Song of Songs 8:4

Song of Songs 8:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.
• New International Version (NIV)Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases.

Context of Song of Songs 8:4

2I would lead you. I would bring you into my mother’s house. (She is the one who was my teacher.) I would give you some spiced wine to drink, some juice squeezed from my pomegranates. 3His left hand is under my head. His right hand caresses me. Young women of Jerusalem, swear to me that you will not awaken love or arouse love before its proper time! 5Who is this young woman coming from the wilderness with her arm around her beloved? Under the apple tree I woke you up. There your mother went into labor with you. There she went into labor and gave birth to you! 6Wear me as a signet ring on your heart, as a ring on your hand. Love is as overpowering as death. Devotion is as unyielding as the grave. Love’s flames are flames of fire, flames that come from the Lord.

Song of Songs 8:4 word by word

הִשְׁבַּ֥עְתִּי אֶתְכֶ֖ם בְּנ֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם מַה־תָּעִ֧ירוּ׀ וּֽמַה־תְּעֹֽרְר֛וּ אֶת־הָאַהֲבָ֖ה עַ֥ד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּֽץ׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I chargeשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650
• you, O daughtersבַּתbath · daughterH1323
• of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
• that ye stir not upעוּר‛ûr · to rouseH5782
• loveאַהֲבָה'ahăbâh · loveH160
• until he pleaseחָפֵץchâphêts · to delight inH2654

Commentaries on Song of Songs 8:4

• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4I adjure you: For the third time, the woman urges the young women of Jerusalem to keep their virginity (see Song of Solomon 2:7; 3:5). The importance of virginity is affirmed in Song of Solomon 8:8–9.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. The "left and right hand," &c., occurred only once actually (So 2:6), and here optatively. Only at His first manifestation did the Church palpably embrace Him; at His second coming there shall be again sensible communion with Him. The rest in So 8:4, which is a spiritual realization of the wish in So 8:3 (1Pe 1:8), and the charge not to disturb it, close the first, second, and fourth canticles; not the third, as the bridegroom there takes charge…Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 4I adjure you Now the congregation of Israel addresses the nations, “Even though I complain and lament, my Beloved holds on to my hand, and He is my support in my exile; therefore, I adjure you.”Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Jerusalem
• Purity
• Song of Songs

Commentaries on Song of Songs 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• 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