Song of Solomon 6:3

Study note

Setting — The speaker addresses her beloved, responding to his departure to the garden to tend his flock and gather lilies. This exchange occurs within the poetic dialogue of Song of Solomon, immediately preceding a description of her beauty.

The words — The phrase לְדוֹדִי (le./do.D/i) literally means "to my lover," establishing mutual possession with the parallel clause וְדוֹדִי (ve./do.D/i). The verb הָרֹעֶה (ha./ro.'Eh) denotes active shepherding, paired with בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים (ba./sho.sha.Nim), "among the lilies."

The thread — The mutual belonging motif recurs in Song of Solomon 2:16 and Song of Solomon 7:10, while the covenantal language of divine possession echoes Hebrews 8:10. The pastoral imagery of tending a flock among lilies appears in Song of Solomon 6:2 and 2:16.

Why it lands — The text declares reciprocal ownership and active care without embellishment. The reader must acknowledge the established bond and the practical reality of its maintenance.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.