Song of Solomon 8:7 · WEB
Song of Solomon 8:7
“Many waters can't quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned.”
Reflection
The Song is love poetry, unembarrassed about desire and delight, and it sits in the Bible without apology. This verse comes near its close and makes a claim about love's durability using the imagery of overwhelming force — many waters, floods. Whatever tries to extinguish love on that scale fails. The second half turns to economics and is nearly contemptuous: if someone offered everything he owns for love, it would be utterly scorned. Love isn't purchasable, and the attempt is embarrassing. That's a pointed word in any culture that quietly believes enough resources can secure affection. Readers across centuries have also heard God's love in these lines, and the reading works without forcing. A love that floods cannot quench and money cannot buy describes something we've seen elsewhere — proven at the worst moment, given rather than sold.
Historical Context
Near the close of a book of love poetry celebrating desire and devotion between two people. Jewish and Christian readers have long also read it as a picture of God's love for his people.
Application for Today
If you've feared that love could be worn down by enough hardship — that yours could be extinguished, or someone's toward you — this verse argues otherwise. Real love is described here as structurally unquenchable.
A Prayer
God, I've worried that love runs out under enough pressure. Thank you that yours doesn't — not many waters, not floods. Let me love that way too, past the point where it would be easier to stop.
Related Verses
“Yahweh, your God, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17
“But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
“Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7