Song Of Solomon 5:4 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Song Of Solomon 5:4 kjv
My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.
Song Of Solomon 5:4 nkjv
My beloved put his hand By the latch of the door, And my heart yearned for him.
Song Of Solomon 5:4 niv
My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him.
Song Of Solomon 5:4 esv
My beloved put his hand to the latch, and my heart was thrilled within me.
Song Of Solomon 5:4 nlt
My lover tried to unlatch the door,
and my heart thrilled within me.
Song Of Solomon 5 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Song 3:1 | "By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not." | Seeking the beloved. |
| Song 3:2 | "...I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not." | Persistent search for the lover. |
| Song 8:6 | "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death..." | Intense, demanding love. |
| Prov 8:17 | "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." | Divine principle of seeking and finding. |
| Is 55:6 | "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near." | Urgency of seeking God. |
| Ps 42:1 | "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." | Deep spiritual longing. |
| Ps 63:1 | "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee..." | Soul's thirst for God. |
| John 10:9 | "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved..." | Christ as the way/access. |
| Rev 3:20 | "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door..." | Christ's invitation to relationship. |
| Matt 7:7 | "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened..." | Principles of prayer and access. |
| Gen 43:30 | "And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother..." | Deep emotional compassion (literal 'bowels'). |
| 1 Kgs 3:26 | "...for her bowels yearned upon her son..." | Maternal compassion ('bowels' idiom). |
| Is 16:11 | "Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab..." | Internal lament, deep grief. |
| Jer 31:20 | "Is Ephraim my dear son?... my bowels are troubled for him..." | God's deep affection for Israel. |
| Lam 1:20 | "Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled..." | Inner distress and turmoil. |
| Phil 1:8 | "For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ." | Apostle Paul's deep affection and longing. |
| 2 Cor 6:12 | "Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels." | Restrained affection. |
| Col 3:12 | "...put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies..." | Expressing compassionate virtues. |
| Song 5:2 | "I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh..." | The lover's initial call at the door. |
| Luke 11:9-10 | "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." | Persistent asking and divine response. |
| Matt 7:13-14 | "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction..." | Narrow path/door analogy. |
| Ps 84:2 | "My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God." | Overwhelming longing for God's presence. |
Song Of Solomon 5 verses
Song Of Solomon 5 4 meaning
The verse captures a pivotal moment of inner awakening in the Shulamite. After her initial reluctance to open the door, her beloved, symbolizing Christ, makes a final, tender effort to gain access by reaching his hand through a small opening. This act, however subtle, deeply moves her at her innermost being, stirring powerful emotions of longing, compassion, and intense yearning for him, signifying a profound spiritual re-awakening despite her earlier hesitation.
Song Of Solomon 5 4 Context
This verse is a crucial turning point within the Shulamite's second dream-soliloquy in Song of Solomon, following the "night-scene." The Beloved arrives at her door late at night (Song 5:2) and calls to her. However, she offers a series of excuses (Song 5:3) – her feet are washed, her garment is off – demonstrating an initial lethargy or spiritual complacency. In verse 4, her Beloved makes a final, more intimate attempt to connect before withdrawing. This act, reaching his hand through a crack in the door, penetrates her resistance and causes a profound internal emotional upheaval, marked by immediate regret and a desperate yearning for him, propelling her subsequent search (Song 5:5-8). Historically, this depicts the delicate courtship dynamics and intense intimacy within the context of marital love, which often allegorically represents the relationship between Christ and His Church, or God and His people, highlighting the divine initiative and the soul's deep, though sometimes delayed, response.
Song Of Solomon 5 4 Word analysis
- My beloved: From Hebrew Dodhi (דּוֹדִי), meaning "my dear one," "my beloved." It signifies an exclusive, personal, and affectionate relationship. It is the possessive form, highlighting the deep ownership and intimacy the Shulamite feels.
