Song of Solomon 5:2
What does Song of Solomon 5:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Song of Solomon 5:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Song of Solomon 5:2 means
The bride describes a night scene: she sleeps, yet her heart remains alert. She hears her Beloved knocking and pleading to be let in, addressing her with tender names—“my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled.” He comes wet with night dew, showing both his eagerness and the cost he has borne to reach her. The appeal is earnest and affectionate, a request for welcome and closeness. The language captures love’s urgency and gentleness together. Even in the darkness, his voice carries warmth and fidelity. The verse invites the reader to feel the tension between invitation and response, and to sense that timing matters in love’s approach.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I was asleep, but my heart waked: It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; For my head is filled with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.
KJV
King James Version · 1611I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I was asleep, but my heart waked: It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; For my head is filled with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I am sleeping, but my heart is awake; it is the sound of my loved one at the door, saying, Be open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my very beautiful one; my head is wet with dew, and my hair with the drops of the night.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862I am sleeping, but my heart waketh: The sound of my beloved knocking! `Open to me, my sister, my friend, My dove, my perfect one, For my head is filled <FI>with<Fi> dew, My locks <FI>with<Fi> drops of the night.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I sleep, and my heart watcheth: the voice of my beloved knocking: Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is full of dew, and my locks of the drops of the nights.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I slept, but my heart was awake. The voice of my beloved! he knocketh: Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, mine undefiled; For my head is filled with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.
Context
After the chapter opens with fulfilled delight, the narrative pivots into a nocturnal vignette, often read as a dream sequence. The Beloved’s voice and knock introduce a new conflict: will she rise and open? His damp hair underlines the sincerity of his coming. The next verses will reveal her initial hesitation, a small delay that becomes momentous. That pause will lead to a painful absence and a frantic search, contrasting with the earlier scene of mutual enjoyment.
v.1I am come into my garden, my sister, my bride: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends; Drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.
v.2This passage
v.3I have put off my garment; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 26:40
And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
- Song of Solomon 2:14
O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, In the covert of the steep place, Let me see thy countenance, Let me hear thy voice; For sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
- Song of Solomon 5:11
His head isasthe most fine gold; His locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
- Psalms 119:1
Blessed are they that are perfect in the way, Who walk in the law of Jehovah.
- Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
- Genesis 31:40
Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from mine eyes.
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