Song of Solomon 7:13
The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.
Song of Solomon 7:13 (KJV)
Context
The Song of Solomon, also called the Song of Songs, is a poetic book in the Old Testament. It is traditionally attributed to King Solomon and celebrates the love between a bride and her bridegroom. Many readers also see this love as a picture of the bond between Christ and His Church.
In this verse, the bride speaks. She describes the fragrance of mandrakes and the pleasant fruits stored at their gates. Her words express affection, readiness, and a heart that has kept good things for her beloved.
Meaning
Mandrakes were plants valued in ancient times for their fragrance and their connection to fertility and love. Here they add to the tender and joyful mood of the verse. The gates represent the entrance to the home, and in this setting they suggest the bride’s open and welcoming heart.
The pleasant fruits, both new and old, stand for the blessings and joys the couple share. New fruits speak of fresh experiences and growing love. Old fruits speak of treasured memories and lasting faithfulness. Together they show a love that is both lively and deep.
The bride says she has laid up these fruits for her beloved. This is not accidental. It is a deliberate act of care and devotion. She has prepared and saved her best for him. The phrase “at our gates” suggests readiness and abundance, indicating that these delights are available and waiting.
Biblical connections
The bride’s willing offering of love echoes the command to love God with all the heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). Her actions show what wholehearted devotion looks like in daily life.
Application
Believers can learn from the bride’s example. She does not wait for her beloved to earn her love; she prepares gifts and opens her heart freely. In the same way, Christians are invited to draw near to God and to offer Him their love, worship, and service.
The new and old fruits remind us to value both the past and the future in our walk with God. Past experiences of His goodness build our trust. Future blessings give us hope. Our relationship with Him is not static; it grows and deepens over time.
The mandrakes, linked with desire and longing, encourage us to seek God passionately. We are to yearn for His presence and to desire the fullness of His love and grace.
Reflection
This verse celebrates love that is intentional, abundant, and enduring. It calls us to examine our own hearts. Have we stored up love for God and for others? Do we offer our best, not our leftovers?
The bride’s words also remind us that love is both given and received. She delights in her beloved, and she prepares for him. In our relationship with God, we both receive His love and respond with our own. This mutual love brings joy and closeness.
May we, like the bride, keep our hearts open and our hands ready to give. May we cherish the old fruits of God’s faithfulness and welcome the new fruits of His ongoing work in our lives.
