Catch for us the foxes—the little foxes that ruin the vineyards—for our vineyards are in bloom.
Parallel translations
- WEB Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that plunder the vineyards; for our vineyards are in blossom.
- KJV Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
- NKJV Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes. The Shulamite
- NASB ¶“Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom.”
- NLT Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They call for the little foxes that spoil the blossoming vineyards to be caught. It warns against small things that can harm love.
Overview
The little foxes that ruin tender vines picture the small troubles, neglects, or sins that can spoil a flourishing relationship. The call to catch them urges vigilance over what threatens love while it is young. Likewise believers are warned that little compromises can damage fellowship with the Lord and must be guarded against (Heb. 12:15).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Luke 13:32But Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’
- 2 Pet 2:1–3Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
- Song 7:12Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vine has budded, if the blossom has opened, if the pomegranates are in bloom—there I will give you my love.
- Ps 80:13The boar from the forest ravages it, and the creatures of the field feed upon it.
- Ezek 13:4–16Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins.
- Song 2:13The fig tree ripens its figs; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come away, my darling; come away with me, my beautiful one.”
- Rev 2:2I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles.
Resources, by level
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The poetry of covenant love between bride and bridegroom pictures, at its highest, the love of Christ for his church — the Bridegroom who gave himself for his bride.
How Song of Songs 2:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.