Song of Songs 5:6

Song of Songs 5:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
• New International Version (NIV)I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I opened for my beloved, But my beloved had turned away and was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

Context of Song of Songs 5:6

4My lover thrust his hand through the hole, and my feelings were stirred for him. 5I arose to open for my beloved; my hands dripped with myrrh – my fingers flowed with myrrh on the handles of the lock. I opened for my beloved, but my lover had already turned and gone away. I fell into despair when he departed. I looked for him but did not find him; I called him but he did not answer me. 7The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. They beat me, they bruised me; they took away my cloak, those watchmen on the walls! 8O maidens of Jerusalem, I command you – If you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him that I am lovesick!

Song of Songs 5:6 word by word

פָּתַ֤חְתִּֽי אֲנִי֙ לְדוֹדִ֔י וְדוֹדִ֖י חָמַ֣ק עָבָ֑ר נַפְשִׁי֙ יָֽצְאָ֣ה בְדַבְּר֔וֹ בִּקַּשְׁתִּ֙יהוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א מְצָאתִ֔יהוּ קְרָאתִ֖יו וְלֹ֥א עָנָֽנִי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I openedפָּתַחpâthach · to openH6605
• to my belovedדּוֹדdôd dôd · belovedH1730
• had withdrawnחָמַקchâmaq · to turn awayH2559
• was goneעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
• my soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
• failedיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: surrenderH3318
• when he spakeדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• I soughtבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• him, but I could not findמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• him; I calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
• him, but he gave me no answerעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030

Commentaries on Song of Songs 5:6

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 2-8Verses 2-8 Churches and believers, by carelessness and security, provoke Christ to withdraw. We ought to notice our spiritual slumbers and distempers. Christ knocks to awaken us, knocks by his word and Spirit, knocks by afflictions and by our consciences; thus, Rev. 3:20. When we are unmindful of Christ, still he thinks of us. Christ's love to us should engage ours to him, even in the most self-denying instances; and we only can be gainers by it. Careless…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-6My beloved put his hand to the latch; my heart pounded for him: The man keeps trying to excite the woman, and she eventually responds positively. However, by the time she responds, he has either given up or become busy with something else. This is a strong poetic image of the challenges two lovers face in becoming intimate with each other.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. withdrawn--He knocked when she was sleeping; for to have left her then would have ended in the death sleep; He withdraws now that she is roused, as she needs correction (Jr 2:17, 19), and can appreciate and safely bear it now, which she could not then. "The strong He'll strongly try" (1Co 10:13). when he spake--rather, "because of His speaking"; at the remembrance of His tender words (Job 29:2, 3; Psa 27:13; 142:7), or till He should speak. no…Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 6but my beloved had hidden and was gone Heb. חָמַק, was hidden and concealed from me, like (below 7:2): “the curves (חֲמוּקֵי) of your thighs,” the hidden places of your thighs, because the thigh is hidden. [Also] (Jer. 31:21): “How long will you hide (תִתְחַמָּקִי),” will you hide and cover yourself because of the shame that you betrayed Me?Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Answer

Commentaries on Song of Songs 5

• 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