Song of Solomon 2:3
New International Version
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

New Living Translation
Like the finest apple tree in the orchard is my lover among other young men. I sit in his delightful shade and taste his delicious fruit.

English Standard Version
As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

Berean Standard Bible
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

King James Bible
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

New King James Version
Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, So is my beloved among the sons. I sat down in his shade with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

New American Standard Bible
“Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the young men. In his shade I took great delight and sat down, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

NASB 1995
“Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the young men. In his shade I took great delight and sat down, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

NASB 1977
“Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the young men. In his shade I took great delight and sat down, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the sons. In his shade I had great desire and sat down, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

Amplified Bible
“Like an apple tree [rare and welcome] among the trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the young men! In his shade I took great delight and sat down, And his fruit was sweet and delicious to my palate.

Christian Standard Bible
Like an apricot tree among the trees of the forest, so is my love among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Like an apricot tree among the trees of the forest, so is my love among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

American Standard Version
As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, So is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

Contemporary English Version
And you, my love, are an apple tree among trees of the forest. Your shade brought me pleasure; your fruit was sweet.

English Revised Version
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Like an apple tree among the trees in the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. I want to sit in his shadow. His fruit tastes sweet to me.

Good News Translation
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my dearest compared to other men. I love to sit in its shadow, and its fruit is sweet to my taste.

International Standard Version
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. In his shade I take delight and sit down, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

Majority Standard Bible
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

NET Bible
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

New Heart English Bible
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, his fruit was sweet to my taste.

Webster's Bible Translation
As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

World English Bible
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, his fruit was sweet to my taste.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
As a citron among trees of the forest, "" So [is] my beloved among the sons, "" In his shade I delighted, and sat down, "" And his fruit [is] sweet to my palate.

Young's Literal Translation
As a citron among trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the sons, In his shade I delighted, and sat down, And his fruit is sweet to my palate.

Smith's Literal Translation
As the apple among the trees of the forest, so my beloved between the sons. In his shadow I delighted, and I sat down, and his fruit was sweet to my palate.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
As the apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow, whom I desired: and his fruit was sweet to my palate.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Bride to Chorus: Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat beneath the shadow of the one whom I desired, and his fruit was sweet to my palate.

New American Bible
Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my lover among men. In his shadow I delight to sit, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

New Revised Standard Version
As an apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
As apples in the trees of the forest, so is my love among the sons; for his shadow I lusted and I sat; his fruit is sweet to my palate
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
As an apple-tree among the trees of the wood, So is my beloved among the sons. Under its shadow I delighted to sit, And its fruit was sweet to my taste.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
As the apple among the trees of the wood, so is my kinsman among the sons. I desired his shadow, and sat down, and his fruit was sweet in my throat.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Bride's Admiration
2Like a lily among the thorns is my darling among the maidens. 3Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. 4He has brought me to the house of wine, and his banner over me is love.…

Cross References
Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

John 15:1-5
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. / He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. / You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ...

Psalm 119:103
How sweet are Your words to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth!

Proverbs 3:18
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.

Revelation 22:2
down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Isaiah 11:1
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.

John 6:57
Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. / He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit.

Matthew 7:17-20
Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. / A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. / Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ...

Hosea 14:6-7
His shoots will sprout, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon. / They will return and dwell in his shade; they will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Ezekiel 17:22-24
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. / I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches. / Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”

Luke 6:43-45
No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. / For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor grapes from brambles. / The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, / gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Isaiah 4:2
On that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of Israel’s survivors.


Treasury of Scripture

As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

the apple tree

Song of Solomon 8:5
Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.

Isaiah 4:2
In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

Ezekiel 17:23,24
In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell…

my beloved

Song of Solomon 5:9,10,16
What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us? …

Psalm 45:2
Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

Psalm 89:6
For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?

I sat

Judges 9:15,19,20
And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon…

Psalm 57:1
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

Psalm 91:1
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

his fruit

Song of Solomon 2:5
Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.

