Song Of Solomon 2 17

Song Of Solomon 2:17 kjv

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

Song Of Solomon 2:17 nkjv

Until the day breaks And the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, And be like a gazelle Or a young stag Upon the mountains of Bether.

Song Of Solomon 2:17 niv

Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the rugged hills.

Song Of Solomon 2:17 esv

Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle or a young stag on cleft mountains.

Song Of Solomon 2:17 nlt

Before the dawn breezes blow
and the night shadows flee,
return to me, my love, like a gazelle
or a young stag on the rugged mountains.

Song Of Solomon 2 verses

Song Of Solomon 2 17 Meaning

Song of Solomon 2:17 expresses the deep longing of the Shulamite for her beloved to return swiftly and continually be present with her until the perfect, glorious day fully dawns and all obstacles and sorrows vanish. Allegorically, it signifies the Church's fervent yearning for Christ's glorious Second Coming, when all forms of spiritual darkness, trials, and separation will finally dissipate, and full communion will be established. It is a prayer for persistent, agile presence amidst present realities of waiting and perceived separation.

Song Of Solomon 2 17 Context

Song of Solomon chapter 2 is rich with poetic imagery depicting the mutual affection between the Shulamite and her beloved, King Solomon. In the preceding verses (2:8-16), the Shulamite recounts her beloved's recent visit, his joyful call to her ("Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away!"), and his invitation to explore the beauty of spring. She cherishes this close fellowship but is aware of a temporary departure or an imminent leave-taking, indicated by his request to "catch the foxes" (2:15), perhaps hinting at work or duties calling him away. Therefore, verse 17 is a tender and passionate plea for his return, expressing a profound yearning for his immediate and swift presence, not merely a future encounter, but a return "until the day break," indicating an enduring hope for constant communion until the perfect and unveiled day arrives. This narrative beautifully illustrates the ebb and flow of presence and absence common in human relationships, and allegorically, in the believer's relationship with Christ.

Song Of Solomon 2 17 Word analysis

• Until the day break (עַד שֶׁיָּפוּחַ הַיּוֹם - 'ad sheyaphuakh hayyom):
  • עַד ('ad): "Until," indicating a definite endpoint or a duration leading to a particular event.
  • יָפוּחַ (yaphuakh): Root napakh, "to breathe," "to blow," "to blow on," "to kindle," and here, "to dawn." It suggests the very breath or essence of the new day making its presence known, displacing the night. Symbolically, the full effulgence of Christ's light, the dawn of eternal day.
  • הַיּוֹם (hayyom): "The day," the specific time of ultimate revelation, clarity, and unobstructed light.
• And the shadows flee away (וְהָיוּ הַצְּלָלִים נָסוּ - vehayu ha'tselalim nasu):
  • וְהָיוּ (vehayu): "And will be," future tense.
  • הַצְּלָלִים (ha'tselalim): "The shadows," referring to the shadows of night, symbolic of temporary separation, obscurity, trials, tribulation, sin, or death. These are fleeting, transient realities.
  • נָסוּ (nasu): Root nus, "to flee," "to escape," "to vanish." Emphasizes the complete disappearance of darkness and obscurity in the face of true light.
• Turn, my beloved (סֹב דְּמֵה לְךָ דּוֹדִי - sov d'meh l'kha dodi):
  • סֹב (sov): Imperative, "turn," "turn about," "go round," "return." An earnest plea for the beloved to reorient his course towards her, signifying a desire for his return or for him to make haste.
  • דּוֹדִי (dodi): "My beloved," an intimate term of endearment used throughout Song of Solomon, representing Christ to the Church or an individual believer.
• And be thou like a roe or a young hart (וְלִצְבִי אוֹ לְעֹפֶר הָאַיָּלִים - v'litzvi o l'ofer ha'ayyalim):
  • לִצְבִי (litzvi): "Like a gazelle" or "roe," known for their grace, speed, beauty, and agility in traversing mountainous terrain.
  • עֹפֶר הָאַיָּלִים (ofer ha'ayyalim): "A young stag," "fawn of the deer," sharing the characteristics of the roe/gazelle. These animals represent quickness and strength, implying that the beloved should be swift and unimpeded in his coming.
• Upon the mountains of Bether (עַל הָרֵי בָתֶר - 'al hare batel):
  • הָרֵי (hare): "Mountains of," implying rugged terrain, possibly signifying geographical distance, challenges, or obstacles that must be overcome by the swift beloved.
  • בָּתֶר (bater): Literally "division" or "separation," from the verb bāthar, meaning "to cut in two" (e.g., in covenant rituals like Gen 15:10, where animals were cut). This is a crucial allegorical detail, highlighting that the mountains are not merely geographical but symbolize the obstacles, separation, and fragmented realities that stand between the longing Shulamite and her beloved, and between the Church and the fully manifested presence of Christ.

