Song of Songs 8:7

Song of Songs 8:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
• New International Version (NIV)Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.

Context of Song of Songs 8:7

5Who is this coming up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? I awakened you under the apple tree. There your mother brought you forth; There she who bore you brought you forth. 6Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love All the wealth of his house, It would be utterly despised. 8We have a little sister, And she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister In the day when she is spoken for? 9If she is a wall, We will build upon her A battlement of silver; And if she is a door, We will enclose her With boards of cedar.

Song of Songs 8:7 word by word

מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֗ים לֹ֤א יֽוּכְלוּ֙ לְכַבּ֣וֹת אֶת־הָֽאַהֲבָ֔ה וּנְהָר֖וֹת לֹ֣א יִשְׁטְפ֑וּהָ אִם־יִתֵּ֨ן אִ֜ישׁ אֶת־כָּל־ה֤וֹן בֵּיתוֹ֙ בָּאַהֲבָ֔ה בּ֖וֹז יָב֥וּזוּ לֽוֹ׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Manyרַבrab · manyH7227
• watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
• cannotיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• quenchכָּבָהkâbâh · to quenchH3518
• loveאַהֲבָה'ahăbâh · loveH160
• neither can the floodsנָהָרnâhâr · riverH5104
• drownשָׁטַףshâţaph · to overflowH7857
• manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• would giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• all the substanceהוֹןhôn · substanceH1952
• of his houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• it would utterlyבּוּזbûz · to despiseH936

Commentaries on Song of Songs 8:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Many waters - Neither common nor uncommon adversities, even of the most ruinous nature, can destroy love when it is pure; and pure love is such that nothing can procure it. If it be not excited naturally, no money can purchase it, no property can procure it, no arts can persuade it. How vain is the thought of old rich men hoping to procure the affections of young women by loading them with presents and wealth! No woman can command her affections; they are…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-7Verses 5-7 The Jewish church came up from the wilderness, supported by Divine power and favour. The Christian church was raised from a low, desolate condition, by the grace of Christ relied on. Believers, by the power of grace, are brought up from the wilderness. A sinful state is a wilderness in which there is no true comfort; it is a wandering, wanting state: There is no coming out of this wilderness, but leaning on Christ as our Beloved, by faith; not…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. waters--in contrast with the "coals of fire" (So 8:6; 1Ki 18:33-38). Persecutions (Ac 8:1) cannot quench love (He 10:34; Re 12:15, 16). Our many provocations have not quenched His love (Ro 8:33-39). if ... give all the substance ... contemned--Nothing short of Jesus Christ Himself, not even heaven without Him, can satisfy the saint (Php 3:8). Satan offers the world, as to Jesus Christ (Mt 4:8), so to the saint, in vain (1Jo 2:15-17; 5:4). Nothing but…Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 7Many waters cannot quench the love Since he refers to them with an expression of coals, the language of “cannot quench” is appropriate for them.Read the comment

Topics related to Song of Songs 8:7

• Love

In the dictionaries

• Quench
• 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