What role do "mandrakes" play in expressing love and desire in this verse? Setting the Verse in Front of Us Song of Solomon 7:13: “The mandrakes send out their fragrance, and at our doors is every choice fruit, new as well as old, that I have laid up for you, my beloved.” What Are Mandrakes? • A Mediterranean plant with an apple-sized, sweet-smelling fruit • In biblical times considered an aphrodisiac and a fertility aid (Genesis 30:14-16) • Its Hebrew name (dudaim) shares a root with the word for “love” (dod) How the Mandrakes Function in This Verse • Fragrance that wafts outward—picture of attraction that naturally draws lovers together • Sensual symbol—signals heightened desire and readiness for marital intimacy • Fertility reminder—echoes Rachel and Leah’s story, tying physical passion to hopes for fruitfulness • Poetic invitation—placed “at our doors,” as though love’s aroma greets the beloved even before entering, creating anticipation Layered Imagery of Love and Desire 1. Aroma – Smell is the most evocative sense; Scripture often links pleasing aromas with acceptance (Genesis 8:21; Ephesians 5:2). – The lovers’ relationship is portrayed as pleasing before God and delightful to each other. 2. Fruitfulness – “Every choice fruit, new as well as old” follows the mandrakes. Desire (mandrakes) flows into lasting produce (fruit), stressing both passion and long-term covenant blessing. 3. Reserved Exclusively – “That I have laid up for you” underscores exclusivity and covenant faithfulness (cf. Proverbs 5:15-19). The mandrakes amplify that stored-up devotion. Connections to Other Scriptures • Genesis 30:14-16 – Mandrakes traded for marital intimacy, tying them to longing and fertility. • Proverbs 7:17-18 – Sensory language (“aloes and cinnamon”) used by the adulteress contrasts with Song’s righteous, covenant context. • Hosea 14:5-7 – Fragrant imagery for restored love between God and His people. Takeaway Themes • God-given physical desire in marriage is good, fragrant, and fruitful. • Sensual symbols (mandrakes) in Scripture point beyond raw passion to covenant loyalty and blessing. • Love that honors God involves both immediate delight (“fragrance”) and prepared faithfulness (“laid up for you”). |
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