Song Of Solomon 5 2

Song Of Solomon 5:2 kjv

I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

Song Of Solomon 5:2 nkjv

I sleep, but my heart is awake; It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, "Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night."

Song Of Solomon 5:2 niv

I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking: "Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night."

Song Of Solomon 5:2 esv

I slept, but my heart was awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking. "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one, for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night."

Song Of Solomon 5:2 nlt

I slept, but my heart was awake,
when I heard my lover knocking and calling:
"Open to me, my treasure, my darling,
my dove, my perfect one.
My head is drenched with dew,
my hair with the dampness of the night."

Song Of Solomon 5 verses

Song Of Solomon 5 2 meaning

Song of Solomon 5:2 vividly portrays the Shulamite’s inner state and an encounter with her beloved. Though physically asleep in her bed, her heart remains awake and longing for him, signifying a state of spiritual awareness or deep affection even amidst passivity. She then hears the distinct, insistent voice of her beloved knocking at the door. He pleads for entry, addressing her with multiple terms of profound endearment, expressing his deep love and her purity in his eyes. He describes his physical suffering due to his exposure to the elements through the night—his head and hair are wet with dew and night drops, illustrating his persistent and self-sacrificing love as he endures hardship to be with her. The scene sets the stage for a critical moment of decision, contrasting the beloved's eager devotion with the bride's initial hesitation.

Song Of Solomon 5 2 Context

Song of Solomon 5:2 occurs after the consummation of the lovers' marriage and a celebratory feast described in chapter 4 and the first verse of chapter 5. The setting shifts from mutual praise and joyous intimacy to a more complex scene, typically interpreted as a dream or allegorical representation of the Shulamite’s spiritual state. While the initial sections celebrated their union and love, this verse marks a crucial turning point, introducing a period of struggle, separation, and renewed longing caused by the Shulamite’s reluctance to respond to her beloved’s call. Historically and culturally, ancient Middle Eastern homes, particularly those in villages, often had doors that could be locked from the inside by a bar, and opening it would require rising from bed. The scene plays on themes of hospitality and the expectation of welcoming a visitor, particularly a beloved one, even late at night, in a culture where such nocturnal visits by a betrothed or spouse were common for close couples.

Song Of Solomon 5 2 Word analysis

• I sleep, but my heart waketh:
  • I sleep (אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה, ʾănî yəshēnâ): The Hebrew emphasizes a physical state of rest. In spiritual allegory, it often signifies spiritual complacency, indifference, or a lack of immediate responsiveness. It’s a state of being in comfort, unready for action.
  • but my heart waketh (וְלִבִּי עֵר, wəlībbî ʿēr): "Heart" (לִבִּי, lībbî) represents the inner core of being, the seat of intellect, emotion, and will, the true spirit. "Waketh" (עֵר, ʿēr) implies alertness, attentiveness, and awareness. This juxtaposition indicates an internal vigilance and continued desire for the beloved despite external physical inaction or spiritual sluggishness. The beloved remains prominent in her thoughts and affections.
• The voice of my beloved: (קוֹל דּוֹדִי, qôl dôḏî): "Voice" (קוֹל, qôl) indicates an audible call. "Beloved" (דּוֹדִי, dôḏî) is the common term of endearment, signaling an immediate recognition and intimate relationship. The sound is clear and unmistakable to her spirit.
• that knocketh: (דּוֹפֵק, dôp̄ēq): The verb implies a distinct, often repeated or strong knock, not a gentle tap, suggesting persistence and urgency on the part of the beloved.
• Open to me: (פִּתְחִי לִי, pitḥî lî): A direct command/plea, indicating his desire for immediate access and intimacy. "To me" emphasizes his personal desire for her.
• my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: Four terms of increasing intimacy and purity, demonstrating the depth of his affection and his unwavering view of her character.
  • my sister (אָחוֹתִי, ʾāḥôṯî): Signifies equality, close companionship, and shared heritage or destiny, beyond mere romantic love.
  • my love (רַעְיָתִי, raʿyāṯî): "Companion" or "friend," often used as "darling" or "cherished one," highlighting their bond as partners.
  • my dove (יוֹנָתִי, yônāṯî): Symbolizes purity, innocence, gentleness, and beauty, often associated with fidelity.
  • my undefiled (תַמָּתִי, tammāṯî): Means "perfect," "whole," "pure," "blameless." It emphasizes her moral and spiritual integrity, his perception of her absolute purity and completeness, irrespective of any external appearance or action. It reveals the unblemished state in which he holds her.
• For my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night:
  • my head is filled with dew (שֶׁרֹאשִׁי נִמְלָא־טָל, šeroʾšî nimlāʾ-ṭāl): "Dew" (טָל, ṭāl) is cold and damp, forming overnight. This imagery highlights his prolonged exposure to the cold, wet night, indicating suffering, perseverance, and sacrifice on her behalf. It suggests he has been waiting for an extended period.
  • and my locks with the drops of the night (קְוּצּוֹתַי רְסִיסֵי לָיְלָה, qəwūṣṣôṯay rəsîsê lāylâ): "Locks" (qəwūṣṣôṯay) are his hair. "Drops of the night" (rəsîsê lāylâ) reinforce the idea of being soaked and chilled, emphasizing the discomfort and the price of his persistent presence at her door. This detailed description intensifies the plea by revealing his vulnerable and suffering state for her sake.