Genesis 3:22-24
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: …

Ezekiel 47:12
And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

taste

Jump to Previous
Apple Apple-Tree Beloved Delight Delighted Forest Fruit Great Lover Palate Rapture Sat Shade Shadow Sit Sweet Taste Tree Trees Wood Young
Jump to Next
Apple Apple-Tree Beloved Delight Delighted Forest Fruit Great Lover Palate Rapture Sat Shade Shadow Sit Sweet Taste Tree Trees Wood Young
Song of Solomon 2
1. the mutual love of Christ and his church
8. The hope
10. and calling of the church
14. Christ's care of the church
16. The profession of the church, her faith, and hope














Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest
The imagery of the "apple tree" in the Hebrew text is often interpreted as a reference to a fruit-bearing tree, possibly an apricot or citron, given the climate and flora of ancient Israel. This tree stands out among the "trees of the forest," symbolizing the uniqueness and desirability of the beloved. In a spiritual context, this can be seen as a representation of Christ, who stands out among all others as the source of life and sustenance. The apple tree, with its nourishing fruit, contrasts with the non-fruit-bearing trees, highlighting the life-giving nature of the beloved.

is my beloved among the young men
The term "beloved" is a central theme in the Song of Solomon, representing a deep, intimate love. In the Hebrew, the word used is "dodi," which conveys a sense of cherished affection. Among the "young men," the beloved is distinguished, suggesting that true love is not only rare but also surpasses all others in value and virtue. From a Christian perspective, this can be seen as a reflection of the believer's relationship with Christ, who is the ultimate beloved, surpassing all earthly relationships in depth and significance.

I delight to sit in his shade
The "shade" of the apple tree provides protection and comfort, symbolizing the safety and peace found in the presence of the beloved. In ancient Near Eastern culture, shade was a precious commodity in the hot climate, representing relief and rest. Spiritually, this can be interpreted as the rest and refuge found in Christ, who offers protection and peace to those who abide in Him. The Hebrew word for "delight" suggests a deep satisfaction and joy, emphasizing the fulfillment found in this relationship.

and his fruit is sweet to my taste
The "fruit" of the apple tree is described as "sweet," indicating the pleasure and satisfaction derived from the beloved. In the Hebrew context, sweetness often symbolizes goodness and delight. This can be seen as a metaphor for the blessings and spiritual nourishment that come from a relationship with Christ. The sweetness of the fruit reflects the joy and fulfillment that believers experience in communion with their Savior. The phrase "to my taste" suggests a personal and intimate experience, highlighting the individual nature of one's relationship with the divine.

(3) Apple tree.--So the LXX. and Vulg.; Heb., tappuach. Out of the six times that the word is used, four occur in this book, the other two being Proverbs 25:11--"apple of gold"--Joel 1:12, where it is joined with vine, fig, &c, as suffering from drought. It has been very variously identified. The quince, the citron, the apple, and the apricot have each had their advocates.

The apple may be set aside, because the Palestine fruit usually called the apple is really the quince, the climate being too hot for our apple. (But see Thornson, The Land and the Book, p. 546.) The requirements to be satisfied are (1) grateful shade, Song of Solomon 2:3; (2) agreeable taste, Song of Solomon 2:3-5; (3) sweet perfume, Song of Solomon 7:8; (4) golden appearance, Proverbs 25:11. The quince is preferred by many, as being by the ancients consecrated to love, but it does not satisfy (2), being astringent and unpleasant to the taste till cooked. The citron does not, according to Thomson and Tristram, satisfy (1); but according to Rev. W. Drake, in Smith's Bible Dictionary, "it is a large and beautiful tree, gives a deep and refreshing shade, and is laden with golden-coloured fruit." The apricot meets all the requirements, and is, with the exception of the fig, the most abundant fruit of the country. "In highlands and lowlands alike, by the shores of the Mediterranean and on the banks of the Jordan, in the nooks of Judiaea, under the heights of Lebanon, in the recesses of Galilee, and in the glades of Gilead, the apricot flourishes, and yields a crop of prodigious abundance. Many times have we pitched our tents in its shade, and spread our carpets secure from the rays of the sun. . . . There can scarcely be a more deliciously-perfumed fruit; and what can better fit the epithet of Solomon, 'apples of gold in pictures of silver,' than its golden fruit as its branches bend under the weight, in their setting of bright yet pale foliage?" (Tristram, Nat. Hist. of Bible, p. 335). . . .

