Song of Solomon 8:14
What does Song of Solomon 8:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Song of Solomon 8:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Song of Solomon 8:14 means
The Song ends with her urgent, joyful summons: “Make haste, my beloved.” She wants him to come with the light, agile eagerness of a gazelle or young stag over fragrant mountains. The imagery recalls earlier scenes of pursuit and presence, now enriched by settled commitment. Love remains lively, not languid; it keeps desiring even when it has found its rest. The “mountains of spices” suggest a landscape of delight and fruitfulness. The open-ended close leaves the couple in hopeful motion—love not concluded but continuing. The enduring power of love is to keep calling, keep coming, and keep rejoicing in the gift of one another.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Make haste, my beloved, And be thou like to a roe or to a young hart Upon the mountains of spices.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Make haste, my beloved, And be thou like to a roe or to a young hart Upon the mountains of spices.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Come quickly, my loved one, and be like a roe on the mountains of spice.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Or to a young one of the harts on mountains of spices!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Flee away, O my beloved, and be like to the roe, and to the young hart upon the mountains of aromatical spices.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Haste, my beloved, And be thou like a gazelle or a young hart Upon the mountains of spices.
Context
This final verse answers the beloved’s request to hear her voice (v. 13) with a fresh appeal for his nearness. It echoes earlier refrains in the Song, bringing the poem full circle—from longing to union to renewed longing. After celebrating love’s strength (vv. 6–7), its wise nurture (vv. 8–10), and its freedom from commodification (vv. 11–12), the book closes with expectancy. The effect is devotional and practical: true love, once rightly formed, continues to seek and delight, anticipating tomorrow’s mercies as eagerly as today’s joys.
v.13Thou that dwellest in the gardens, The companions hearken for thy voice: Cause me to hear it.
v.14This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Song of Solomon 2:9
My 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.
- Revelation 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely.
- 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.
- Revelation 22:20
He who testifieth these things saith, Yea: I come quickly. Amen: come, Lord Jesus.
- Philippians 1:23
But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better:
- Luke 19:12
He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
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