Song of Songs 2:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He embodies a vibrant hue, as human nature flourished within Him to achieve incorruption, life, and the renewal of the Gospel essence. In another regard, He also represents a hue, reflecting His spiritual fragrance; for He claims to be the color of the pollen and the crinum of the elders.

When we fell victim to his (Satan's) grasp, ensnared in the chains of vice, we regarded him, the despicable one, as fragrant and esteemed. Yet when Immanuel revealed Himself to us, proclaiming, ‘I am the color of the pollen and the crinum of the udol,’ we, recognizing the divine fragrance within Him, finally discerned the foulness of Satan.

This blossom transformed into a fruit, allowing us to partake in its essence and savor its substance. Would you like to uncover the identity of that fruit? It is the virgin born of a virgin, the Lord emerging from a servant, God coming forth from humanity, the Son from the mother, the product of the earth. Observe what the Fruit declares: Unless a grain of wheat falls and dies in the soil, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces many seeds (John 12:24).

In the Song of Songs, Christ proclaims, I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys! (Song 2:1). Our hue signifies ruin leading to death, and for this reason He surrendered Himself, so that through His own demise, death might be defeated.

In reflecting on the wilderness mentioned here, one may wonder where Christ might be found within its expanse. The Lord Himself directs us to this area when He declares, "I am the flower of the wilderness and the thorn of thorns" (Song of Songs 2:1-2). This signifies another realm where the Lord commonly resides, and such realms are not singular but numerous. He says, "Az is the colour of the pollen," highlighting His presence in the pure simplicity of untainted thought. Additionally, "crin udolny" reveals that Christ embodies humility—not luxuriousness, indulgence, or debauchery, but rather the essence of simplicity and meekness.

"Look, you are good, my nephew." In response, the Bridegroom, as conveyed by the Bride, reveals that she has yet to witness His true splendor and has only perceived a mere reflection of it. The hue of the pollen symbolizes His earthly manifestation. He remarks, "You have perceived only My human beauty. For no one has ever seen God (John 1:18). I embodied the essence of pollen, that is, I assumed a mortal form and flourished on earth, while remaining Foreknown, Exalted, and Boundless. I became a valley lily, not a towering mountain or a flat plain, but a lily of the valleys. This is because He not only proclaimed salvation to the living but also descended to the depths of the earth to bring resurrection to the departed. Thus, He refers to Himself as "the flower of the field and the lily of the valleys." Furthermore, in addressing the Bride, He states, "As the thorn among the thorns, so is my beloved among the daughters."

The soul has ultimately recognized the beauty and value of purity, for purity is as fragrant as a blossom and represents the true essence.

These ravines can be interpreted similarly to the valleys, in which the lily, who refers to herself as the bride, flourishes. To stand out amidst these valleys, which are named for the modesty of her actions or desires, she appears as a beautifully adorned and magnificent lily. This is also in view of her future role in judging similar souls against her virtuous deeds, with no natural superiority over them, as indicated by the Ninevites and the queen of the south judging the unbelieving generation (cf. Matt. 12:41-42). Moreover, she becomes a lily in valleys that were previously barren, where souls begin to bear fruit, reflecting the beauty of this flower, receiving seed from the sower who ventured forth to sow (cf. Matt. 13:3-8).

Turning to her beloved, she requests him to reveal the spot where her sheep gather. He indicates the location and begins to extol her beauty and the adornments of her attire. In response, the bride likens him to a lovely flower or blooming brush that embellishes her heart, while she compares herself to a radiant rose of Sharon. Ultimately, she sees her beloved as a splendid apple tree, and feeling overwhelmed with love, she asks her companions to assist her by placing her beneath the apple tree, seeking strength in the presence of her beloved. Indeed, he implores her friends not to disturb her slumber until she awakens on her own.