Song of Solomon 2:7-17

7 Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time is right.

8 Ah, I hear my lover coming! He is leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills.

9 My lover is like a swift gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he is behind the wall, looking through the window, peering into the room.

10 My lover said to me, “Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!

11 Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone.

12 The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come, and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.

13 The fig trees are forming young fruit, and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming. Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!”

14 My dove is hiding behind the rocks, behind an outcrop on the cliff. Let me see your face; let me hear your voice. For your voice is pleasant, and your face is lovely.

15 Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!

16 My lover is mine, and I am his. He browses among the lilies.

17 Before the dawn breezes blow and the night shadows flee, return to me, my love, like a gazelle or a young stag on the rugged mountains.

Song of Solomon 2:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 2

Here begins a new colloquy between Christ and his church; in which they alternately set forth the excellencies of each other; and express their mutual affection for, and delight and pleasure they take in, each other's company. Christ seems to begin, in an account of himself and his own excellencies, and of the church in her present state, So 2:1,2; then she, in her turn, praises him, and commends him above all others relates some choice proofs she had had of his love to her, and of communion with him in his house and ordinances, to such a degree as to overcome her, So 2:3-6; and then either he or she gives a charge to the daughters of Jerusalem, not to disturb either the one or the other in their sweet repose, So 2:7. Next the church relates how she heard the voice of Christ, and had a sight of him on the hills and mountains, at some distance; then more nearly, behind her wall, and through the lattices, So 2:8,9; and expresses the very words in which he spake to her, and gave her a call to come away with him; making use of arguments from the season of the year, the signs of which are beautifully described, So 2:10-13; and requests that she would come out of her solitude, that he might enjoy her company, whose countenance and voice are so delightful to him; and gives a charge to her and her friends, to seize on such as were harmful and prejudicial to their mutual property, So 2:14,15. And she closes the chapter with expressing her faith of interest in Christ; and with a petition for his speedy approach to her, and continued presence with her, So 2:16,17.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or not to awaken love until it is ready.
• [b]. Or the season of pruning vines.
• [c]. Or on the hills of Bether.