Song of Solomon 2:17
What does Song of Solomon 2:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Song of Solomon 2:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Song of Solomon 2:17 means
She turns to her beloved with longing: “Until the day be cool, and the shadows flee away, turn… and be like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.” She desires his swift, graceful approach across rugged places. The cooling day and fleeing shadows suggest the end of a watch or season; she asks for nearness that carries them through the in-between. The “mountains of Bether” evoke distance or dividing terrain, yet her request assumes love can overcome it. The verse ends the chapter in yearning, with love confident of eventual union while acknowledging present barriers and the need for eager pursuit.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Until the day be cool, and the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart Upon the mountains of Bether.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Until the day be cool, and the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart Upon the mountains of Bether.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Till the evening comes, and the sky slowly becomes dark, come, my loved one, and be like a roe on the mountains of Bether.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Till the day doth break forth, And the shadows have fled away, Turn, be like, my beloved, To a roe, or to a young one of the harts, On the mountains of separation!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Till the day break, and the shadows retire. Return: be like, my beloved, to a roe, or to a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Until the day dawn, and the shadows flee away. Turn, my beloved: be thou like a gazelle or a young hart, Upon the mountains of Bether.
Context
This closing appeal follows the security of verse 16 and circles back to images of the beloved’s agility first seen in verses 8–9. The chapter, which celebrated mutual delight and issued a wise refrain, now concludes with a blend of assurance and desire. The springtime call has been sounded; vigilance has been urged; belonging has been affirmed. What remains is the prayerful wish for the beloved’s continuing, quickened nearness until the conditions fully favor their unhindered companionship, setting the stage for the unfolding narrative ahead.
v.16My beloved is mine, and I am his: He feedeth his flock among the lilies.
v.17This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Song of Solomon 8:14
Make haste, my beloved, And be thou like to a roe or to a young hart Upon the mountains of spices.
- Romans 13:12
The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
- Hebrews 8:5
who servethat which isa copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses is warnedof Godwhen he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount.
- Luke 1:78
Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,
- 2 Peter 1:19
And we have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts:
- Song of Solomon 4:6
Until the day be cool, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, And to the hill of frankincense.
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