How much better is thy love than wine!

This line comes from the biblical Song of Solomon (also called the Song of Songs), a collection of ancient Hebrew love poems traditionally associated with Solomon but of uncertain authorship. The verse occurs in a sensuous exchange between lovers, using the imagery of wine, fragrance, and intimacy to praise the beloved’s affection. In Jewish and Christian traditions, the Song has been read both as literal erotic poetry and allegorically—interpreted as expressing the love between God and Israel, or Christ and the Church—so the line has circulated widely in devotional as well as literary contexts.

The speaker elevates the beloved’s love above wine, a classic symbol of pleasure, celebration, and intoxication. The comparison suggests that love is not merely enjoyable but surpasses even the most prized sensual delight, offering a deeper, more sustaining sweetness. In allegorical readings, “love” becomes divine or covenantal love, portrayed as more exhilarating and life-giving than any earthly comfort. The line’s power lies in its compressed praise: it treats love as an experience that both delights the senses and overwhelms ordinary measures of value.

How much better is thy love than wine! (KJV)
How much better is your love than wine! (NIV)
How much better is your love than wine; and the smell of your ointments than all spices! (KJV, extended into the next clause)