King James Version

What Does Song of Solomon 5:13 Mean?

Song of Solomon 5:13 in the King James Version says “His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. sweet flowers:...” — study this verse from Song of Solomon chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. sweet flowers: or, towers of perfumes”

Song of Solomon 5:13 · KJV

Context

11

His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. bushy: or, curled

12

His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set . fitly: Heb. sitting in fulness, that is, fitly placed, and set as a precious stone in the foil of a ring

13

His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. sweet flowers: or, towers of perfumes

14

His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.

15

His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers (lechayyav ka'arugat habosem migdelot merqachim, לְחָיָיו כַּעֲרוּגַת הַבֹּשֶׂם מִגְדְּלוֹת מֶרְקָחִים)—the beloved's cheeks are compared to spice beds—cultivated gardens producing aromatic plants. "Sweet flowers" (migdelot merqachim, מִגְדְּלוֹת מֶרְקָחִים) literally means "towers of perfumers" or "raised beds of fragrant herbs." His very presence is aromatic—being near him is like walking through fragrant gardens.

His lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh (siphteha shoshanim notephot mor over, שִׂפְתֹתָיו שׁוֹשַׁנִּים נֹטְפוֹת מוֹר עוֹבֵר) describes lips as lilies (purity, beauty) that drip myrrh (precious, fragrant, costly). His speech is both pure and precious—words that carry fragrant grace. This represents Christ's gracious words (Luke 4:22)—speech that blesses, teaches, and transforms. His presence and words both spread fragrance.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Cultivated spice gardens were luxury items—kings and wealthy landowners maintained elaborate gardens of imported aromatic plants. "Towers" or "raised beds" (migdelot, מִגְדְּלוֹת) may reference terraced garden architecture maximizing fragrance. The beloved's cheeks suggest his very presence creates aromatic atmosphere. Lilies represented purity and beauty throughout Scripture. Myrrh's costly fragrance represented devotion and suffering. The beloved's lips dropping myrrh suggested that every word carried precious, fragrant worth. Early church fathers saw Christ's "cheeks as spice beds" as His incarnate presence making earth fragrant with heaven—wherever He went, spiritual fragrance followed (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). His lips dropping myrrh represented gospel words—both sweet and costly, gracious yet calling to sacrificial discipleship. The Reformers emphasized Christ's words as more precious than gold (Psalm 19:10)—Scripture carries His fragrant speech to believers. The Puritans taught meditation on Christ's words—savoring their beauty, fragrance, and nourishing power.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Christ's presence spread spiritual "fragrance" in your life—making ordinary moments holy through awareness of His nearness?
  2. What "sweet smelling myrrh" (precious, costly words) has Christ spoken into your life through Scripture that you need to remember and cherish?
  3. In what ways do your words drop fragrance or poison—do you speak with the gracious, life-giving quality of the beloved's myrrh-dropping lips?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 10 words
לְחָיָו֙1 of 10

“His cheeks”

H3895

the cheek (from its fleshiness); hence, the jaw-bone

כַּעֲרוּגַ֣ת2 of 10

“are as a bed”

H6170

something piled up (as if (figuratively) raised by mental aspiration), i.e., a paterre

הַבֹּ֔שֶׂם3 of 10

“of spices”

H1314

fragrance; by implication, spicery; also the balsam plant

מִגְדְּל֖וֹת4 of 10

“flowers”

H4026

a tower (from its size or height); by analogy, a rostrum; figuratively, a (pyramidal) bed of flowers

מֶרְקָחִ֑ים5 of 10

“as sweet”

H4840

a spicy herb

שִׂפְתוֹתָיו֙6 of 10

“his lips”

H8193

the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)

שֽׁוֹשַׁנִּ֔ים7 of 10

“like lilies”

H7799

a lily (from its whiteness), as a flower of architectural ornament; also a (straight) trumpet (from the tubular shape)

נֹטְפ֖וֹת8 of 10

“dropping”

H5197

to ooze, i.e., distil gradually; by implication, to fall in drops; figuratively, to speak by inspiration

מ֥וֹר9 of 10

“myrrh”

H4753

myrrh (as distilling in drops, and also as bitter)

עֹבֵֽר׃10 of 10

“sweet smelling”

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

Study Guide

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 5:13 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Song of Solomon 5:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Song of Solomon 1:10Song of Solomon 2:1Song of Solomon 6:2Isaiah 50:6Song of Solomon 5:5Revelation 21:23

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