Song of Songs 5 in the early church

[also Song of Solomon; Vulgate: Canticle of Canticles]

130 passages quote, allude to, or echo Song of Songs 5, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16

Song of Songs 5:1

I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends, and drink; drink freely, O beloved.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Song 5:1Letter 75.14 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence249/250–258
Song 5:1Catechetical Lecture 13.31 · Cyril of Jerusalemquotation, high confidenceca. 350
Song 5:1Catechetical Lecture 14.11 · Cyril of Jerusalemquotation, high confidenceca. 350
Song 5:1Homily on the Paralytic 6 · Cyril of Jerusalemquotation, high confidenceca. 350-387
Song 5:1On Cain and Abel 1.19 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 375-378
Song 5:1Exposition of Psalm 118 13.23.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:1Exposition of Psalm 118 13.24.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:1Hexameron (Exameron) 3.71 · Ambroseallusion, low confidenceca. 387-390
Song 5:1On the Mysteries 9 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387–391
Song 5:1Against Jovinianus 1.30 · Jeromequotation, high confidence393
Song 5:1Commentary on the Apostles' Creed 26 · Rufinus of Aquileiaquotation, high confidenceca. 404
Song 5:1Commentary on Jeremiah 6.23 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 414-419
Song 5:1Formulae of Spiritual Understanding 5 · Eucherius of Lyonquotation, high confidenceca. 420-430

Song of Songs 5:2

I sleep, but my heart is awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Song 5:2Fragments on the Song of Songs, chapter 4 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Song 5:2On the Lord's Prayer 31 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidenceca. 252
Song 5:2History of the Arians 33 · Athanasius of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 357
Song 5:2Homilies on the Psalms 33.2 · Basil of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 360-378
Song 5:2Tractates 2.13.1 · Zeno of Veronaecho, low confidenceca. 362-380
Song 5:2Question 110, section 9 · Ambrosiasterquotation, high confidenceca. 370–384
Song 5:2Letter 22.25 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Song 5:2Letter 22.26 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Song 5:2Letter 66.10 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Song 5:2Letter 71.1 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Song 5:2Letter 74.4 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Song 5:2Letter 75.5 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Song 5:2On the Christian Faith 4.2 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378–380
Song 5:2Chapter 9 · Nicetas, bishop of Remesianaquotation, high confidenceca. 380–414
Song 5:2Exposition of Psalm 118 1.11.2 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:2Exposition of Psalm 118 4.15.1 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:2Exposition of Psalm 118 12.14.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:2Exposition of Psalm 118 12.14.2 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:2Exposition of Psalm 118 12.15.1 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:2Exposition of Psalm 118 14.38.3 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:2Exposition of Psalm 118 22.12.3 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:2Exposition of Psalm 118 22.32.2 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:2Hexameron (Exameron) 4.29 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Song 5:2Explanation of Twelve Psalms 1.24.3 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-397
Song 5:2Explanation of Twelve Psalms 36.66.5 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-397
Song 5:2–4Homily 11 · Gregory of Nyssaquotation, high confidenceca. 390–394
Song 5:2Homily 13 · Gregory of Nyssaquotation, high confidenceca. 390–394
Song 5:2Letters 23.33 · Paulinus of Nolaquotation, high confidenceca. 394–413
Song 5:2Tractates on the Gospel of John 57.1 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 406–420
Song 5:2Tractates on the Gospel of John 57.2 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 406–420
Song 5:2Tractates on the Gospel of John 57.3 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 406–420
Song 5:2Tractates on the Gospel of John 57.4 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 406–420

Song of Songs 5:3

I have taken off my robe—must I put it back on? I have washed my feet—must I soil them again?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Song 5:3Commentary on John 32.135 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 230–248
Song 5:3Homily on Isaiah 6 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 235–250
Song 5:3Homilies on Judges 8.5 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Song 5:3Commentary on Romans 8.5 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Song 5:3Catechetical Lecture 3.7 · Cyril of Jerusalemquotation, high confidenceca. 350
Song 5:3Catechetical Lecture 15.25 · Cyril of Jerusalemquotation, high confidenceca. 350
Song 5:3Catechetical Lecture 20.1 · Cyril of Jerusalemquotation, high confidenceca. 350
Song 5:3Letter 22.26 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Song 5:3Letter 107.7 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Song 5:3Second Apology of David 45 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 384-397
Song 5:3Second Apology of David 46 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 384-397
Song 5:3On Jacob and the Happy Life 1.19 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-390
Song 5:3Exposition of Psalm 118 16.14.3 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:3Exposition of Psalm 118 22.4.2 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:3Tractates on the Gospel of John 56.5 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 406–420
Song 5:3Tractates on the Gospel of John 57.1 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 406–420
Song 5:3Tractates on the Gospel of John 57.2 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 406–420
Song 5:3Tractates on the Gospel of John 57.5 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 406–420
Song 5:3Tractates on the Gospel of John 57.6 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 406–420

Song of Songs 5:4

My beloved put his hand to the latch; my heart pounded for him.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Song 5:4Letter 22.25 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Song 5:4Exposition of Psalm 118 12.16.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:4Exposition of Psalm 118 22.32.2 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397

