The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.

SONG OF SOLOMON 1:17KJV
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Song of Solomon 1:17 (KJV)

What does Song of Solomon 1:17 mean?

Song of Solomon 1:17 describes the beams and rafters of a house as being made from cedar and fir, highlighting the strength and beauty of the dwelling. The verse uses this imagery to express a sense of security, stability, and pleasantness in the relationship being described.

The speaker is likely the woman, addressing either her beloved or the audience, using the image of a well-built house to symbolize the couple’s shared life or intimate space. In the context of the Song, which is a poetic dialogue between lovers, these words evoke a place that is both luxurious and enduring, suggesting that their love is both beautiful and lasting.

The Hebrew behind Song of Solomon 1:17

  • "beams" (קֹרָה, qorah): This word refers to the main structural supports of a house, emphasizing the strength and permanence of the relationship.
  • "cedar" (אֶרֶז, 'erez): Cedar wood was prized in the ancient world for its durability and pleasant fragrance, often used in royal or sacred buildings, which adds a sense of value and honor to the relationship.
  • "rafters" (רָהִיט, rahit): This term points to the crossbeams or slats supporting the roof, further reinforcing the idea of a well-constructed, protective home.
  • "fir" (בְּרוֹשׁ, berosh): While often translated as "fir," this could also refer to cypress or juniper, both valued for their quality, again underlining the idea of a precious and lasting dwelling.

Why Song of Solomon 1:17 matters

  • The verse uses the imagery of fine building materials to communicate more than just physical beauty—it points to the lasting and valuable nature of the love being celebrated.
  • By describing their shared space in such rich terms, the lovers’ relationship is elevated, suggesting that it is not only passionate but also secure and enduring.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage by continuing the theme of mutual admiration and the desire for a special, set-apart place for their love, which is a recurring motif throughout the Song of Solomon.

Where else these words appear

“beams” Hebrew H6982 · used in 5 verses

  • Genesis 19:8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
  • 2 Kings 6:2 Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.
  • 2 Kings 6:5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.

“cedar” Hebrew H730 · used in 69 verses

  • Leviticus 14:4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:
  • 1 Kings 7:2 He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.
  • Psalms 104:16 The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;