What Does Song of Solomon 6:3 Mean in the King James?

I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.

Song of Solomon 6:3 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The beloved belongs both ways, and the same Hebrew word-family holds the beloved person and the caresses of love together.

THE MEANING

Belonging moves both ways: you are your beloved’s, and your beloved is yours. The beloved feeds among lilies, near and at home in the flowering place.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The belief that love must remain one-sided longing is undone: the beloved is not only desired, but also yours.

THE ROOT

דּוֹדִי

dodi

GROWS FROM

דּוֹד

dod

Beloved; intimate affection.

The word rendered “beloved” belongs to the ⁨דוד⁩ family, which also names loves or caresses. Hebrew keeps the beloved person and the affection between them in one word-family, so the bond is present in the name of the beloved.

ALSO GROWS

dod: Beloved; also a close male relative, such as an uncle.

דּוֹד

The word’s kinship sense lets belovedness carry the warmth of close relation.

dodim: Loves; caresses.

דּוֹדִים

This branch names the affection itself, joining the beloved in this verse to the intimacy expressed elsewhere in the Song.

THE PATTERN

Love becomes visible as belonging and shared presence.

My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

Song of Solomon 2:16 · KJVThe same belonging appears in reversed order, with the beloved present among the lilies.

But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

Isaiah 43:1 · KJVBelonging is spoken as a personal claim: the one addressed is known by name and held as the LORD’s.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:16 · KJVLove appears as shared dwelling, with the one who dwells in love and God present in one another.

THE THREAD

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.

Song of Solomon 1:2 · KJV

The Hebrew word translated “love” here, ⁨דּוֹדִים⁩ (dodim), comes from the same ⁨דּוֹד⁩ (dod) word-family as “beloved” in Song 6:3. The language keeps the beloved person and the caresses of love joined at the root.

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