Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

SONG OF SOLOMON 4:16KJV
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Song of Solomon 4:16 (KJV)

What does Song of Solomon 4:16 mean?

Song of Solomon 4:16 is a poetic invitation from the woman, asking for the winds to blow on her garden so that its fragrances will spread, and inviting her beloved to enter and enjoy its fruits. The verse uses garden imagery to express longing for closeness and shared delight between the lovers.

The speaker is the woman, addressing both the winds and her beloved. She calls for the north and south winds to "blow upon my garden," using the garden as a symbol for herself and her love. The invitation for her beloved to "come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits" is a vivid way of expressing her desire for intimacy and mutual enjoyment in their relationship.

The Hebrew behind Song of Solomon 4:16

  • "Garden" (גַּן, gan): This word is used twice and refers to a cultivated, enclosed space. In the Song of Solomon, it often symbolizes the woman's person or her love, suggesting beauty, care, and exclusivity.
  • "Spices" (בֶּשֶׂם, besem): The Hebrew word refers to fragrant plants or perfumes. The mention of spices highlights the richness and attractiveness of what the garden (the woman) offers.
  • "Blow" (פָּחַ, pakh): This verb means to cause to move by blowing, as the wind does. The request for the winds to blow suggests awakening or stirring up feelings and experiences that have been kept private or hidden.

Why Song of Solomon 4:16 matters

  • The verse clears up that the garden imagery is not about agriculture, but about the woman's own self and her invitation to intimacy, using poetic language that would have been understood as romantic and personal in its original setting.
  • Song of Solomon 4:16 connects to the wider passage by responding to the earlier description of the garden by the beloved (the man), showing the woman's active role in the relationship and her own longing.
  • The verse emphasizes mutual desire and invitation, showing that both partners in the poem express longing and delight, which is a key theme throughout the Song of Solomon.