OLD TESTAMENTNEW TESTAMENT

Song of Songs 1:1

The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
All Commentaries on Song of Songs 1:1 Go To Song of Songs 1

Aquinas Study Bible

AD 2017
How to Read the Song of Songs When reading the book of the Song of Songs one will find that it concerns the love between a Bridegroom and his Bride. Sometimes the words being said are coming from the Bridegroom while other times the words are coming from the Bride. It is not always easy to determine which one is the one speaking, and not all interpreters have been in an agreement concerning that. Nor have interpreters had the same understanding who the Bridegroom and the Bride are. When Solomon wrote the Songs, what did he have in mind? Was his intentions for it to concern him and his human bride, or did he have something else in mind? Some modern interpreters would put a lot of emphasis upon what Solomon had in mind when he wrote this book, but the most important thing to remember is that Solomon wrote this with his hand, but the Holy Spirit is the Supreme Author. The thoughts in Solomon’s mind while writing the Songs are not nearly as important as the message that the Holy Spirit intends the reader to glean from it. Solomon probably had no idea that this book was to one day be considered Sacred Scripture by all of God’s people from two different Covenants, but the Holy Spirit did. This book has a message in it that all of God’s people need to know! So what is that message? It is about the love between God and His people! But why does this book appear to be written in such an obscure manner? How are we to approach the book? We should approach the book as a parable. What that means is that the story being told is spoken using common objects in order to reveal things spiritual or heavenly. The Bible is full of parables. It was a form of language among the ancient eastern sages and learned men. The prophets used parables, as well as the Lord Jesus. This Song of Songs is a beautiful parable that all of God’s people can benefit from! As Nicholas of Lyra pointed out, the Jews understood the parable to concern the love between God and the Jews, while Catholic interpreters have often understood it to be concerned with Christ and the Church. It relates to all of God’s people, the people from the Old and New Testaments.
2 mins

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation - 2 Peter 1:20

App Store LogoPlay Store Logo