaction and delight from a wife's beauty, mirroring the Song of Solomon's celebration of physical attraction and the joy it brings within a covenant relationship.
Genesis 49:25-26This passage blesses Joseph with imagery of abundant blessings from heaven and earth, including overflowing springs and sustenance, which resonates with the depiction of fullness and rich provision in Song of Solomon 7:2.
The imagery here isn't just about physical beauty; it points to abundance and life-giving generosity. The "rounded bowl that never lacks mixed wine" suggests a continuous, overflowing source of joy and sustenance, while the "heap of wheat encircled with lilies" speaks of fertility and purity, promising continued life and sweetness.
This passage comes during a passionate praise of the beloved, continuing the imagery from the previous chapter where the lover describes their beloved’s physical beauty in vivid, poetic terms. The poem is building towards its climax of intimacy and desire, using rich metaphors drawn from the natural world and daily life to express deep affection and attraction. The descriptions here are part of an escalating poem that celebrates the beauty and allure of the beloved's body, culminating in a desire for union.
This passage comes during a passionate praise of the beloved, continuing the imagery from the previous chapter where the lover describes their beloved’s physical beauty in vivid, poetic terms. The poem is building towards its climax of intimacy and desire, using rich metaphors drawn from the natural world and daily life to express deep affection and attraction. The descriptions here are part of an escalating poem that celebrates the beauty and allure of the beloved's body, culminating in a desire for union.
"Your navel is a rounded bowl that never lacks mixed wine. Your belly is a heap of wheat, encircled with lilies." — The imagery here isn't just about physical beauty; it points to abundance and life-giving generosity. The "rounded bowl that never lacks mixed wine" suggests a continuous, overflowing source of joy a…
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