From the King James Version of the Holy Bible, Song of Solomon 6:3 states “I am my beloved s, and my beloved is mine: he feeds his flocks among the lilies.” This verse from the Song of Songs written by King Solomon is traditionally used in Jewish weddings. The first part of the verse right before the colon is quoted and inscribed on the wedding ring which will be presented by the bride to her groom during the ceremony. For this use, Solomon 6:3 is often dubbed as the loveliest quote in the ultimate love poem written by the king himself.
More than being quoted in the wedding ceremony, the verse is more closely associated with Elul, which is the twelfth month in the civil year of the Jews. On the Hebrew calendar, Elul is the sixth month of the ecclesiastical year roughly equivalent to the months of August and September in the Gregorian calendar. In the Hebrew language, Solomon 6:3 translates to “Ani L’Dodi, v’Dodi li” or “Ani Ledodi, Vedodi Lee.” The first letters of the four words in the translation represent the letters E, L, U, and L in the English alphabet. Combined successively, the phrase becomes the meaning of the acronym ELUL.
The month of Elul is when Jews take time to repent from their sins in preparation for the High Holy Days which would last for ten days. The High Holy Days commence with the Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish New Year during which time the fate is inscribed on the Book of Life or the Book of Death depending on one’s fate. During the first ten days after the Rosh Hashanah, the Jews perform rituals and practices for their repentance. On the tenth day, Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement would take place. This is the most solemn day of the year wherein the verdict of the fate received is sealed.
In Israel, thousands of Jews would march to the Old City of Jerusalem in the late evening or sometimes in early morning during the month of Elul. On the Western Wall, they would recite the verse in front of the wall with corresponding prayers while others would simply stand in awe.
The phrase “I am my beloved s and my beloved is mine” used as a romantic declaration in wedding ceremonies is an allegory of the love that exists between the Israeli people and their Lord. With this allegory, the intensity of the prevailing love is more readily gauged. Jews would continue moving forward towards their Lord, the Divine Beloved, just like a wife would continue to move forward together with her husband.
In summary, the phrase “I am my beloved s and my beloved is mine” best describes the abounding love that exists between the Lord and His people.