“If she is a wall, We will build on her a battlement of silver; But if she is a door, We will barricade her with planks of cedar.”
Parallel translations
- WEB If she is a wall, we will build on her a turret of silver. if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
- KJV If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
- BSB If she is a wall, we will build a tower of silver upon her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
- NKJV If she is a wall, We will build upon her A battlement of silver; And if she is a door, We will enclose her With boards of cedar. The Shulamite
- NLT If she is a virgin, like a wall, we will protect her with a silver tower. But if she is promiscuous, like a swinging door, we will block her door with a cedar bar.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The brothers resolve to honor her if she proves steadfast like a wall but to safeguard her if she is yielding like a door. They will encourage her virtue and protect her where needed.
Overview
The 'wall' and 'door' picture two possibilities: firm, chaste resolve to be adorned and honored, or openness needing protective guarding. The brothers commit to support and shield their sister either way. Their words commend integrity and self-control, virtues Scripture prizes, while showing the loving vigilance that helps preserve a young person's purity.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 1 Kgs 6:15He built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar: from the floor of the house to the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with cypress boards.
- Song 2:9My beloved is like a roe or a young deer. Behold, he stands behind our wall! He looks in at the windows. He glances through the lattice.
- Isa 58:12Those who shall be of you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Paths with Dwellings.
- Isa 60:17For brass I will bring gold; for iron I will bring silver; for wood, brass, and for stones, iron. I will also make peace your governor, and righteousness your ruler.
- Isa 61:4They will rebuild the old ruins. They will raise up the places long devastated. They will repair the ruined cities, that have been devastated for many generations.
- Zech 6:12–15and speak to him, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies says, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build Yahweh’s temple;
- Acts 15:16‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up,
- Acts 14:27When they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.
- Eph 2:20–22being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
- 1 Cor 3:10–12According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it.
- Matt 16:18I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
- Rev 21:12–19having a great and high wall; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
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Christ at the center
The poetry of covenant love between bride and bridegroom pictures, at its highest, the love of Christ for his church — the Bridegroom who gave himself for his bride.
How Song of Songs 8:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.