New International Version
Song of Songs 2:7
7Daughters 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time is right.
Context of Song of Songs 2:7
5Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. 6His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. 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. 8Listen! My beloved! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills. 9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering 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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries