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Study Section 15: Song of Solomon

15.1 Connect

The Song of Solomon has been interpreted in vastly different ways over the centuries. Two
basic approaches can be identified with numerous variations of each. The Song is often
viewed primarily in a spiritual manner. The king is God and the woman is either a person or
the church or the nation of Israel. Others read the Song in a literal manner. The king is
Solomon, or any man treated like a king in a romantic relationship. The woman is one of
Solomon’s wives or any woman pursued by a man in a romantic relationship.

The first interpretation has many expressions. Gregory of Nyssa (335-396) was an orthodox theologian
who was involved in early Trinitarian controversies. In a commentary he wrote of kisses in terms of
salvation. A person must be “the thirsting soul” that “wishes to bring its mouth to the mouth that
springs up with life. He who wells up with life for all and wishes all to be saved desires every person to
share this kiss, for this kiss purges away all filth.” Puritan author John Owen (1616-1683) illustrated
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how the Holy Spirit works in our lives like “’perfume poured out’ that causeth souls to run after him with
joy and delight.” More recently Cora Harris Mac Ilravy (1869-1935) wrote of the soul’s desire for the
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kisses of Christ’s mouth. “She longs for the kiss of love and communion, which comes after the kiss of
reconciliation and peace. She longs to enter into the closer relation that He is offering her; to be in the
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place where she will behold the King in His beauty; where she will abide in His presence continually.”
As is easily seen, the text becomes less important than the writer’s spiritual perspective. The variety of
interpretations for each image brings into question the accuracy of this approach.

The second interpretation varies just as greatly. Often writers see progression through the Song and
treat the various segments in a positive way. Here is the Bible’s advice on marriage, and writers use it to
give advice to couples. S. Craig Glickman evaluates the opening lines. “She asks that he may kiss her, not
that she may initiate in kissing him. She asks that he may draw her after him so then they can run
together. And it is he who began the relationship in bringing her to the palace chambers…He is the
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leader in their relationship.” Elsewhere Glickman compares the development of their relationship to a
symphony with different movements and repeated themes.
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On a more basic level, the words are taken as encouraging sexual expression in marriage. Sometimes
modern writers are almost pornographic in their approach, but most keep to simple advice. “Are you still

225 Gregory of Nyssa, Commentary on the Song of Songs, trans. By Casimir McCambley, OCSO (Brookline: Hellenic
College Press, 1987), 51.
226 John Owen, Communion with God (Carlisle: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1997), 248.
227 Cora Harris Mac Ilravy, Christ and His Bride (Chicago: The Elbethel Pub. Co., 1916), 28.
228 S. Craig Glickman, A Song for Lovers (Downers Grove: InterVaristy Press, 1980), 29-30.
229 Ibid., 187.
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