Song of Solomon 2:5 Meaning: Faint with Love
Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples; for I am faint with love.
Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
Stay ye me with raisins, refresh me with apples; For I am sick from love.
Sustain me with grape-cakes, Support me with citrons, for I am sick with love.
Sustain ye me with raisin-cakes, Refresh me with apples; For I am sick of love.
Meaning in one sentence
What does 'sick of love' mean in Song of Solomon 2:5? Discover the depth of longing expressed in this verse, whether for a beloved or for God.
Context
This verse comes from a passionate exchange in the Song of Solomon. The bride has just described being brought into the banquet hall, her beloved's banner of love over her. Now she asks for something to hold her up. Raisins and apples were simple foods that could revive a person who felt weak. She is not physically ill. She is overcome with love. The longing is so intense that it drains her strength. She needs help just to stay steady. This is one of the most honest expressions of human love in Scripture. It shows that deep affection can leave us vulnerable and in need of care.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight of this verse. The word for faint or sick is cholah. It means to be weak, feeble, unable to stand. This is not disgust or rejection. It is the physical feeling of being overwhelmed by love. The word samakh, translated strengthen or support, pictures someone propping you up from underneath. It is the same word used for leaning on a staff. The lady is not asking for a grand rescue. She just needs something to lean on. The raisins are ashishah, cakes of pressed dried fruit. These were portable food for travelers, a quick source of energy. And raphad means to spread out something to make a firm base. Together these words paint a scene of a person who is steady. Love has taken her legs out from under her, and she needs real, simple help to keep standing.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have long read this verse two ways. Some understand it as a literal love poem between a bride and groom. In that reading, the woman's frank longing honors the goodness of romantic desire. Other readers, from the early church through the Reformation, see an allegory of Christ and the Church. The soul yearns for God so deeply that it feels faint. Both readings affirm that love can be powerful enough to weaken a person. Neither tradition tries to soften that reality. They simply differ on who the speakers represent. What they share is a conviction that longing is not shameful. It can point us toward what truly sustains us.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think the woman is tired of love, as in “I am sick and tired of this.” That is not what the Hebrew says. The word cholah means weak or faint, not annoyed. In fact, she is not asking for love to stop. She is asking for strength so she can keep standing under its weight. This is a request for more presence, not for distance.
Living This Out
Love can exhaust you. Whether you are in the middle of a romance that feels too intense, or you have been longing for God in a way that leaves you empty, this verse gives you permission to say so. It does not tell you to pull yourself together. It shows you asking for help. Simple help. A piece of fruit. A hand to hold. Someone to sit with you. This week, when love tires you out, you can name it. You can ask for the small things that keep you upright. That is not weakness. That is honesty.
Main takeaway: Love can be so overwhelming that it weakens us, and we need simple sustenance to endure its intensity.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When you love someone a lot, your heart can feel so full it makes you tired. That is okay. You can ask for help.
For ages 9, 12
This verse shows a woman who loves so much she feels weak. She asks for raisins and apples to help her feel stronger. Love is powerful. It can make us feel wobbly inside. But it is also good to ask for help when love feels like too much. That is what she does. She asks for something simple to keep going.
Questions People Ask
What does 'sick of love' mean in Song of Solomon 2:5?
It does not mean being tired of love or disgusted. In Hebrew, the word 'cholah' means weak, faint, or exhausted. The woman is so overcome with longing that she feels physically unsteady. She is not asking love to stop. She is asking for help to handle its intensity.
What are 'flagons' in the King James Version of this verse?
The King James translates 'ashishah' as 'flagons,' which are vessels for wine. But most scholars today agree the word means 'raisin cakes' or 'cakes of pressed dried fruit.' These were common travel food, a quick source of energy. The verse is about being refreshed with simple fruit, not wine.
Is Song of Solomon about God or about romantic love?
Christians read it both ways. Some take it as a literal love poem celebrating human romance. Others see it as an allegory of Christ's love for the Church or God's love for Israel. Both readings have a long history in the church. The text itself does not decide. Both interpretations honor the depth of love.
Why does she ask for raisins and apples specifically?
Raisin cakes and apples were common refreshing foods in ancient Israel. They were sweet, easy to carry, and gave quick energy. In a love poem, they are the simplest form of care. She asks for what will hold her up. The words emphasize support and refreshment, not luxury.
Does this verse suggest love is dangerous or bad?
No. The verse does not condemn love. It describes the overwhelming nature of deep affection. Love can leave a person vulnerable and in need of help. That is not a problem to fix. It is a sign of how real and powerful love is. Scripture does not shy away from that honesty.
For pastors & researchers
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