Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.

SONG OF SOLOMON 7:12KJV
Know the Bible

Song of Solomon 7:12 (KJV)

What does Song of Solomon 7:12 mean?

Song of Solomon 7:12 describes a woman inviting her beloved to rise early and go with her to the vineyards, to see if the vines and pomegranates are blossoming, and there she promises to give him her love. The verse uses the natural setting of a vineyard in springtime as a picture of renewed love and intimacy between the couple.

The speaker is the woman, addressing her beloved in a poetic and affectionate way. She suggests an early morning visit to the vineyards, a place often associated with growth and fruitfulness, to check if the vines are flourishing and the pomegranates are budding. The language is rich with imagery, using the blossoming of plants as a symbol for the flourishing of their relationship.

The Hebrew behind Song of Solomon 7:12

  • "Early" (שָׁכַם, shakham) means to rise or set out early, emphasizing eagerness and anticipation in her invitation.
  • "Vineyards" (כֶּרֶם, kerem) and "vine" (גֶּפֶן, gefen) both point to cultivated places of growth, often used in the Song as symbols of love and fertility.
  • "Flourish" (פָּרַח, parach) means to bud or blossom, highlighting the theme of newness and vitality in their relationship.
  • "Loves" (דּוֹד, dod) refers to expressions of love or affection, showing that the promise is not just about physical intimacy but also deep emotional connection.

Why Song of Solomon 7:12 matters

  • The verse clears up any idea that the Song is only about physical attraction; it shows a mutual, joyful pursuit of love that includes emotional closeness and shared experiences.
  • The imagery of vineyards and blossoming plants connects this moment to the wider theme of growth and renewal that runs through the Song, reminding readers that love is something to be tended and celebrated.
  • The invitation to rise early and go together emphasizes the active, intentional nature of their relationship, showing that love involves both anticipation and effort from both partners.

Where else these words appear

“grape” Hebrew H5563 · used in 3 verses

  • Song of Solomon 2:13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
  • Song of Solomon 2:15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

“forth” Hebrew H5132 · used in 3 verses

  • Song of Solomon 6:11 I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded.
  • Lamentations 4:15 They cried unto them, Depart ye; it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there.

“pomegranates” Hebrew H7416 · used in 25 verses

  • Exodus 28:33 And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
  • 1 Samuel 14:2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;
  • Song of Solomon 4:13 Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,

“flourish” Hebrew H6524 · used in 33 verses

  • Genesis 40:10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:
  • Numbers 17:5 And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
  • Isaiah 27:6 He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.