This book is a poetic love song that celebrates the beauty and passion of romantic love, using vivid and sensual imagery. These verses contain several powerful metaphors and images that convey the strength and durability of love. The woman is asking her lover to set her as a seal on his heart and his arm, which suggests a deep and permanent connection between them. In ancient times, seals were used to indicate ownership or authority, so the woman's request suggests a desire to be recognized as her lover's rightful partner.
The woman also compares love to death, emphasizing its strength and intensity. She then contrasts love with jealousy, which she describes as cruel and destructive. This contrast suggests that while love can be powerful and transformative, jealousy can undermine and even destroy relationships.
The woman then goes on to say that love is like a flame of Yahweh, which cannot be extinguished by water or floods. This image suggests that love is divine in nature and is imbued with the power of God. The woman's reference to water and floods may also be interpreted as a metaphor for the challenges and difficulties that couples may face in their relationships. Despite these obstacles, the woman insists that love can endure and even thrive.
Finally, the woman states that if a man were to offer all the wealth of his house for love, he would be scorned. This suggests that love cannot be bought or sold, and that it is a priceless and irreplaceable treasure.
Overall, Song of Solomon 8:6-7 is a powerful and poetic expression of the strength and durability of love. The woman's use of metaphors and imagery emphasizes the deep emotional and spiritual nature of love, and underscores the importance of recognizing and valuing the love between partners. These verses are often cited at weddings and other romantic occasions, as a testament to the enduring power of love.
See also: vs. 6
Song of Solomon 8:6-7. Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of Yahweh. Many waters can’t quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned.