Song of Solomon 2:9
What does Song of Solomon 2:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Song of Solomon 2:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Song of Solomon 2:9 means
He is likened to a roe or young hart—graceful and quick. Yet he stands behind their wall, looking in at the windows, glancing through the lattice. Nearness is mixed with separation. The wall and lattice suggest boundaries still in place; love is close but not yet fully joined. He does not force entry; he watches and waits, signaling interest and readiness. The scene heightens longing and respect: he desires her presence while honoring the space she occupies. It pictures a courtship that invites without coercion, where proximity arouses hope and the beloved’s attentive gaze reassures the maiden of his faithful intent.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: Behold, he standeth behind our wall; He looketh in at the windows; He glanceth through the lattice.
KJV
King James Version · 1611My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: Behold, he standeth behind our wall; He looketh in at the windows; He glanceth through the lattice.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949My loved one is like a roe; see, he is on the other side of our wall, he is looking in at the windows, letting himself be seen through the spaces.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862My beloved <FI>is<Fi> like to a roe, Or to a young one of the harts. Lo, this--he is standing behind our wall, Looking from the windows, Blooming from the lattice.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart. Behold he standeth behind our wall, looking through the windows, looking through the lattices.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890My beloved is like a gazelle or a young hart. Behold, he standeth behind our wall, He looketh in through the windows, Glancing through the lattice.
Context
Coming after the energetic approach of verse 8, this verse introduces a gentle tension—he is close but outside. This prepares the ear for his words in verse 10, which invite her to come away freely rather than be taken. The spatial imagery also helps the seasonal invitation in verses 11–13 land with force: the barriers feel temporary and the time feels ripe. Verse 9 thus bridges the excitement of approach and the persuasion of the coming speech, keeping desire and respect in balance.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hebrews 10:19
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
- Hebrews 10:1
For the law having a shadow of the goodthingsto come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh.
- Hebrews 9:8
the Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing;
- John 5:46
For if ye believed Moses, ye would believe me; for he wrote of me.
- John 12:41
These things said Isaiah, because he saw his glory; and he spake of him.
- John 5:39
Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me;
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