Song Of Solomon 5 5

Song Of Solomon 5:5 kjv

I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.

Song Of Solomon 5:5 nkjv

I arose to open for my beloved, And my hands dripped with myrrh, My fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the lock.

Song Of Solomon 5:5 niv

I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the bolt.

Song Of Solomon 5:5 esv

I arose to open to my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the bolt.

Song Of Solomon 5:5 nlt

I jumped up to open the door for my love,
and my hands dripped with perfume.
My fingers dripped with lovely myrrh
as I pulled back the bolt.

Song Of Solomon 5 verses

Song Of Solomon 5 5 meaning

This verse describes the beloved woman's actions immediately after her lover's departure. Stirred by his earlier knocking, she finally resolves to open the door for him. As she makes her way to the door, her hands and fingers are covered in fragrant myrrh, an intensely aromatic resin. This detail vividly conveys her deep affection, the costly preparation she made, or the lingering scent of her beloved, amplifying the pathos of the missed encounter. The myrrh-dripping hands touching the bolt handles symbolize her readiness and desire, though unfortunately, it comes too late to receive him.

Song Of Solomon 5 5 Context

This verse is situated within a vivid dream sequence (or a recounting of a past experience) in the Song of Solomon, following the most explicit instance of the beloved woman's initial hesitation. Her lover (referred to as the "beloved") had come to her door at night, requesting entry (Song 5:2). She delayed opening, citing personal comfort and having just prepared for bed (Song 5:3). Her delay causes her beloved to turn away and leave (Song 5:6). Verse 5:5 then describes her subsequent action: a frantic, belated attempt to open the door, realizing the cost of her earlier inaction. The immediate context underscores themes of intimacy, longing, missed opportunity, and the powerful sensory aspects of their love. Broader Old Testament wisdom literature often parallels this narrative with the call for prompt obedience and the dangers of spiritual lethargy.

Song Of Solomon 5 5 Word analysis

• I arose (קַמְתִּי - qamti):

  • Word Level: A verb in the first person common singular, indicating a direct, personal, and decided action. It marks a shift from her earlier reclining comfort (Song 5:3).
  • Significance: Conveys volition and a change in her state. The initial comfort gave way to the urgency of desire. This "arising" is prompted by her inner longing after the beloved's departure.

• to open (לִפְתּוֹחַ - liftōakh):

  • Word Level: Infinitive, indicating the purpose of her action. It's the physical act of gaining entry.
  • Significance: Her intent is clear: to reverse her earlier refusal. This points to her eventual desire to embrace him, which contrasts with her prior reluctance.

• for my beloved (לְדוֹדִי - lᵉdōḏî):

  • Word Level: "L'dodi" is a possessive noun phrase. "Dodi" (beloved, friend, darling) is a recurring, tender term of endearment throughout the Song, consistently referring to the male lover.
  • Significance: Reaffirms the deep affection and the intimate nature of the relationship. Her action is singularly focused on him. This is not for a casual guest, but for her specific "Beloved."

• And my hands (וְיָדַי - wᵉyāḏay):

  • Word Level: "Yaday" is the dual form of "yad" (hand), referring to both hands. The "waw" prefix ("and") connects this physical detail to her act of opening.
  • Significance: Focuses on the primary instruments used to open the bolt, emphasizing the physical intimacy and sensory experience.

• dripped (נָטְפָה - nāṭᵉfâ):

  • Word Level: The verb "nataph" means to drip, to let fall, or to flow. It's often used metaphorically for words "dropping" or prophesies "flowing" (e.g., Amos 7:16, Micah 2:6). Here, it's literal.
  • Significance: Implies a profusion, an abundance of the substance. It's not just a faint scent, but a noticeable, visible flow, indicating either recent preparation or intense saturation from his lingering presence.

• with myrrh (מֹר - mōr):

  • Word Level: "Mor" (myrrh) is a precious, aromatic gum resin. In ancient times, it was used for perfumes, anointing oils, incense, and embalming. It had a slightly bitter, warm, and rich scent.
  • Significance: Symbolizes costliness, desire, love, and possibly suffering (as in the New Testament). Here, it enhances the sensuality of the moment, indicating either the lavish care she takes in preparation for him, or the lingering presence of his own scent on the handles/in the room, further highlighting his recent visit and her longing.

