Sustain me with raisins;
In ancient Near Eastern culture, raisins were considered a delicacy and a source of nourishment. They were often used in festive occasions and as offerings. The request for raisins here symbolizes a desire for sustenance and strength, reflecting the deep emotional and physical longing of the speaker. Raisins, being dried grapes, also connect to the imagery of vineyards and wine, which are prevalent throughout the Song of Solomon, symbolizing love and joy. This phrase can be seen as a metaphor for seeking spiritual sustenance and strength from God, akin to how believers are encouraged to seek spiritual nourishment from the Word and the Holy Spirit.

refresh me with apples,
Apples in the ancient world were associated with love and desire, often seen as an aphrodisiac. The request for apples signifies a longing for refreshment and rejuvenation, both physically and emotionally. In the context of the Song of Solomon, apples may symbolize the sweetness and delight of love. This imagery can also be connected to the Garden of Eden, where fruit represents both temptation and the beauty of creation. Spiritually, this can be seen as a call for the refreshing presence of God, akin to the way believers seek renewal through prayer and worship.

for I am faint with love.
The expression of being "faint with love" captures the overwhelming and consuming nature of true love. It reflects the intensity and passion that characterizes the relationship between the lovers in the Song of Solomon. This phrase can be understood as a depiction of the soul's deep yearning for communion with God, paralleling the believer's desire for a close and intimate relationship with Christ. The imagery of faintness suggests a vulnerability and dependency, highlighting the need for divine support and sustenance. This can be related to other scriptural themes where love for God is portrayed as the greatest commandment, and the believer's relationship with Christ is likened to a bride and bridegroom.

1. The Shulammite Woman
The speaker in this verse, expressing her deep longing and overwhelming love. She is a central figure in the Song of Solomon, representing the bride.

2. Solomon
Traditionally considered the author and the male figure in the Song of Solomon, representing the bridegroom.

3. Raisins and Apples
Symbolic elements in the verse. Raisins and apples were considered delicacies and sources of nourishment and refreshment in ancient Israel.

4. The Banquet Hall
The setting of the surrounding verses, symbolizing a place of love and celebration.

5. Love
The central theme of the Song of Solomon, representing both human romantic love and, allegorically, the love between God and His people.The Intensity of Love
The verse highlights the overwhelming nature of true love, which can leave one feeling faint. This intensity is a reminder of the passionate love God has for us.

Spiritual Nourishment
Just as the Shulammite seeks physical sustenance, we are called to seek spiritual nourishment through God's Word and presence.

Symbolism of Fruits
Raisins and apples symbolize sustenance and delight. In our spiritual walk, we should seek what truly nourishes our soul and brings joy.

Dependence on God
The plea for strengthening and refreshing reflects our need to depend on God for strength and renewal in our spiritual journey.

Love as a Reflection of Divine Relationship
The love depicted in Song of Solomon serves as a metaphor for the divine love between Christ and the Church, encouraging us to reflect this love in our relationships.Top 10 Lessons from Song of Solomon 2

What does 'Do not awaken love until it pleases' mean?

What do foxes symbolize in Song of Solomon?

How do we reconcile the romantic imagery of Song of Solomon 3 with the more sober views on marriage and lust in other biblical texts (e.g., Matthew 5:28)?

Why does this chapter focus on sensual imagery (Song of Solomon 4:5-7) when other biblical texts seem to emphasize modesty or spiritual themes?(5) Flagons.--Heb., ashishoth, apparently a dried cake, but of what substance is uncertain. From the margin of Hosea 3:1, possibly "grape cakes." In 2Samuel 6:19 it occurs as one of the gifts distributed by David at the removal of the ark, and is rendered by the LXX., a cake from the frying-pan. Here the LXX. have sweet unguents, and the Vulg. flowers. The Authorised Version, flagons, follows a Rabbinical interpretation.

Comfort.--The margin, straw me with apples, follows the LXX.; the Hebrew word occurs in Job 17:3; Authorised Version, "make my bed"--Job 41:30 (Heb. 22). Authorised Version, "spreadeth." Hence some translate here, "make me a bed of apple-leaves;" but the parallelism is against this, and the root idea in both the words translated "comfort" and "stay" is putting a prop or support under. Metaphorically = refresh or sustain.

Verse 5. - Stay me with raisins, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. Again the intensive form of the verb is chosen. She is almost sinking; she cries out for comfort. The food for which she longs is the grape cakes - the grapes sufficiently dried to be pressed together as cakes, which is very refreshing and reviving; not raisins as we know them, but with more of the juice of the grape in them. So date cakes are now offered to travellers in the East. "Refresh me; for I am in a state of deep agitation because of the intensity of my love." Ginsburg thinks the cakes are baked by the fire, the word being derived from a root "to burn." The translation, "flagons of wine," in the Authorized Version, follows the rabbinical exposition, but it is quite unsupported by the critics. Love sickness is common in Eastern countries, more so than with us in the colder hemisphere. Perhaps the appeal of the bride is meant to be general, not immediately directed to the king, as if a kind of exclamation, and it may be connected with the previous idea of the banner. The country maiden is dazzled with the splendour and majesty of the king. She gives up, as it were, in willing resignation of herself, the rivalry with one so great and glorious in the expression of love and praise; she sinks back with delight and ecstasy, calling upon any around to support her, and Solomon himself answers the appeal, and puts his loving arm around her and holds up her head, and gives her the sweetest and tenderest embraces, which renew her strength. We know that in the spiritual life there are such experiences. The intensity of religious feeling is closely connected with physical exhaustion, and when the soul cries for help and longs for comfort, the presence of the Saviour is revealed; the weakness is changed into strength. The apostolic seer in the Apocalypse describes himself as overcome with the glory of the Saviour's appearance, and being brought back to himself by his voice (Revelation 1:17).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Sustain me
סַמְּכ֙וּנִי֙ (sam·mə·ḵū·nî)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural | first person common singular
Strong's 5564: To prop, to lean upon, take hold of

with raisins;
בָּֽאֲשִׁישׁ֔וֹת (bā·’ă·šî·šō·wṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 809: Something closely pressed together, a cake of raisins, other comfits

refresh me
רַפְּד֖וּנִי (rap·pə·ḏū·nî)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural | first person common singular
Strong's 7502: To spread, to refresh

with apples,
בַּתַּפּוּחִ֑ים (bat·tap·pū·ḥîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8598: An apple, the fruit, the tree

for
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I
אָֽנִי׃ (’ā·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

am faint
חוֹלַ֥ת (ḥō·w·laṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2470: To be weak or sick

with love.
אַהֲבָ֖ה (’a·hă·ḇāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 160: Love (noun)


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OT Poetry: Song of Solomon 2:5 Strengthen me with raisins refresh me (Song Songs SS So Can)