While the king was at his tableThis phrase sets the scene in a royal context, indicating a setting of opulence and authority. The "king" here is often interpreted as Solomon, known for his wisdom and wealth. The table signifies a place of fellowship and intimacy, possibly during a banquet or feast. In ancient Near Eastern culture, dining with someone was a sign of close relationship and trust. This setting can also be seen as a type of Christ, who invites believers to His table, symbolizing communion and fellowship with Him (
Revelation 3:20).
my perfume spread its fragrance
Perfume in biblical times was a luxury item, often made from costly spices and oils. The spreading of fragrance symbolizes the influence and presence of the beloved. In a spiritual sense, this can be seen as the believer's life being a pleasing aroma to God, as referenced in2 Corinthians 2:15, where believers are described as the fragrance of Christ. The act of spreading fragrance can also be seen as an act of worship, similar to Mary anointing Jesus with costly perfume inJohn 12:3, symbolizing devotion and love.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The KingIn the context of the Song of Solomon, the king is often understood to be Solomon himself. However, from a conservative Christian perspective, the king can also symbolize Christ, the ultimate bridegroom.
2.
The TableThis represents a place of fellowship and intimacy. In ancient times, sharing a meal was a significant act of communion and relationship-building.
3.
The PerfumeThe perfume, or nard, symbolizes the bride's love and devotion. It is a costly and precious substance, indicating the value and depth of her affection.
Teaching Points
Intimacy with ChristJust as the bride is in the presence of the king, believers are invited into a close, personal relationship with Jesus. This verse encourages us to cultivate that intimacy through prayer and worship.
The Fragrance of DevotionOur lives, like the perfume, should spread the fragrance of Christ's love. This involves living in a way that reflects His character and draws others to Him.
The Cost of WorshipThe perfume represents a costly offering. True worship often involves sacrifice, whether it be time, resources, or personal desires, to honor God.
Presence at the TableBeing at the king's table signifies acceptance and belonging. As believers, we are invited to dine with Christ, experiencing His provision and grace.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Song of Solomon 1:12?
2.How does Song of Solomon 1:12 illustrate Christ's presence in our lives?
3.What does "my perfume" symbolize in Song of Solomon 1:12?
4.How can we cultivate a "fragrance" pleasing to Christ in our daily walk?
5.Connect Song of Solomon 1:12 with New Testament teachings on spiritual aroma.
6.How can we ensure our actions are a "fragrance" of devotion to Christ?
7.What is the significance of "my perfume" in Song of Solomon 1:12?
8.How does Song of Solomon 1:12 reflect ancient Israelite culture and customs?
9.What does "the king was at his table" symbolize in Song of Solomon 1:12?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Song of Solomon 1?
11.What does spikenard refer to in the Bible?
12.In John 12:3, how is it scientifically plausible that the fragrance from a single jar of perfume filled the entire house?
13.(Song of Solomon 6:8) How can sixty queens and eighty concubines align with Solomon's reputed 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3)?
14.If historically attributed to King Solomon, how does Song of Solomon 4 mesh with the accounts of his many wives and concubines in other biblical texts (e.g., 1 Kings 11:3)?What Does Song of Solomon 1:12 Mean
While the King“While the king…” immediately places the scene in the presence of royalty. Historically, that is King Solomon, the bride’s beloved (Songs 1:4). Spiritually, every earthly kingly image points upward to the greater King, who “is King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16). The bride’s first thought is not her own beauty but the honor of being near her king, echoingPsalm 45:11: “The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.”
Was at His Table“…was at his table…” describes intimate fellowship. A royal table is a place of feasting, security, and shared joy, much like Mephibosheth eating “always at the king’s table” in2 Samuel 9:7 and the believer promised a place to “eat and drink at My table in My kingdom” (Luke 22:30). For the couple, the table scene shows relaxed delight in each other; for the redeemed, it foreshadows the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9).
Bullet points to notice:
• Setting—private, not public, emphasizing closeness.
• Provision—everything needed is supplied by the king.
• Celebration—gladness replaces fear in the king’s presence.
My Perfume“…my perfume…” is personal and costly. Nard, the likely scent, was treasured, as inMark 14:3 andJohn 12:3 where similar perfume was lavishly poured on Jesus. It symbolizes the believer’s devotion—something prepared in advance, not improvised.2 Corinthians 2:15 says, “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ.” Like the bride, each follower carries an aroma formed by love, obedience, and worship.
Spread Its Fragrance“…spread its fragrance.” Perfume does its work silently yet unmistakably. Nearness to the king causes the scent to waft; warmth releases aroma. When Christ is at the center, the fragrance of a surrendered life fills the room (Ephesians 5:2;Philippians 4:18).
Practical takeaways:
• Fragrance reaches others without words—our actions and attitudes testify.
• The aroma lingers—lasting influence after the moment passes (John 12:3 notes the house “was filled with the fragrance”).