• And my fingers (וְאֶצְבְּעוֹתַי - wᵉ'eṣbᵉʿôṯay):

  • Word Level: "Eṣbᵉʿôṯay" is the plural possessive form of "eṣba'" (finger). More specific and delicate than "hands."
  • Significance: Underscores the intimate detail and tangible experience of touching the myrrh. Fingers are used for fine, delicate movements, amplifying the sensory impact.

• with liquid myrrh (מֹר עוֹבֵר - mōr 'ōvēr):

  • Word Level: "Mor 'over" can be interpreted as "flowing myrrh," "passing myrrh," or "liquid myrrh." It specifically denotes myrrh in its finest, purest, or most abundant flowing form, not solid resin.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the rich, unadulterated nature and abundance of the myrrh. This highlights the preciousness and the intensity of the aroma. The phrase suggests a more luxurious, highly refined myrrh, signifying extreme desirability.

• On the handles (עַל כַּפּוֹת - ʿal kappôṯ):

  • Word Level: "Kappôt" literally means "palms" or "soles" but is also used for the handles or sockets of things, such as door bolts.
  • Significance: Identifies the precise point of contact where her myrrh-laden hands engaged with the door's mechanism. It contrasts the delicate, fragrant myrrh with the hard, functional object.

• of the bolt (הַמַּנְעוּל - hammanʿûl):

  • Word Level: "Mʿanʿûl" refers to the door's locking bolt or bar, a security mechanism.
  • Significance: This is the ultimate physical barrier between her and her beloved. The myrrh now clings to the very object that delayed their reunion, creating a poignant and ironic image of longing after a missed opportunity.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "I arose to open for my beloved": This phrase expresses her change of heart and intentional action motivated by love. It highlights the direct object of her desire and her physical response to her inner state.
  • "And my hands dripped with myrrh, And my fingers with liquid myrrh": This repetition, bordering on parallelism, emphasizes the profusion and preciousness of the myrrh. It intensifies the sensory imagery, depicting her readiness, purity, or saturation in her lover's lingering fragrance. It transforms a mundane action into an intensely intimate and aromatic one.
  • "On the handles of the bolt": This concluding phrase grounds the rich, sensual imagery of the myrrh to a specific, mundane, yet highly significant object—the barrier. It brings a sense of bittersweet reality to the moment, as the expensive perfume, symbolic of love and longing, now marks the very instrument that was used to keep her beloved out.

Song Of Solomon 5 5 Bonus section

This scene is a masterful blend of physical intimacy and deep emotional pathos, often read allegorically within Christian traditions. The "night" setting of the beloved's initial approach (Song 5:2) can symbolize a period of spiritual challenge, doubt, or temptation, where promptness in responding to God's presence becomes crucial. The imagery of the beloved leaving after her delay echoes the concept of grieving the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30) or neglecting divine opportunities, where the absence feels heavier than the initial lack of desire. The very presence of myrrh, sometimes associated with embalming and suffering, can subtly allude to the sorrow and 'death' of the missed moment of intimate communion. The woman's regretful action and the fragrant myrrh clinging to the bolt signify that her desire was truly present and deep, but her response was not swift enough, a powerful lesson for vigilance and spiritual alertness.

Song Of Solomon 5 5 Commentary

Song of Solomon 5:5 paints a poignant picture of love and regret. After an initial hesitation that proved costly, the woman's desire for her beloved overcomes her earlier complacency. Her rising to open the door signifies a renewed zeal, but it's met with the bittersweet reality that he has departed. The prominent detail of myrrh dripping from her hands and fingers is highly symbolic. Myrrh, a costly and sacred fragrance, indicates her preparedness, her longing, and perhaps the lingering aroma of his earlier presence at the door. It beautifies even the utilitarian bolt handles, suggesting her affection permeated even the barriers. This powerful image communicates the depth of her yearning, contrasting with her prior, almost lazy, refusal. Many scholars interpret this passage allegorically, representing the soul's fluctuating responsiveness to Christ's knocking. The myrrh signifies devotion or good works, applied too late, reminding believers of the need for immediate, wholehearted response to God's invitations, lest the moment of blessing be missed.