What does Song of Solomon 8:7 mean?
What is the meaning of Song of Solomon 8:7?

Mighty waters cannot quench love

The verse opens with an image of huge, surging forces—and then calmly states that even they cannot extinguish genuine love. Love, as God designed it, is resilient:

1 Corinthians 13:8 reminds us, “Love never fails,” echoing the same permanence.

Romans 8:38-39 lists every conceivable power and concludes that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Isaiah 43:2 assures God’s people, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,” underscoring that love’s Source remains present in every flood.

Just as the global flood in Genesis 7 could not drown God’s covenant, no wave of circumstance can drown covenant love between husband and wife—or between Christ and His church.


rivers cannot sweep it away

If “mighty waters” picture overwhelming depth, “rivers” suggest relentless motion. Torrents keep coming, yet love stands firm.

Psalm 124:4-5 gives a similar illustration: “the torrent would have swept over us,” but the Lord preserved His people.

Matthew 7:25 describes a house that withstood “rivers” because it was founded on rock—reminding us that love fixed on God’s truth remains unshaken.

Every marriage faces currents: illness, loss, misunderstandings. When love is rooted in God, those currents refine rather than ruin.


If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love

The verse now contrasts priceless love with earthly riches. Picture someone offering every possession for authentic love—an impossible bargain.

1 Peter 1:18-19 states we were redeemed “not with perishable things such as silver or gold… but with the precious blood of Christ,” showing that true love is purchased only by self-giving sacrifice.

Acts 8:18-20 tells of Simon the sorcerer offering money for the Holy Spirit and being rebuked: God’s gifts are not for sale.

Proverbs 11:4 observes, “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,” underlining love’s superior value.

Genuine love is never a commodity; it is a gift freely given and freely received.


his offer would be utterly scorned

Any attempt to buy love insults its nature; the offer is “utterly scorned.”

• Songs 3:4 depicts the bride finding her beloved and refusing to let him go—an intimate connection money cannot imitate.

Proverbs 6:34-35 warns that no compensation can appease a jealous husband; love’s exclusive devotion cannot be substituted with cash.

Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches that salvation is “the gift of God, not by works,” so that no one can boast—again declaring that the most important relationships are grace-based, not wage-based.

True love turns away every price tag; it thrives on loyalty, sacrifice, and covenant, not on transaction.


summary

Song of Solomon 8:7 celebrates the indestructible, incomparable worth of real love. Floods cannot extinguish it, currents cannot sweep it away, fortunes cannot purchase it, and any attempt to buy it is rejected outright. Such love, whether in marriage or in the Savior’s devotion to His people, is steadfast, priceless, and eternally secure.

Why is love compared to death in Song of Solomon 8:6?
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