• True fragrance originates from the heart—external appearances cannot fake the smell of genuine devotion (Matthew 15:8).
summarySong of Solomon 1:12 pictures the bride enjoying intimate fellowship with her king; her treasured perfume naturally fills the air. Literally, it is a moment of marital delight. Spiritually, it points to believers who, seated at the King’s table, let the costly fragrance of devotion flow. Near the King, our lives become a pleasing aroma to Him and a testimony to everyone around us.
(12)
While the king sitteth.--There is no need to imagine a scene where the monarch, having failed in his attempt to allure the shepherdess by fine offers, retires to his banquet, leaving her to console herself with the thoughts of her absent shepherd love. As in
Song of Solomon 1:2 the poet makes his mistress prefer his love to wine, so here she prefers the thought of union with him to all the imagined pleasures of the royal table.
Spikenard--Heb.,nerd--is exclusively an Indian product, procured from theNardostachys jatamansi,a plant of the orderValerianace?.It was imported into Palestine at a very early period. The perfume is prepared by drying the shaggy stem of the plant (see Tristram'sNat. Hist. of Bible,pp. 484, 485). There is a sketch of the plant in Smith'sBibl. Dict.
Verses 12-14. -
While the king sat (or,
sits)
at his table, my spikenard sent (
sends)
forth its fragrance. My beloved is unto me as a bundle of myrrh, that lieth betwixt my breasts. My beloved is unto me as a cluster of henna flowers in the vineyards of Engedi. The preterite is best taken poetically for the present. The words are evidently a response to those of the king. As such they refer to present feeling and not to a past state. The bride expresses her delight in the king. The table is used generally. The Hebrew word is from a root "to sit round." The habit of reclining at table was introduced much later, during the Persian, Greek, and Roman period. The spikenard was a powerful perfume, probably of Indian origin, as the Indian word
nalada, meaning "that which yields fragrance," shows. The Persian is
nard, the Old Arabic
nardu. It was made from an Indian plant, the
Valeriana, called
Nardo-stachys '
Gatamansi, growing in Northern and Eastern India. The hairy part of the stem immediately above the root yields the perfume. That it was "very precious" we see from the account of Mary's offering, which was worth more than three hundred denarii,
i.e. £8 10s. (
Mark 14:5;
John 12:2). Horace promised Virgil a whole cask,
i.e. nine gallons, of the best wine in exchange for a small onyx box full of the perfume. The metaphor represents the intense longing of love.
Myrrh was an exotic introduced into Palestine from Arabia, Abyssinia, and India. Like frankincense, it is one of the amyridae. The
Balsamodendron myrrha is the tree itself with its leaves and flowers. From the tree came a resin or gum (
Gummi myrrhae), which either dropped from the leaves or was artificially obtained by incisions in the bark. The natural product was the more valuable. It was much prized as a perfume, and employed for many purposes. The Hebrew women were accustomed to carry little bags or bottles of myrrh suspended from their necks and hanging down between the breasts under the dress, diffusing an attractive fragrance round them. The word
tseror is, properly, "a little bag,"
sacculus, "that which one ties up," rather than a "bundle." The meaning, of course, is rhetorical - He is at my heart and delightful to all my thoughts as the fragrance to my senses. The henna flowers, or cypress, in the vineyards of Engedi, is a very beautiful figure.
Copher, the cypress cluster, - in Greek,
κύπρος: in Arabic,
al-henna (
Lawsonia) - grows in Palestine and Egypt, as we are told by Pliny ('Nat. Hist.' 12:24). It is a tall shrub reaching to eight or ten feet, exceedingly beautiful in appearance, and giving forth a delightful odour. It is named from a root "to be white or yellow-white." The Moslem women stain their hands and feet with it to give them a yellow tint. Engedi was a lovely district on the west of the Dead Sea - Hazezon Tamar, now
Ain Tidy, where Solomon made terraces on the hillsides and covered them with gardens and vineyards. The allusion confirms the date of the writing as contemporary with Solomon, as the gardens would then be in their perfection. The figure is, perhaps, intended to be an advance in rhetorical force upon that which preceded - the fragrance diffused and almost overpowering, as of a blossoming tree.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Whileעַד־(‘aḏ-)Preposition
Strong's 5704:As far as, even to, up to, until, whilethe kingשֶׁ֤הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙(še·ham·me·leḵ)Pronoun - relative, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428:A kingwas at his table,בִּמְסִבּ֔וֹ(bim·sib·bōw)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4524:That which surrounds or is roundmy perfumeנִרְדִּ֖י(nir·dî)Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5373:Nard, an aromaticspreadנָתַ֥ן(nā·ṯan)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414:To give, put, setits fragrance.רֵיחֽוֹ׃(rê·ḥōw)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7381:To smell, perceive odor
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OT Poetry: Song of Solomon 1:12 While the king sat at his table (Song Songs SS So Can) 
