Song of Solomon 7:12
Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.
The book to which the verse belongs is one of the one thousand and five songs or poems composed by Solomon. It is constructed as a dialogue carried on between various parties. Its expression is in vivid, warm, figurative imagery of the East.
In its plain sense the verse is the beloved inviting her companion to rise early and go out to the vineyards. The purpose of the visit is to see whether the vine flourishes, whether the tender grape appears, and whether the pomegranates are budding. There, in that setting of fruitfulness, she promises to give him her love.
In its spiritual sense the whole is a poetical picture and parable of Christ and His church. It displays His wonderful love toward her and her love in response to Him. That responsive love is often wanting in faithfulness and constancy. It is to be read alone with God, keeping that picture of Christ and the church in mind. Objections sometimes raised against its imagery would not be felt when it is read in the light of the time in which it was written.