King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The watchmen roaming the city found me; they beat me, they wounded me; they took away my cloak, those guardians of the walls!
Berean Standard Bible:
I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city. They beat me and bruised me; they took away my cloak, those guardians of the walls.
American Standard Version:
The watchmen that go about the city found me, They smote me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls took away my mantle from me.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
The watchmen{H8104} that went about{H5437} the city{H5892} found{H4672} me, they smote{H5221} me, they wounded{H6481} me; the keepers{H8104} of the walls{H2346} took away{H5375} my veil{H7289} from me.
Cross-References (KJV):
Song of Solomon 3:3
- The watchmen that go about the city found me: [to whom I said], Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
John 16:2
- They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
Isaiah 6:10
- Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
Isaiah 6:11
- Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,
Hebrews 11:36
- And others had trial of [cruel] mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Hebrews 11:37
- They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Song of Solomon 8:11
- Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand [pieces] of silver.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Song Of Solomon 5:7
Song of Solomon 5:7 is a verse from the Wisdom literature of the Hebrew Bible, traditionally attributed to Solomon, the Israelite king renowned for his wisdom. This book is unique in its celebration of love, passion, and human sexuality within the context of marriage. The verse is part of a larger poetic dialogue between two lovers, often interpreted as a bride and her beloved.
In this verse, the woman recounts a dream or a metaphorical experience where she is searching for her beloved at night. The "watchmen" mentioned are likely the city guards or night watch, responsible for maintaining order and protecting the city. In the narrative, these watchmen are harsh towards her; they beat and wound her, and in a cultural gesture that signifies shame or loss of dignity, they remove her veil. The removal of the veil could also symbolize a loss of protection or status, as veils were often associated with modesty and marital status in the ancient Near East.
The themes present in this verse include the yearning for intimacy, the trials of love, and the vulnerability that comes with seeking connection. It also touches on the societal roles and the treatment of individuals, particularly women, in ancient times. The historical context suggests that the poem reflects the experiences of love within the constraints of a patriarchal and communal society, where the actions of the watchmen represent the social barriers and dangers that lovers might face.
The Song of Solomon, or Song of Songs, has been interpreted in various ways throughout history, ranging from a collection of love poems to an allegory of the relationship between God and Israel or Christ and the Church. The verse in question, however, is often seen as a poignant expression of the trials of love, emphasizing the pain of separation and the sometimes-harsh realities faced by lovers in their quest for unity.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H8104
There are 440 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמַר
Transliteration: shâmar
Pronunciation: shaw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.; beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man). - Strong's Number: H5437
There are 147 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָבַב
Transliteration: çâbab
Pronunciation: saw-bab'
Description: a primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively; bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, [idiom] whirl, [idiom] round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset (about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to come about, [idiom] circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round), drive, environ, [idiom] on every side, beset (close, come, compass, go, stand) round about, inclose, remove, return, set, sit down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back). - Strong's Number: H5892
There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עִיר
Transliteration: ʻîyr
Pronunciation: eer
Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. - Strong's Number: H4672
There are 425 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָצָא
Transliteration: mâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: maw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present; [phrase] be able, befall, being, catch, [idiom] certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), [idiom] have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), [idiom] occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on. - Strong's Number: H5221
There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָכָה
Transliteration: nâkâh
Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
Description: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound. - Strong's Number: H6481
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּצַע
Transliteration: pâtsaʻ
Pronunciation: paw-tsah'
Description: a primitive root; to split, i.e. wound; wound. - Strong's Number: H2346
There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חוֹמָה
Transliteration: chôwmâh
Pronunciation: kho-maw'
Description: feminine active participle of an unused root apparently meaning to join; a wall of protection; wall, walled. - Strong's Number: H5375
There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָשָׂא
Transliteration: nâsâʼ
Pronunciation: naw-saw'
Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield. - Strong's Number: H7289
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָדִיד
Transliteration: râdîyd
Pronunciation: raw-deed'
Description: from רָדַד in the sense of spreading; a veil (as expanded); vail, veil.