What was the view of rabbis and early church fathers about the Son of Songs?

The view that the Song of Songs metaphorically represents the relationship between Jesus and the church aligns with a longstanding tradition in Christian interpretation. This perspective highlights the spiritual and symbolic dimensions of the text, where the intimate and passionate language between the lovers in the poem is seen as a representation of the profound love between Christ (the Bridegroom) and the Church (the Bride). Early church fathers, such as Origen and Augustine, often drew parallels between the divine love and the experiences of believers, emphasizing that the text's richness goes beyond a simple romantic or allegorical reading.

While other interpretations do exist—such as the allegorical view and the affirmation of married love—these approaches do not emphasize the specific Christological connection that is central to the understanding of the Song of Songs as a representation of the relationship between Jesus and the church. This interpretation reflects the church's theological commitment to see the entirety of Scripture as ultimately pointing to Christ and his relationship with believers.