Song of Solomon 6:13Return, return, Shulammite! Return, return, that we may gaze at you. Lover Why do you desire to gaze at the Shulammite, as at the dance of Mahanaim?
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. The village square. Friends call to the Shulammite (from Shunem, near Mount Gilboa) to dance, while her beloved protectively asks why they want to stare...
The emotion here: beloved feeling protective of his treasured one
The original word
shub (שׁוּב) — return, turn back, restore to original place
Why it matters
The dance of Mahanaim was a victory dance performed by two camps - it required skill and was a mark of honor
Read with care
What most readers miss in Song of Solomon 6:13
They say 'Return' FOUR times - this isn't casual, it's urgent pleading for her to come back
Common misconceptionPeople see this as objectification, but the lover's question shows he's protective - he's asking 'why do you want to stare at something so precious?'
The thread continues
Verses that echo Song of Solomon 6:13
Bible Genome reading
Song of Solomon 6:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Song of Solomon 6:13 comes from the book of Song of Solomon, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Beloved. The dominant emotion in this verse is joyful, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is conversational. It belongs to the poetry genre of biblical literature. Key themes include calling, beauty, dance. Notable phrases: Return, return; Shulammite; dance of Mahanaim.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same joyful
“For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, …”
— Isaiah 9:6
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:22
“"Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?"”
— 1 Corinthians 15:55
“Rejoice always.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:16
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17
Your reflection
What does Song of Solomon 6:13 mean to you, today?
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