1. Song of Solomon 8:5 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Who is coming up from the wilderness?

Song of Solomon 8:5 (ESV)

5 Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother was in labor with you; there she who bore you was in labor.

The chorus of young women of Jerusalem who have just been spoken to in Song of Solomon 8:4 now ask the question. The question, Who is this? is asked three times in the Song (Song of Solomon 3:6; Song of Solomon 6:10; Song of Solomon 8:5). In each case the question refers to the young woman. The question is used in the Song to introduce a new reflection on some aspect of the young couple’s relationship