Song of Songs 5:5

I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh on the handles of the bolt.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Song 5:5Homily on the Paralytic 6 · Cyril of Jerusalemallusion, medium confidenceca. 350-387
Song 5:5Letter 65.14 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Song 5:5On Virgins 2.6 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 377
Song 5:5Exposition of Psalm 118 12.16.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:5Exposition of Psalm 118 12.16.2 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:5–7Homily 12 · Gregory of Nyssaquotation, high confidenceca. 390–394

Song of Songs 5:6

I opened for my beloved, but he had turned and gone. My heart sank at his departure. I sought him but did not find him. I called, but he did not answer.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Song 5:6Fragments on the Song of Songs, chapter 4 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Song 5:6Letter 22.25 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Song 5:6Letter 22.26 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Song 5:6Second Apology of David 44 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 384-397
Song 5:6Exposition of Psalm 118 6.9.2 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:6Exposition of Psalm 118 12.17.1 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:6Exposition of Psalm 118 12.17.2 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:6Exposition of Psalm 118 22.32.2 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:6Homily 13 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, high confidenceca. 390–394
Song 5:6The Conferences 13.12 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429

Song of Songs 5:7

I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city. They beat me and bruised me; they took away my cloak, those guardians of the walls.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Song 5:7Letter 22.25 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Song 5:7Letter 107.7 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Song 5:7Second Apology of David 44 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 384-397
Song 5:7Exposition of Psalm 118 7.35.3 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:7Exposition of Psalm 118 7.36.2 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:7Exposition of Psalm 118 14.34.1 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397

Song of Songs 5:8

O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you, if you find my beloved, tell him I am sick with love.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Song 5:8Commentary on the Song of Songs 0.69 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410)
Song 5:8Homily 12 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, high confidenceca. 390–394
Song 5:8–12Homily 13 · Gregory of Nyssaquotation, high confidenceca. 390–394

Song of Songs 5:10

My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Song 5:10Fragments on the Song of Songs, chapter 4 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Song 5:10Letter 108.31 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Song 5:10Ancoratus 49.1 · Epiphanius of Salamisquotation, high confidence374
Song 5:10Ancoratus 49.4 · Epiphanius of Salamisallusion, high confidence374
Song 5:10On Virgins 1.9 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 377
Song 5:10Altercatio, chapter 2, speech 42 · Evagrius of Gaulquotation, high confidenceca. 400
Song 5:10Exposition of Psalm 118 5.8.2 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:10On the Blessings of the Patriarchs 56 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-392
Song 5:10Against Jovinianus 1.31 · Jeromequotation, high confidence393
Song 5:10Part 1, chapter 27 · Quodvultdeus of Carthagequotation, medium confidenceca. 445-450

Song of Songs 5:11

His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Song 5:11Fragments on the Song of Songs, chapter 4 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Song 5:11Exposition of Psalm 118 15.12.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:11Letters 23.26 · Paulinus of Nolaquotation, high confidenceca. 394–413
Song 5:11Letters 23.28 · Paulinus of Nolaquotation, high confidenceca. 394–413
Song 5:11Formulae of Spiritual Understanding 4 · Eucherius of Lyonquotation, high confidenceca. 420-430

Song of Songs 5:12

His eyes are like doves beside the streams of water, bathed in milk and mounted like jewels.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Song 5:12Homilies on Leviticus 2.2 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Song 5:12Homilies on Leviticus 3.8 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Song 5:12Catechetical Lecture 17.8 · Cyril of Jerusalemquotation, high confidenceca. 350
Song 5:12Exposition of Psalm 118 15.13.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:12Exposition of Psalm 118 16.21.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397

Song of Songs 5:13

His cheeks are like beds of spice, towers of perfume. His lips are like lilies, dripping with flowing myrrh.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Song 5:13Fragments on the Song of Songs, chapter 4 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Song 5:13Exposition of Psalm 118 18.22.3 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:13–16Homily 13 · Gregory of Nyssaquotation, high confidenceca. 390–394
Song 5:13–16Homily 14 · Gregory of Nyssaquotation, high confidenceca. 390–394

Song of Songs 5:14

His arms are rods of gold set with beryl. His body is polished ivory bedecked with sapphires.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Song 5:14Fragments on the Song of Songs, chapter 4 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254

Song of Songs 5:15

His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, as majestic as the cedars.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Song 5:15PG 12:1497 (Ps 65 LXX) · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 220-254
Song 5:15Commentary on Romans 8.5 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Song 5:15On Virgins 1.9 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 377
Song 5:15On the Christian Faith 3.10 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378–380
Song 5:15Exposition of Psalm 118 5.39.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397

Song of Songs 5:16

His mouth is most sweet; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Song 5:16Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 805 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 220-254
Song 5:16Oration 37.11 · Gregory of Nazianzusquotation, high confidenceca. 362–383
Song 5:16On the Christian Faith 3.10 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378–380
Song 5:16Theological Oration 3 (Or. 29), On the Son 20 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, medium confidence380
Song 5:16Exposition of Psalm 118 17.11.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:16Exposition of Psalm 118 18.22.3 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Song 5:16Against Jovinianus 1.31 · Jeromequotation, high confidence393
Song 5:16On the Christian Life 9 · Fastidiusquotation, high confidenceca. 411-430