King James Version

What Does Song of Solomon 4:14 Mean?

“Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:”

Context

A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. inclosed: Heb. barred shut up: Heb. barred

Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, camphire: or, cypress

Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.

Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

Read full chapter →

Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(14) **Spikenard.**—See Note, Song of Solomon 1:12. *Saffron; *Heb. *carchom*; only here. The Arabic name is still *kûrkûm =* *Crocus sativus, *a well-known bulb of the order *Iridaceœ. *The pistil and stigma. dried, form the saffron. **Calamus.**—Heb. *kâneh. *(Comp. *kâneh bosem = *sweet calamus, Exodus 30:23; *k. hottôv—*sweet cane, Jeremiah 6:20.) There are many sweet grasses in India and the East. *Andropogon calamus aromaticus *has been identified (Royle) with the “reed of fragrance” of Exodus, and Jeremiah’s “good reed from a far country,” but the identification is not to be implicitly accepted. (See *Bible Educator, *Vol. I., p. 245.) **Cinnamon.**—Heb. *kinnamôn *probably included *Cinnamomum Zeylanicum *(cinnamon) and *Cinnamomum cassia *(*Cassia lignea*)*. *(See *Bible Educator, *Vol. I., p. 245.) The rind of the plant is the “cinnamon” in use. The plant belongs to the family of laurels, and grows in Ceylon, on the Malabar coast, and in East Indian Islands. It attains a height of from twenty to thirty feet, having numerous boughs, bearing leaves of a scarlet colour when young, but changing to a bright green, and white blossoms. **Aloes.**—See Note, Numbers 24:6. **With all the chief spices.**—“That in thy sweet all sweets encloses” (H. Constable).

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Song of Solomon. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Song of Solomon 4:14 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.