Song Of Solomon 3 5

Song Of Solomon 3:5 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 3:5 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 3:5 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 3:5 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 3:5 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 3 verses

Song Of Solomon 3 5 meaning

Song of Solomon 3:5 is a solemn adjuration by the Shulamite woman to the "daughters of Jerusalem." She charges them, using a binding oath invoking the gentle and easily startled wild animals, not to intentionally provoke, arouse, or hasten romantic love until it is ready, spontaneous, and divinely appointed. This verse warns against manipulating or prematurely awakening deep emotional and physical intimacy, advocating for patience, purity, and proper timing in matters of affection.

Song Of Solomon 3 5 Context

Song of Solomon chapter 3 finds the Shulamite deeply desiring her beloved. The opening verses (3:1-4) describe her desperate, night-time search for him through the city streets. This passage can be understood as a dream sequence, reflecting the intense longing and anxiety of separation. Having found him and held him fast, bringing him into her mother's house (a place of security and acceptance, symbolizing deep commitment and intimacy within sanctioned boundaries), the Shulamite then issues this recurring charge to the "daughters of Jerusalem." The verse acts as a literary and thematic pause, a solemn warning about the sacredness of the love she shares and the dangers of attempting to force or prematurely awaken such profound, intimate affection. It frames her love story as an example of patient, pure, and appropriately timed devotion, contrasting it with any casual or imprudent approaches to romantic relationships common in society.

Song Of Solomon 3 5 Word analysis

• I charge you: The Hebrew shav‘a (שָׁבַע) means "to swear an oath," indicating a solemn and binding declaration. It is a powerful adjuration, not a mere request, conveying the grave importance of the warning.

• O daughters of Jerusalem: The banot Yerushalayim (בָּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלַםִ) represents the young, unattached women who form the "chorus" or audience for the Shulamite's reflections. They are a universal symbol for all young people considering love.

• by the gazelles: biṣḇaʾōṯ (בִּצְבָאוֹת) - Gazelles are known for their graceful beauty, timidity, swiftness, and easily startled nature. Invoking them in an oath highlights the delicate, precious, and easily disturbed quality of true love.

• or by the does of the field: ūḇĕʾaylōṯ haśśāḏeh (וּבְאַיְלוֹת הַשָּׂדֶה) - Does (female deer) similarly embody elegance, gentleness, and purity. This pairing with gazelles intensifies the imagery of innocent, wild beauty that should not be rashly disturbed.

• that you not stir up or awaken: The Hebrew uses a strong double prohibition: al-tāʿīrū wə'al-təʿōrərū (אַל־תָּעִירוּ וְאַל־תְּעוֹרְרוּ). Both verbs ʿūr (עוּר) mean "to rouse, awaken, stir up," but their combination creates an emphatic warning against any intentional provocation or hastening of love. This includes emotional manipulation, sexual arousal outside its proper context, or pursuing love out of mere desire or convenience.

• love: hāʾahăḇâ (הָאַהֲבָה) - Refers to romantic love, which encompasses deep affection, emotional connection, and physical intimacy. The definite article "the" suggests this is a profound, specific, and perhaps ideal form of love.

• until it pleases: ʿaḏ šettəḥpāṣ (עַד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּץ) - The Hebrew verb ḥāp̄ēṣ (חָפֵץ) means "to delight in, desire, be willing." The subject of this verb is ambiguous and rich in meaning.

  • "until she pleases": Some interpretations suggest it refers to the woman (the Shulamite), meaning "until I am ready," signifying female agency and autonomy in expressing love.
  • "until it pleases": Many interpret "it" as love itself, personified, meaning "until love is ready," or "until it expresses its own readiness." This suggests that true love unfolds organically, at its proper, natural pace.
  • "until He pleases": The deepest theological understanding sees this as a subtle reference to God's divine timing and will, implying that genuine, wholesome love is ultimately sovereignly appointed.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the does of the field": This forms the core oath. The oath itself, combined with the gentle animals as its witness, signifies the extreme gravity of the warning and the fragile, sacred nature of what is being protected. It emphasizes a moral appeal rooted in purity and sensitivity, rather than just law.
  • "that you not stir up or awaken love": This emphatic double negative (or prohibition) indicates a powerful call to avoid any premature, forced, or artificial stimulation of love. It encompasses the entirety of the relational journey—from early flirtation to physical intimacy—warning against any action that would rush or misdirect the natural, God-ordained development of true love.
  • "until it pleases": This crucial phrase introduces the element of divine timing and spontaneous consent. It is not about suppression but proper delay and appropriate unfolding. True love cannot be commanded or engineered; it must be permitted to bloom in its own season, under the right conditions, guided by wisdom and perhaps divine providence.

Song Of Solomon 3 5 Bonus section

This recurring refrain (Son 2:7; 3:5; 8:4) serves as an essential thematic pillar throughout the Song of Solomon. Its placement usually follows a heightened moment of intimacy or longing between the Shulamite and her Beloved, acting as a spiritual boundary. It suggests that even amidst passionate desire, there are holy parameters that must be respected. In Christian interpretation, this principle extends beyond individual relationships to the Church's relationship with Christ. It cautions against generating artificial spiritual experiences or impatiently rushing toward spiritual blessings, instead encouraging humble, patient waiting for the Lord's timing and the authentic movement of the Holy Spirit. "Until it pleases" can therefore be understood as "until Christ pleases" or "until the love for Christ matures according to His will," encouraging believers to foster genuine love and worship, not manufactured or premature expressions.

Song Of Solomon 3 5 Commentary

Song of Solomon 3:5 delivers a timeless message on the sanctity and timing of romantic love. It is a profound warning, especially to young hearts, against the premature or artificial arousal of love and intimacy. The Shulamite's adjuration, rooted in the innocent and easily startled imagery of gazelles and does, underscores the delicate and vulnerable nature of genuine affection. True love, like these creatures, cannot be rushed or coerced; it is a sacred gift that flourishes best in its appointed season, within its divinely designed boundaries. The repetition of this charge throughout the book highlights its central importance: God's design for love emphasizes patience, self-control, and purity, waiting for the natural, unforced, and ready development of deep relationship, culminating within the secure covenant of marriage. This principle safeguards hearts from pain, regret, and defilement, pointing towards a love that is whole, deep, and blessed by divine consent.