Song of Solomon 2:5

Translations

Modern

Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.

Traditional

Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.

Literal

Sustain me with raisin-cakes, refresh me with apples—for I am sick with love.

Latin

Fulcite me floribus, stipate me malis, quia amore langueo.

Original

Hebrew

English

Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.

Notes

Song of Solomon 2:5–6

The woman's love is intense, and his love is overwhelming.
If the Song is a collection of poems, the couple may be married. Their lovemaking is so exhausting that she feels faint and asks for raisin cakes and apples. In the ancient Near East, people considered these foods to be aphrodisiacs.
sustain me: She now relies on him to revive her with fruit from the earlier image—he is the apple tree, so he can provide apples to renew her strength.
His left hand is under my head: He tenderly supports her with his embrace as they lie together (see also Song of Solomon 8:3).

Song of Solomon 2:1–7

In this short poem, the man and woman exchange compliments. They use flower and tree metaphors to describe their loving relationship. The man is the protector and provider,
The poem ends (Song of Solomon 2:6) with the man and woman in an intimate embrace.

Song of Solomon 1:15–2:7

The couple lovingly describe each other. They admire her unique beauty and appreciate his strong protection and support.

Theme notes and profiles

Human Sexuality

Related verses

Song of Solomon 5:8
O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you, if you find my beloved, tell him I am sick with love.
2 Samuel 6:19
Then he distributed to every man and woman among the multitude of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. And all the people departed, each to his own home.
Hosea 3:1
Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols.”
Psalm 119:130–131
The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.
Luke 24:32
They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Psalm 63:8
My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
2 Samuel 13:1–2
After some time, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of David’s son Absalom.
Philippians 1:23
I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
Psalm 42:1–2
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God.
Isaiah 26:8–9
Yes, we wait for You, O LORD; we walk in the path of Your judgments. Your name and renown are the desire of our souls.
Song of Solomon 7:8
I said, “I will climb the palm tree; I will take hold of its fruit.” May your breasts be like clusters of the vine, the fragrance of your breath like apples,
Psalm 63:1–3
A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water.

Glossary

Apple, Apple Tree Apricot Food and Food Preparation Hyacinth Raisin Cake Song of Solomon

Topics

Apple: A Fruit Love to Christ: should be Ardent Wine: Strengthening

Song of Solomon 2:5

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