The Song of Songs 6:11

The Return to the Vineyards

The Lover to His Beloved:

6:11 I went down to the orchard of walnut trees,

to look for the blossoms of the valley,

to see if the vines had budded

or if the pomegranates were in bloom.

The Song of Songs 7:12

7:12 Let us rise early to go to the vineyards,

to see if the vines have budded,

to see if their blossoms have opened,

if the pomegranates are in bloom –

there I will give you my love.


sn It is difficult to determine whether the speaker in 6:11-12 is Solomon or the Beloved.

tn The term אֱגוֹז (’egoz, “nut”) probably refers to the “walnut” or “walnut tree” (juglans regia) (DCH 1:116 s.v. אֱגוֹז). The singular form is used collectively here to refer to a grove of walnut trees.

sn It is not clear whether the “valley” in 6:12 is a physical valley (Jezreel Valley?), a figurative description of their love relationship, or a double entendre.