Israel Institute of BS
One of the most curious books in the Bible is the Song of Songs, also known as the Song of Solomon. It has been said that this book is “the holy of holies” of Scripture. However, initially, it seems out of place in the Holy Scriptures. It is an erotic love poem full of detailed descriptions of physical romance. It does not mention God or have any typically religious content. So why is it part of the Bible?
The Most Peculiar Book of the Bible
The Song of Solomon is an unusual biblical book. At first glance, it seems to be nothing more than a sensual love poem describing the passion between two young lovers. But upon closer examination, it becomes clear that this is a carefully crafted religious allegory. For Jews, the male and female lovers symbolize God and his people, Israel. For Christians, they symbolize Christ and his bride, the Church. How can we access this veiled meaning?
The Authentic Love in Hebrew
The best way to unlock the Song of Solomon’s concealed allegory is to appreciate the beautiful poetry in its original language. Take for example the verse “your lips distill nectar, my bride” (4:11). In English, this does not make much sense. But in the original Hebrew, the words נֹפֶת תִּטֹּפְנָה שִׂפְתוֹתַיִךְ nofet titofnah siftotayih are a wonderful example of onomatopoeia. Listen to the repeated letters P and T. Can you hear the sound of dripping honey? It embodies the sweet Torah, which God gave Israel.
Reveal the Real Meaning of Scripture
The 2nd century Jewish sage Rabbi Akiva famously said that “all of Scripture is holy, but the Song of Songs is the holy of holies.”