Words-Group analysis

• "Until the day break, and the shadows flee away": This phrase encapsulates a fervent eschatological hope. It points to a definitive future event—the "day break" signaling the complete triumph of light over darkness. "Shadows fleeing" vividly portrays the absolute vanishing of all transient ills, sorrows, and imperfections that characterize the current age. It's a profound longing for the revelation of ultimate truth, clarity, and peace.
• "Turn, my beloved": This is an immediate, direct, and intimate plea. "Turn" is an active verb, indicating a call for presence and responsiveness. It conveys a desire for re-establishment of closeness, hinting at either a temporary physical separation or a spiritual distance the speaker wishes to overcome through deeper communion.
• "Be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether": This metaphorical command emphasizes the urgency and nature of the desired return. The swiftness and agility of the deer species highlight that the beloved should overcome any "mountains of Bether" (division, obstacles, time, challenges) with ease and speed. It’s an appeal for overcoming separation, asserting that no barrier should impede his immediate and gracious arrival.

Song Of Solomon 2 17 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "Bether" (בָּתֶר) is derived from a root meaning "to cut" or "to divide." This connection is profoundly significant. In ancient covenant-making ceremonies (such as God's covenant with Abraham in Gen 15), animals were "cut in two" and the parties would pass between the "divided parts." This imagery imbues the "mountains of Bether" with a deeper meaning than mere geographical division; it can suggest the obstacles or "divisions" that necessarily exist between two parties until a full covenant promises completion, or, more simply, the sharp, rugged, or impassable terrain created by such divisions. The bride is essentially saying, "However divided or rough the path, return to me swiftly, beloved." This transforms the "mountains" from possibly idyllic locations to the very symbol of temporary separation, across which the swift beloved is asked to come. While some interpreters identify Bether with specific historical locations like Bitron, the symbolic interpretation rooted in the Hebrew meaning of division aligns best with the passionate yearning for union expressed in the verse. This verse acts as a bridge, looking back to the perfumed mountains (Song 2:6, 14) as places of joy, but forward to the mountains of separation, implicitly requesting the beloved traverse them, awaiting the glorious and indivisible "day break."

Song Of Solomon 2 17 Commentary

Song of Solomon 2:17 is a poignant expression of a longing heart. The bride, missing her beloved's full presence, asks him to return with the speed and agility of a gazelle, traversing even the "mountains of Bether"—symbolic of division, separation, or difficulty. This anticipates a future "day break" when all "shadows"—referring to all forms of darkness, trial, and temporary absence—will completely flee.

The verse is often interpreted allegorically as the Church's yearning for the Second Coming of Christ. "The day break" refers to the glorious manifestation of Jesus, our Sun of Righteousness, ushering in the eternal day where all tears, suffering, and separation from God will cease (Rev 21:4). The "shadows fleeing away" represent the complete abolition of sin, death, and all the temporal troubles of this fallen world (Isa 25:8). The call for the beloved to "turn" is a prayer for His swift, powerful return to claim His bride. The imagery of the "roe" or "young hart" underscores Christ's readiness, ability, and unhindered movement to overcome any obstacle that appears to delay His arrival or limit His presence. The "mountains of Bether," signifying "division" or "cutting," point to the present realities of the broken world, the separation from His full glory, and the trials faced by believers. Yet, the longing is for Him to move swiftly across these very divisions to unite fully with His beloved. It reminds believers to live with an eager anticipation for Christ's return, maintaining hope amidst the temporary challenges of this life.

Practical usage examples:

• A believer enduring a period of spiritual dryness, yearning for a fresh infilling of God's Spirit until full revival dawns.
• The Church globally praying for the consummation of history and Christ's final return amidst persecution and societal darkness.
• An individual facing a personal trial or prolonged wait, resting in the hope of Christ's timely intervention and the eventual fading of their present difficulties.