Song of Solomon 7:13 Meaning: What the Bride's Stored Fruits Teach About Devotion
The mandrakes produce fragrance. At our doors are all kinds of precious fruits, new and old, which I have stored up for you, my beloved.
The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.
The mandrakes give forth fragrance; And at our doors are all manner of precious fruits, new and old, Which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.
The mandrakes have given fragrance, And at our openings all pleasant things, New, yea, old, my beloved, I laid up for thee!
The mandrakes yield fragrance; And at our gates are all choice fruits, new and old: I have laid them up for thee, my beloved.
Meaning in one sentence
What do mandrakes and stored fruits symbolize in Song of Solomon 7:13? A devotional on the bride's invitation and the believer's love for Christ.
Context
This verse comes near the close of the Song, a poetic celebration of love. The bride speaks with a confident, open heart. She has invited her beloved to come away to the countryside, to the vineyards and fields where spring is unfolding. Now she points to evidence of her love: the mandrakes are releasing their fragrance, and at the door she has gathered every kind of fruit, both from this season and from stores she has kept. The image is not of a last-minute effort but of a life lived in anticipation of this moment. She has been preparing, saving, holding back nothing for the one she loves.
Key Words
The word for 'mandrakes' in Hebrew is rooted in the word for love. These plants were associated with desire and affection, and their fragrance marked the season of harvest. The bride draws attention to their scent not as a charm but as a natural expression of the season's abundance.
The phrase 'precious fruits' (also 'pleasant fruits' or 'delicacies') echoes earlier passages in the Song where the garden yields its best. These are not ordinary leftovers; they are choice, carefully selected.
And note 'new and old.' She has not only gathered the fresh fruits of the current season but also saved treasures from times past. The verb 'stored up' implies planning and thoughtfulness. This is love that prepares, that saves the best intentionally, not out of duty but out of delight.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian readers have long seen this verse through two lenses. Some, following the allegorical tradition, read the bride as the church or the individual soul speaking to Christ. Matthew Henry describes the bride triumphing in her relation to her beloved and storing up her graces and good works for him. Others, like Keil and Delitzsch, focus on the literal celebration of marital love, a bride showing her husband the tokens of her affection. Both readings honor the text. The human love pictured here is real and good, and for many believers it also points to a deeper, divine love that calls forth our best offerings.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading assumes the mandrakes have magical powers to arouse love, based on the story of Rachel and Leah in Genesis 30. But in this verse, the emphasis is on their fragrance and the season they announce, springtime, abundance, life. The bride is not using them as a charm; she is showing her beloved the beauty around them. In fact, the verse is about intentional love, not manipulation. She has prepared gifts, not tricks.
Living This Out
What have you stored up for the One you love? Not in a religious scorecard sense, but in the quiet ways you have prepared, a prayer held in your heart, a kindness planned, a habit of gratitude you are cultivating. The bride did not wait for the perfect moment; she gathered fruits new and old. This week, consider what you can offer: your time, your attention, a simple act of service. Love takes thought. You might ask, 'What do I have in my hands today that I can give as a gift of love?'
Main takeaway: Love prepares and saves its best, not for itself, but for the beloved.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The bride in this verse is like someone who saves her favorite candy for a friend. She says, 'Come, let's enjoy them together.' You can show love by saving something special for someone you care about.
For ages 9, 12
The bride has been storing up fruits, new ones from this season and old ones she has kept for a long time. That takes planning and patience. When you think ahead and prepare something good for a friend or family member, you are showing the kind of love this verse talks about: love that thinks of the other person and wants to share what is best.
Questions People Ask
What are mandrakes in Song of Solomon 7:13?
Mandrakes are plants mentioned in ancient times, known for their strong fragrance. In Hebrew the word is related to 'love'. In this verse, the bride points to their smell as part of the spring atmosphere and her invitation. Unlike the story in Genesis 30, there is no suggestion of magical powers here, just the natural beauty of the season.
Why does the bride mention both new and old fruits?
The 'new and old' fruits show that the bride has been gathering for a long time. She has not only the fresh fruits of this season but also treasures she has kept from before. It speaks of ongoing, intentional love, she has been preparing for her beloved with both recent and long-held gifts.
Is Song of Solomon 7:13 only about romantic love?
The Song of Songs is a love poem, so it speaks directly about human romantic love. Many Christians throughout history have also read it as an allegory of Christ's love for the church, seeing the bride as the believer. Both interpretations are respected. The verse can encourage married couples in their love and also inspire devotion to God.
What does 'I have stored up for you' mean for my faith?
It means that love takes preparation and thought. For a believer, this can translate into storing up acts of kindness, prayer, scripture memory, and service, not to earn God's favor, but as a natural expression of love for Christ who has already loved us. It encourages intentionality in our relationship with God.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study