• "I sleep, but my heart waketh" (אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה וְלִבִּי עֵר): This phrase highlights a central tension between external inertia and internal awareness. It is not complete spiritual death, but a state of complacency or comfortable passivity where the outward actions do not match the inner affection. It implies a disjunction between the spirit's readiness and the body's reluctance or worldly distraction.
• "The voice of my beloved that knocketh": The recognition of "the voice" is key. Even in a state of partial slumber, her spirit instantly identifies her beloved’s distinct call, indicating an enduring intimacy and knowledge of him that penetrates superficial conditions. The "knocking" signifies not just presence, but an active attempt to re-engage, seeking a response and opening.
• "Open to me... For my head is filled with dew...": This pairing of a direct request for entry with an explanation of his suffering creates a potent emotional appeal. His terms of endearment attest to his unwavering love and her untarnished identity in his eyes, while his physical description underlines the personal cost he endures due to her inaccessibility. His plea isn't accusatory but rather an expression of persistent, self-sacrificial love that is bearing hardship to maintain connection.

Song Of Solomon 5 2 Bonus section

The four terms of endearment—sister, love, dove, undefiled—form a progression. "Sister" establishes an intimate, familial bond and equality. "Love" (ra‘yati) highlights companionship and shared affection. "Dove" symbolizes purity and vulnerability. "Undefiled" (tammati) elevates her to a state of complete moral and spiritual wholeness in his perception. This sequence underscores the Beloved’s absolute valuation and idealization of his bride, even as she is in a state of delay. It reflects God’s persistent view of His people as redeemed and beloved, despite their occasional failures to respond immediately. The suffering of the Beloved outside is sometimes interpreted allegorically as Christ’s patient endurance through the ages, including His rejection by His people and His continual plea for entry into individual hearts or nations. The dream sequence structure suggests that this encounter may represent a profound spiritual or psychological processing of commitment and love within the Shulamite’s inner self, rather than a literal night event.

Song Of Solomon 5 2 Commentary

This verse is often seen as the spiritual crux of the Song of Solomon, moving beyond mere romance to a profound allegory of the individual soul's relationship with Christ, or the Church's responsiveness to God. The Shulamite’s "sleeping but heart awake" describes a believer in a state of spiritual sluggishness or distraction, comfortable in their own pursuits, yet retaining an underlying, sincere love and awareness of the Beloved (Christ). Her recognition of "the voice" speaks to the Holy Spirit's promptings or Christ's calls to deeper fellowship, often occurring during periods of comfort or spiritual ease. The Beloved's passionate plea, replete with endearing terms and vivid details of His suffering and patient waiting—His head "filled with dew," His "locks with drops of the night"— powerfully illustrates Christ's persistent love and self-sacrifice. He endures exposure and discomfort (metaphorical suffering) at the door of the heart, longing for intimacy. This passage serves as a poignant reminder that even after initial zeal and intimacy, a believer can lapse into complacency, causing the Beloved to suffer while waiting. The delay in opening suggests that such a lapse can lead to missing an immediate opportunity for fellowship, potentially resulting in further difficulty in seeking Him later, as seen in subsequent verses. It's a call to immediate, unreserved responsiveness to divine overtures.Examples include the Laodicean church in Revelation 3, whom Christ knocks at the door of, urging them to open; or the individual believer who feels the call to deeper prayer or service but delays out of comfort or busyness.