Song of Solomon 3:6
Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?
Song of Solomon 3:6 (KJV)
Context
Song of Solomon is a poetic book that celebrates love and marriage. It uses the voices of a bride and bridegroom, and many readers also see it as a picture of the love between Christ and His Church. In the verses just before this one, the bride searched for her beloved at night and could not find him. Now the scene changes suddenly. The question “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness?” is full of wonder. The speaker is likely the daughters of Jerusalem, who see someone approaching in a royal procession. This verse marks the move from the bride’s lonely search to the joy of the wedding day.
Meaning
The “pillars of smoke” bring to mind the pillar of cloud that led Israel through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21-22). They also suggest the smoke of incense rising in worship. The person is “perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant.” Myrrh and frankincense were costly and precious. They were used for anointing, worship, and even burial. The “powders of the merchant” show great abundance and variety. The question “Who is this?” is not a question of ignorance. It is a cry of awe and admiration. The one coming out of the wilderness is the bridegroom, arriving in glory and beauty. The wilderness itself is a place of testing and transition. Coming out of it means being changed and purified.
Biblical connections
The pillar of smoke connects this verse to God’s guidance of Israel in the wilderness. Just as the cloud led the people, the bridegroom appears in a cloud-like pillar. The fragrances also point to deeper truth. Myrrh was used in burial, and frankincense was used in worship. Together they speak of suffering and divinity. Many readers see here a picture of Christ, who came through the wilderness of temptation and death, and who now appears in priestly glory. The church, too, is seen coming out of the world, cleansed and adorned with the graces of Christ.
Application
This verse encourages believers to live in such a way that others ask with wonder, “Who is this?” A life that has passed through the wilderness of trials and has been perfumed with the fragrance of Christ becomes a testimony. The believer’s journey often includes seasons of searching and silence, as the bride experienced. Yet the same God who led Israel by the pillar of cloud is present in every wilderness. He brings His people out, not unchanged, but bearing the sweet aroma of His grace. When we face spiritual dryness, we can persist in prayer, Scripture, worship, and fellowship. These practices keep us close to Him and allow His beauty to be seen in us.
Reflection
The question “Who is this?” invites us to consider the majesty of Christ and the transforming power of His love. It also invites us to examine our own lives. Do we carry the fragrance of Christ in our words and actions? Have we allowed the wilderness to purify us? The bridegroom’s arrival is a moment of joy and celebration. For the believer, it is a reminder that the search will not last forever. One day we will see Him face to face, and the wilderness will be behind us. Until then, we are called to come out of the wilderness with faith, bearing the marks of His grace and evoking wonder in those who see us.
