Song of Solomon 8 · Verse 9

Song of Solomon 8:9

If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
Song of Solomon 8:9, King James Version

Song of Solomon 8:9 in other translations

BSBIf she is a wall, we will build a tower of silver upon her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
WEBIf she is a wall, we will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
ASVIf she be a wall, We will build upon her a turret of silver: And if she be a door, We will inclose her with boards of cedar.
YLTIf she is a wall, we build by her a palace of silver. And if she is a door, We fashion by her board-work of cedar.
DARBYIf she be a wall, We will build upon her a turret of silver; And if she be a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar.
BBEIf she is a wall, we will make on her a strong base of silver; and if she is a door, we will let her be shut up with cedar-wood.
WebsterIf she is a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she is a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.

What does Song of Solomon 8:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. wall ... door--the very terms employed as to the Gentile question (Ac 14:27; Ep 2:14). If she be a wall in Zion, founded on Jesus Christ (1Co 3:11), we will not "withstand God" (Ac 11:17; 15:8-11). But if so, we must not "build" (Ac 15:14-17) on her "wood, hay, stubble" (1Co 3:12), that is, Jewish rites, &c., but "a palace of silver," that is, all the highest privileges of church communion (Ga 2:11-18; Ep 2:11-22). Image from the splendid turrets "built" on the "walls" of Jerusalem, and flanking the "door," or gateway. The Gentile Church is the "door," the type of catholic accessibleness (1Co 16:9); but it must be not a mere thoroughfare but furnished with a wooden framework, so as not merely to admit, but also to safely enclose: cedar is fragrant, beautiful, and enduring.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 If she be a wall - All these expressions, says Calmet, show that it was necessary to provide a husband for this young sister. For a woman without a husband is like a wall without towers, and without defense; is like a gate or door without bar or lock; and like a city without walls. They must therefore provide for their sister a rich, powerful, and illustrious man; qualities here figured by towers or palaces of silver, and doors of cedar. As it is customary to build towers upon a wall, and to put bolts and bars upon a door in order to secure it, so the expressions may point out the defense, protection, and guardianship which they imagined this young woman to require.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Song of Solomon 8:8-12

The church pleads for the Gentiles, who then had not the word of God, nor the means of grace. Those who are brought to Christ themselves, should contrive what they may do to help others to him. Babes in Christ are always seen among Christians, and the welfare of their weak brethren is an object of continual prayer with the stronger believers. If the beginning of this work were likened to a wall built upon Him the…

Read the full comment on Song of Solomon 8:8-12 →

Song of Solomon 8:9 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אִם\־'im-ifH518
חוֹמָ֣הcho.Mah[is] a wallH2346
הִ֔יאHi'sheH1931
נִבְנֶ֥הniv.Nehwe will buildH1129
עָלֶ֖יהָ'a.Lei.haon herH5921
טִ֣ירַתTi.rata battlement ofH2918
כָּ֑סֶףKa.sefsilverH3701
וְאִם\־ve.'im-and ifH518
דֶּ֣לֶתDe.let[is] a doorH1817
הִ֔יאHi'sheH1931
נָצ֥וּרna.Tzurwe will shut upH6696
עָלֶ֖יהָ'a.Lei.haover herH5921
ל֥וּחַLu.acha board ofH3871
אָֽרֶז\׃'A.rezcedarH730

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Song of Solomon 8:9

  • Zechariah 6:12-15

    And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the Lord. And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the Lord, and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.

  • Ephesians 2:20-22

    And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:10-12

    According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

  • 1 Kings 6:15

    And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the cieling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.

  • Revelation 21:12-19

    And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. …

  • Isaiah 60:17

    For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.

  • Isaiah 61:4

    And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

  • Isaiah 58:12

    And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

  • Song of Solomon 2:9

    My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.

  • Matthew 16:18

    And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

  • Acts 15:16

    After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

  • Acts 14:27

    And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
a wall.
2:9; Re 21:12-19
we will.
Isa 58:12; 60:17; 61:4; Zec 6:12-15; Mt 16:18; Ac 15:16
1Co 3:10-12; Eph 2:20-22
a door.
Ac 14:27

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Song of Solomon 8:8

    We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?

  • Song of Solomon 8:9

    If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.

  • Song of Solomon 8:10

    I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.

Read all of Song of Solomon 8

Song of Solomon 8:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Si ella es muro, edificaremos sobre él un palacio de plata: y si fuere puerta, la guarneceremos con tablas de cedro.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		– Si elle est une muraille, nous bâtirons sur elle une demeure d’argent; et si elle est une porte, nous la fermerons avec une planche de cèdre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn sie eine Mauer ist, so wollen wir eine Zinne von Silber darauf bauen; und wenn sie eine Tür ist, so wollen wir sie mit einem Cedernbrett verschließen
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si murus est, ædificemus super eum propugnacula argentea; si ostium est, compingamus illud tabulis cedrinis.