Book introduction
The book of Song of Solomon
The Song of Solomon, also called the Song of Songs, is a set of love poems between a woman and a man. It celebrates desire, longing, and faithful love.
Read Song of Solomon 8Start at chapter 1
Who wrote Song of Solomon?
The title links it to Solomon, which can mean by him, for him, or about him. Scholars are divided. Some think it is a collection of love songs from different times.
When was it written?
About 950 BC if by Solomon; others date it later.
Main themes
- Married love is good
- Desire and delight between husband and wife are celebrated, not hidden.
- Love is strong as death
- Love cannot be bought or put out.
- A picture of God’s love
- Jews and Christians have long read it as a picture of God and his people too.
Outline of Song of Solomon
Key verses
He has brought me to the house of wine, and his banner over me is love.
Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death, jealousy as unyielding as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of Yah. Many waters cannot quench love, and rivers cannot sweep it away. If someone offered all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned.
Quoted from the Lumin Translation.
Where to start
Chapter 8:6–7 holds the heart of the book. Then read from the start.
Ask about this book
Questions about Song of Solomon?
Lumin answers in a few sentences and shows each verse it cites in full.
Keep going
Keep asking in the Lumin app.Keep this conversation going on the web.
The same short answers with the verse beside each one, plus your saved questions, prayer, and the whole Bible to read in.
Make a free Lumin account and this conversation opens in Ask, ready for your next question. Your saved questions, prayer, and the whole Bible come with it.
All 66 books· Bible map· Search the Bible· Ask
Each introduction gives the traditional view and the main views scholars hold today. Where Christians disagree, it says so.
Report an error in this introduction. If we agree, we fix it and add a dated note.
This inbox is for corrections. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 in the US and Canada, call 116 123 in the UK and Ireland, or find your country’s line at findahelpline.com.