God’s Word Translation
Song of Songs 2:7
7Young women of Jerusalem, swear to me by the gazelles or by the does in the field that you will not awaken love or arouse love before its proper time.
Song of Songs 2:7 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.
- English Standard Version (ESV)I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.
- New King James Version (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.
Context of Song of Songs 2:7
5Strengthen me with raisins and refresh me with apples because I am weak from love. 6His left hand is under my head. His right hand caresses me. Young women of Jerusalem, swear to me by the gazelles or by the does in the field that you will not awaken love or arouse love before its proper time. 8I hear my beloved’s voice. Look! Here he comes, sprinting over the mountains, racing over the hills. 9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, peeking through the window, looking through the lattice.
Read all of Song of Songs 2Song of Songs 2:7 word by word
הִשְׁבַּ֨עְתִּי אֶתְכֶ֜ם בְּנ֤וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ בִּצְבָא֔וֹת א֖וֹ בְּאַיְל֣וֹת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה אִם־תָּעִ֧ירוּ׀ וְֽאִם־תְּעֽוֹרְר֛וּ אֶת־הָאַהֲבָ֖ה עַ֥ד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּֽץ׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- I chargeשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650
- you, O ye daughtersבַּתbath · daughterH1323
- of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
- by the roesצְבִיtsebîy · gazelleH6643
- andאוֹ'ô 'av · orH176
- by the hindsאַיָּלָה'ayâlâh · doeH355
- of the fieldשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
- that ye stir not upעוּר‛ûr · to rouseH5782
- loveאַהֲבָה'ahăbâh · loveH160
- till he pleaseחָפֵץchâphêts · to delight inH2654
Commentaries on Song of Songs 2:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7I charge you - by the roes - This was probably some rustic mode of adjuration. The verses themselves require little comment. With this verse the first night of the first day is supposed to end.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5-8Verses 5-8 This section is made by the Targumist and other Jewish interpreters to adumbrate the condition of Israel in the wilderness; by some Christian expositors, that of the Gentile Church on her first conversion. Genesis 25:13; Psalm 120:5. The word itself signifies “dark” or “black.” Possibly “tents of Kedar” stand here poetically for shepherds‘ tents in general Isaiah 60:7. Job 20:9; Job 28:7, and indicates in the latter place the piercing glance of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: This plea is important in the Song; it repeats in Song of Solomon 3:5 and 8:4. A promise is requested, and witnesses were needed. The wild animals were the only witnesses present. These graceful animals suggest a romantic pastoral setting. Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right: As in Song of Solomon 8:8–9, virginity is praised. The woman warns the women of Jerusalem to be cautious and not…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. by the roes--not an oath but a solemn charge, to act as cautiously as the hunter would with the wild roes, which are proverbially timorous; he must advance with breathless circumspection, if he is to take them; so he who would not lose Jesus Christ and His Spirit, which is easily grieved and withdrawn, must be tender of conscience and watchful (Eze 16:43; Ep 4:30; 5:15; 1Th 5:19). In Margin, title of Psa 22:1, Jesus Christ is called the "Hind of the…Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Song of Songs 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries