The Song of Songs

The Hebrew name for this book translates literally as "Song of Songs", an expression that means "The Greatest Song". For this reason people recognized it as the greatest wedding song ever written.


Solomon was a creative songwriter who composed at least 1,005 songs (1 Kings 4:32). He is identified as the bridegroom (the lover). Originally the book may have been a series of poems shared between himself and his bride. How could Solomon use such language of love for one woman if he already had many wives and concubines? The answer may be that the Shulammite maiden was Solomon's first wife, before he became king.


This book is inspired by the Holy Spirit and included in the Bible so that humankind may know that God is the One who designed the marriage relationship as a pure source of human love and joy.


Four major features characterize the Song. 1. It is the only book in the Bible that deals only with the subject of the unique love shared by a bride and groom. It gives word pictures that reflect the joy of courtship and married love, particularly the overflowing happiness of newlyweds. The various metaphors, symbols and descriptive language communicate the emotion, power and beauty of romantic love between marriage partners. The Bible considers this exchange to be completely pure and honorable. 3. It is one of a small number of Old Testament books that are neither quoted nor referenced in the New Testament. 4. It is one of two books in the Old Testament that do not specifically mention God in the text (though some manuscripts contain a reference to "the Lord" in 8:6).


Song of Songs provides a New Testament theme that the Holy Spirit continues through the writer of Hebrews: "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure" (Hebrews 13:4). Many interpreters view this book primarily - or even completely - as a prophetic allegory. They feel that it symbolically describes the love relationship between God and Israel, or between Christ and the church, His bride. The New Testament uses several passages relating to a marriage relationship to describe Christ's love for the church. For this reason, the Song may correctly be used to illustrate the quality of love that exists between Christ and His bride, the church. It is an exclusive, committed and strongly personal love that leaves no room for unfaithfulness.