The Song of Songs 6:11

The Return to the Vineyards

The Lover to His Beloved: ¹ 

6:11 I went down to the orchard of walnut trees, ² 

to look for the blossoms of the valley, ³ 

to see if the vines had budded

or if the pomegranates were in bloom.

[6:11]  ¹ sn It is difficult to determine whether the speaker in 6:11-12 is Solomon or the Beloved.

[6:11]  ² tn The term אֱגוֹז (’egoz, “nut”) probably refers to the “walnut” or “walnut tree” (juglans regia) (DCH 1:116 s.v. אֱגוֹז). The singular form is used collectively here to refer to a grove of walnut trees.

[6:11]  ³ sn It is not clear whether the “valley” in 6:12 is a physical valley (Jezreel Valley?), a figurative description of their love relationship, or a double entendre.