Verse 3. - As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. That these are the words of the bride there can be no doubt. The apple tree is noted for the fragrance of its blossom and the sweetness of its fruit; hence the name tappuach, from the root naphach, "to breathe sweetly." The trees of the wood or forest are specially referred to, because they are generally wild, and their fruit sour and rough, and many have no fruit or flower. The Chaldee renders, "citron;" Rosenmuller and others, "quince." The word is rare (see Proverbs 25:11; Joel 1:12). It is sometimes the tree itself, at other times the fruit. It occurs in proper names, as (Joshua 12:17), "The King of Tappuah," etc., and that shows that it was very early known in Palestine. It occurs frequently in the Talmud. The word is masculine, while "lily" is feminine. "I sat with delight" is expressed in true Hebrew phrase, "I delighted and sat," the intensity of feeling being expressed by the piel of the verb. By the shadow is intended both protection and refreshment; by the fruit, enjoyment. Perhaps we may go further, and say there is here a symbolical representation of the spiritual life, as both that of trust and participation. The greatness and goodness of the tree of life protects and covers the sinner, while the inner nature and Divine virtue of the Saviour comes forth in delicious fruits, in his character, words, ministry, and spiritual gifts. If there is any truth in the typical view, it must be found in such passages as this, where the metaphor is so simple and apt, and has been incorporated with all religious language as the vehicle of faith and love. Hymnology abounds in such ideas and analogies.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Like an apricot tree
כְּתַפּ֙וּחַ֙ (kə·ṯap·pū·aḥ)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8598: An apple, the fruit, the tree

among the trees
בַּעֲצֵ֣י (ba·‘ă·ṣê)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

of the forest
הַיַּ֔עַר (hay·ya·‘ar)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3293: A copse of bushes, a forest, honey in the comb

is my beloved
דּוֹדִ֖י (dō·w·ḏî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1730: To love, a love-token, lover, friend, an uncle

among
בֵּ֣ין (bên)
Preposition
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

the young men.
הַבָּנִ֑ים (hab·bā·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

I delight
חִמַּ֣דְתִּי (ḥim·maḏ·tî)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2530: To desire, take pleasure in

to sit
וְיָשַׁ֔בְתִּי (wə·yā·šaḇ·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in his shade,
בְּצִלּוֹ֙ (bə·ṣil·lōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6738: A shadow

and his fruit
וּפִרְי֖וֹ (ū·p̄ir·yōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6529: Fruit

is sweet
מָת֥וֹק (mā·ṯō·wq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 4966: Sweet, sweetness

to my taste.
לְחִכִּֽי׃ (lə·ḥik·kî)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 2441: Palate, roof of the mouth, gums


Links
Song of Solomon 2:3 NIV
Song of Solomon 2:3 NLT
Song of Solomon 2:3 ESV
Song of Solomon 2:3 NASB
Song of Solomon 2:3 KJV

Song of Solomon 2:3 BibleApps.com
Song of Solomon 2:3 Biblia Paralela
Song of Solomon 2:3 Chinese Bible
Song of Solomon 2:3 French Bible
Song of Solomon 2:3 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Song of Solomon 2:3 As the apple tree among the trees (Song Songs SS So Can)
Song of Solomon 2:2
Top of Page
Top of Page