“locked up garden.” It is important to understand the cultural difference between a biblical “garden” from this time period and our modern “garden.” A biblical “garden” was more like a small park, with water, shade trees, and plants of all sorts, where the owner could go and relax and enjoy himself (cp. Eccles. 2:4-6). In contrast, too often our modern “gardens” are simply rows of vegetables or flowers. The fact that the Beloved is described as a “locked up garden,” indicates the woman has not as yet opened herself up to the Lover.