6
Hold me close to your heart like the seal around your neck. Keep me close to yourself like the ring on your finger. My love for you is so strong it won't let you go. Love is as powerful as death. Love's jealousy is as strong as the grave. Love is like a blazing fire. It burns like a mighty flame.
Reference
Greek: τήρησις (tḗrēsis)
a watching, i.e. (figuratively) observance, or (concretely) a prison
Greek: ἐμαυτοῦ (emautoû)
of myself so likewise the dative case , and accusative case
Greek: ἆσσον (âsson)
more nearly, i.e. very near
Hebrew: zûwr
to press together, tighten
Hebrew: bâl
properly, anxiety, i.e. (by implication) the heart (as its seat)
Greek: παρόμοιος (parómoios)
alike nearly, i.e. similar
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: σφραγίς (sphragís)
a signet (as fencing in or protecting from misappropriation); by implication, the stamp impressed (as a mark of privacy, or genuineness), literally or figuratively
Hebrew: chôwthâm
a signature-ring
Greek: τράχηλος (tráchēlos)
the throat (neck), i.e. (figuratively) life
Hebrew: gargᵉrôwth
the throat (as used in rumination)
Greek: διατηρέω (diatēréō)
to watch thoroughly, i.e. (positively and transitively) to observe strictly, or (negatively and reflexively) to avoid wholly
Hebrew: ʼâtsal
to separate; hence, to select, refuse, contract
Greek: ἐμαυτοῦ (emautoû)
of myself so likewise the dative case , and accusative case
Greek: ἆσσον (âsson)
more nearly, i.e. very near
Hebrew: zûwr
to press together, tighten
Greek: παρόμοιος (parómoios)
alike nearly, i.e. similar
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: δακτύλιος (daktýlios)
a finger-ring
Hebrew: ṭabbaʻath
properly, a seal (as sunk into the wax), i.e. signet (for sealing); hence (generally) a ring of any kind
Hebrew: ʼÔwn
On, an Israelite
Greek: δάκτυλος (dáktylos)
a finger
Hebrew: ʼetsbaʻ
something to sieze with, i.e. a finger; by analogy, a toe
Hebrew: ʼahab
affection (in a good or a bad sense)
Greek: ἀντί (antí)
opposite, i.e. instead or because of (rarely in addition to)
Hebrew: bᵉmôw
in, with, by, etc.
Hebrew: kᵉnêmâʼ
so or thus
Hebrew: chăçîyn
properly, firm, i.e. (by implication) mighty
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: ἄπειμι (ápeimi)
to go away
Hebrew: ʼârach
to travel
Hebrew: ʼahab
affection (in a good or a bad sense)
Greek: καθά (kathá)
according to which things, i.e. just as
Hebrew: tachath
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.
Greek: καθά (kathá)
according to which things, i.e. just as
Hebrew: tachath
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.
Greek: τελευτή (teleutḗ)
decease
Hebrew: Mûwth
'To die for the son', probably the title of a popular song
Hebrew: ʼahab
affection (in a good or a bad sense)
Greek: καθά (kathá)
according to which things, i.e. just as
Hebrew: tachath
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.
Hebrew: chăçîyn
properly, firm, i.e. (by implication) mighty
Greek: καθά (kathá)
according to which things, i.e. just as
Hebrew: tachath
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: σεμνός (semnós)
venerable, i.e. honorable
Hebrew: bᵉʻîy
a prayer
Hebrew: ʼahab
affection (in a good or a bad sense)
Greek: παρόμοιος (parómoios)
alike nearly, i.e. similar
Hebrew: ʼechâd
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
Greek: φῶς (phōs)
compare G5316 (φαίνω), G5346 (φημί)); luminousness (in the widest application, natural or artificial, abstract or concrete, literal or figurative)
Hebrew: ʼûwr
flame; hence (in the plural) the East (as being the region of light)
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: παρόμοιος (parómoios)
alike nearly, i.e. similar
Hebrew: ʼechâd
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
Greek: κραταιός (krataiós)
powerful
Hebrew: ʼûwl
the body (as being rolled together); also powerful
Hebrew: ʼêsh
{fire (literally or figuratively)}
Verse Explanation
The woman asks her beloved to place her like a seal over his heart and arm, then declares that love is as strong as death and passion as relentless as the grave. Love is portrayed as an extraordinarily powerful and permanent force.
History
Seals: personal seals were widely used in the ancient Near East to mark ownership, identity, authority, and documents, especially during the 1st millennium BC.