Song Of Solomon 2 7

Song Of Solomon 2:7 kjv

I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

Song Of Solomon 2:7 nkjv

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases.

Song Of Solomon 2:7 niv

Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

Song Of Solomon 2:7 esv

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.

Song Of Solomon 2:7 nlt

Promise me, O women of Jerusalem,
by the gazelles and wild deer,
not to awaken love until the time is right.

Song Of Solomon 2 verses

Song Of Solomon 2 7 Meaning

Song of Solomon 2:7 presents a solemn and urgent adjuration from the Shulammite bride to the "daughters of Jerusalem." Her emphatic charge is not to prematurely arouse or manipulate love's affections. This central warning emphasizes that genuine, healthy love, particularly within its intimate expressions, should develop organically and naturally, blooming in its own divinely appointed time and at its own spontaneous pleasure, rather than being forced, hurried, or stirred up artificially. It champions purity, patience, and waiting for the right moment for love to find its full, joyful, and exclusive expression.

Song Of Solomon 2 7 Context

Song of Solomon 2:7 is found amidst the expressions of blossoming love between the Shulammite bride and her beloved, the king (or shepherd). At this point in the Song, their relationship is developing, filled with deep affection, yearning, and shared intimacy, though not yet fully consummated in marriage. The bride, deeply immersed in the unique joy and passion of true love, issues this strong caution to the "daughters of Jerusalem" – a collective term for the young, often unmarried women who serve as an audience or chorus within the poem. This specific injunction serves as a vital refrain, repeated almost identically in Song 3:5 and 8:4, highlighting its central importance within the Song's message about the sacred, natural, and rightly timed development of love. It emerges from a place of experiential understanding and a desire to guide others in purity and wisdom regarding matters of the heart and body.

Song Of Solomon 2 7 Word analysis

• I charge you: The Hebrew term is אֲנִי מַשְׁבִּיעָה (ani mashbi'ah), from the root שָׁבַע (shava'). It means "to cause to swear," "to adjure," "to put under oath." This is a strong, solemn injunction, not a mere suggestion. The speaker is putting the hearers under a binding obligation. It reflects the deep importance and gravity of the warning.
• O daughters of Jerusalem: בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם (bənoṯ Yərūšālayim). These are the young women of the royal court or city, companions and perhaps potential bridesmaids of the Shulammite. They represent the younger, impressionable generation, observers of the central love story. They are an internal audience within the Song, to whom the wisdom gained from love's unfolding is imparted.
• by the gazelles: בַּצְּבָאוֹת (baṣṣəḇāʾōṯ). Gazelles (specifically female) are known for their grace, swiftness, timidity, beauty, and often, wildness or untamed nature. Adjuring by them implies a connection to natural beauty and the unforced essence of life.
• or by the does of the field: וְאֵיל֥וֹת הַשָּׂדֶֽה (wəʾêlōṯ haśśāḏeh). Female deer, similar in symbolism to gazelles. They signify innocence, elegance, purity, and connection to their natural, free habitat. The oath implies that love, like these creatures, is something delicate, beautiful, and inherently wild in the sense that it cannot be caged, forced, or domesticated by human will; it must arise naturally. It may also imply a reverence for natural life and a caution against disturbing its delicate balance.
• that you not stir up: אִם־תְּעוֹרְר֞וּ (ʾim-təʿōrərū). The verb עוּר (ʿur) means "to arouse," "to awaken," "to stir up," "to incite." In this context, it refers to provoking or forcing emotional and potentially physical passion. The particle אִם (ʾim) acts as a strong negative particle when preceding a verb in a prohibitory oath ("If you stir up, then... [may this punishment be upon you]!").
• nor awaken love: וְאִם־תְּעוֹרְר֣וּ (wəʾim-təʿōrərū). The repetition of "nor awaken" emphasizes the seriousness of the warning and implies a comprehensive prohibition against any form of premature or artificial stimulation of intimate love. It applies to both external provocation and internal self-arousal before its time.
• love: אַהֲבָה (ʾahăḇâ). This term refers to the profound, passionate affection and desire between a man and a woman, encompassing both emotional intimacy and physical passion. In the Song of Solomon, this love is depicted within the sacred context of covenantal marriage.
• until it pleases: עַד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּֽץ (ʿad šettəḥpāṣ). The verb חָפֵץ (ḥāpēṣ) means "to desire," "to delight in," "to be willing," "to find pleasure." The subject of "pleases" is ambiguous. It could refer to love itself, implying love's own spontaneous arising when it is ready. It could also implicitly refer to the will of God, who ordains the proper time for all things. The phrase strongly underscores the idea that genuine love should unfold naturally, spontaneously, and at the right, unforced time.

Song Of Solomon 2 7 Bonus section

The threefold repetition of this powerful injunction (2:7, 3:5, 8:4) is a unique structural feature of the Song of Solomon. Its placement marks key turning points or moments of heightened intensity in the love story, each time following an experience of intimate connection or shared vulnerability between the lovers. This literary device emphasizes the teaching as a core principle governing their love. It is not just a passing comment but a foundational truth for approaching and experiencing love. While initially understood as advice for young women regarding romantic and sexual restraint until marriage, the consistency of this warning allows for broader theological application: it mirrors the wisdom of God in bringing about His plans in their proper season (Ecc 3:1), and allegorically, can be understood as the Church's patient waiting for Christ's return, refraining from self-generated spiritual experiences or rushing ahead of God's will. The delicate creatures used in the oath also underline the precious, easily damaged nature of love and the human heart.

Song Of Solomon 2 7 Commentary

Song of Solomon 2:7 conveys a profound spiritual and practical lesson through the voice of the Shulammite bride. It is an urgent admonition to approach matters of intimate love with purity, patience, and reverence. By adjuring the "daughters of Jerusalem" "by the gazelles and by the does of the field," the Shulammite emphasizes the wild, untameable, and delicate nature of true love. Just as one would not abruptly startle or coerce wild animals, so too should one not force or prematurely awaken romantic and physical desire. This highlights that love, particularly the passionate and physical dimensions of it, should not be stirred up through artificial means, casual experimentation, or societal pressure before it reaches its natural, divinely-ordained fruition. It advocates for emotional and physical chastity until a commitment (ideally marriage) provides the proper, secure, and respectful environment for love's full, exclusive, and mutual blossoming. This message cautions against pre-marital sexual activity, emotional manipulation in relationships, or pursuing intimacy outside God's designed boundaries for flourishing, covenantal love. It is a timeless call for wise self-control, respecting God's timing, and honoring the sanctity of genuine affection.