Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time is right.
Parallel translations
- WEB I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.
- 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.
- BSB O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.
- 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. The Shulamite
- NASB ¶“Swear to me, you daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field, That you will not disturb or awaken my love Until she pleases.”
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
She charges the daughters of Jerusalem not to awaken love before its proper time. It teaches patience and restraint in love.
Overview
By the gazelles and does she solemnly adjures her companions not to stir up love until it desires, that is, until the right time. This refrain (repeated in 3:5 and 8:4) counsels that love must not be forced or rushed. It commends purity and patient waiting, honoring God's good timing for love's full expression.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Song 3:5I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.
- Song 8:4I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.
- Song 1:5I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar’s tents, like Solomon’s curtains.
- Prov 5:19A loving doe and a graceful deer — let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.
- Song 5:8–9I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, that you tell him that I am faint with love.
- Song 2:9My beloved is like a roe or a young deer. Behold, he stands behind our wall! He looks in at the windows. He glances through the lattice.
- Eph 5:22–33Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
- Song 5:16His mouth is sweetness; yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.
- Matt 26:63But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
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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 2:7 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
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