- put in his hand: From Hebrew shelach yado (שָׁלַח יָדוֹ), "he sent forth his hand" or "he put forth his hand." This indicates an intentional, active, and personal gesture. The hand, often a symbol of power, action, and access, here denotes a tender, persuasive effort to reach the one behind the barrier. It's a move of seeking entry and showing his presence.
- by the hole of the door: From Hebrew min haḥōr mi-dəlaṯ (מִן הַחֹר מִדֶּלֶת), "from the opening/crevice of the door." This implies a small, narrow aperture, possibly a keyhole or a crack. It symbolizes restricted access and her earlier refusal to fully open, yet it is through this limited opening that he seeks to make contact, indicating persistence even in the face of partial rejection. It is a moment of near-contact.
- my bowels: From Hebrew mëʿāy (מֵעַי), literally "my intestines" or "inner parts." In biblical idiom, it is the seat of the deepest human emotions: compassion, tender mercies, pity, deep yearning, love, and emotional agitation. It signifies the very core of one's emotional and spiritual being, not merely a physical organ.
- were moved for him: From Hebrew hāmū (הָמוּ), meaning "stirred," "agitated," "trembled," "to be in an uproar." It denotes a powerful, sometimes tumultuous, internal emotional response. It’s an awakening of profound desire and regret, a surging of feelings from the depths of her being.
- "My beloved put in his hand": This phrase highlights the beloved's initiative and gentle persistence. He makes a deliberate effort to reach her, even when full access is denied. Spiritually, it symbolizes Christ's continued appeals to the heart, sometimes through subtle touches, even when there's a barrier of indifference or procrastination.
- "by the hole of the door": This group of words emphasizes a state of limited access due to the door remaining shut. The "hole" represents a small opportunity, a narrow channel through which divine influence or a loving gesture can penetrate. It points to a grace that persists even when we hesitate to fully open.
- "my bowels were moved for him": This powerful expression indicates a profound, immediate, and overwhelming internal reaction. Her deepest affections and longings are stirred, overcoming her previous lethargy. It describes a spiritual awakening where the soul’s innermost being is touched and responds passionately to the Beloved’s persistent love, generating deep regret for past hesitation and an urgent desire for His presence.
Song Of Solomon 5 4 Bonus section
- The Power of a Touch: This verse powerfully illustrates that God's loving call might not always be a dramatic opening, but often a subtle "touch" that awakens the heart's dormant affection and deep desire.
- From Reluctance to Longing: It signifies a critical psychological and spiritual transition from self-indulgent delay to passionate, yearning love. Her previous excuses (washing feet, already in bed) dissolve in the face of his gentle, persistent attempt.
- Preparation for Pursuit: The profound stirring of her "bowels" is the immediate emotional catalyst for her fervent, even desperate, search for him in the verses that follow, highlighting the painful regret that can accompany spiritual sluggishness and the intense desire that follows a true awakening.
- Human Free Will and Divine Initiative: The narrative beautifully balances human free will (her choice to initially delay opening) with divine initiative (his persistence), showing how God continues to reach out, patiently waiting for our heart's ultimate response.
Song Of Solomon 5 4 Commentary
This verse is profoundly allegorical, illustrating the divine Lover's gentle yet persistent attempts to awaken the soul, and the soul's subsequent deep internal response. The Beloved's hand through the "hole of the door" symbolizes Christ's subtle or persistent grace, reaching out to us even when we are complacent or hesitant to open fully. It represents the quiet prompting of the Holy Spirit, the small voice, or the tender drawing of the Lord. The Shulamite's delayed internal emotional turmoil ("my bowels were moved") speaks to a delayed, yet intense, spiritual conviction. Her heart is finally stirred to its depths, revealing a fervent longing for Him, despite her initial external refusal. This stirring demonstrates that even a small act of divine love can penetrate and powerfully move a dormant or hesitant heart, leading to regret over missed opportunities and a renewed passionate pursuit.