King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake [my] love, until he please.
Complete Jewish Bible:
I warn you, daughters of Yerushalayim, not to awaken or stir up love until it wants to arise!
Berean Standard Bible:
O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.
American Standard Version:
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, Until he please.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
I charge{H7650} you, O daughters{H1323} of Jerusalem{H3389}, that ye stir not up{H5782}, nor awake{H5782} my love{H160}, until he please{H2654}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Song of Solomon 2:7
- I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake [my] love, till he please.
Song of Solomon 3:5
- I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake [my] love, till he please.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Song Of Solomon 8:4
Song of Solomon 8:4 is part of a collection of love poems in the Hebrew Bible, traditionally attributed to King Solomon, though modern scholarship often suggests a later date of composition, possibly around the 3rd century BCE. The book is unique in its unabashed celebration of love and sexual desire between two people, often interpreted as an allegory for the relationship between God and Israel or Christ and the Church.
In the verse at hand, the speaker, often understood to be the female beloved, addresses the "daughters of Jerusalem," a phrase used throughout the Song of Solomon to refer to a group of women or the community at large. She entreats them not to arouse or awaken love until it is ready or until the appropriate time. This plea can be interpreted in several ways: as a literal request for privacy and patience in the development of a romantic relationship, as a metaphor for the restraint and sanctity of love, or as wisdom literature's caution against the premature or reckless pursuit of passion.
The historical context of this verse reflects the cultural norms and values of ancient Israelite society, where matters of love and marriage were often communal and subject to social oversight. The charge to the daughters of Jerusalem suggests that the community had a role in the development and protection of romantic relationships, emphasizing the importance of timing and readiness for the intimacy that love entails.
In summary, Song of Solomon 8:4 encapsulates the themes of patience, the sanctity of love, and communal respect for romantic relationships. It reflects the broader literary tradition of wisdom literature, which often includes advice on personal conduct, and it underscores the value placed on love's appropriate expression within the context of a larger community.
*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: H7650
There are 175 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁבַע
Transliteration: shâbaʻ
Pronunciation: shaw-bah'
Description: a primitive root; properly to be complete, but used only as a denominative from שֶׁבַע; to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times); adjure, charge (by an oath, with an oath), feed to the full (by mistake for שָׂבַע), take an oath, [idiom] straitly, (cause to, make to) swear. - Strong's Number: H1323
There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּת
Transliteration: bath
Pronunciation: bath
Description: from בָּנָה (as feminine of בֵּן); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively); apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. - Strong's Number: H3389
There are 600 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם
Transliteration: Yᵉrûwshâlaim
Pronunciation: yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im
Description: rarely יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; a dual (in allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of the former reading, seems to be that of יְרוּשָׁלֵם)); probably from (the passive participle of) יָרָה and שָׁלַם; founded peaceful; Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine; Jerusalem. - Strong's Number: H5782
There are 65 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עוּר
Transliteration: ʻûwr
Pronunciation: oor
Description: a primitive root (rather identical with through the idea of opening the eyes); to wake (literally or figuratively); (a-) wake(-n, up), lift up (self), [idiom] master, raise (up), stir up (self). - Strong's Number: H160
There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַהֲבָה
Transliteration: ʼahăbâh
Pronunciation: a-hab-aw
Description: feminine of אַהַב and meaning the same; {affection (in a good or a bad sense)}; love. - Strong's Number: H2654
There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָפֵץ
Transliteration: châphêts
Pronunciation: khaw-fates'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend; figuratively, to be pleased with, desire; [idiom] any at all, (have, take) delight, desire, favour, like, move, be (well) pleased, have pleasure, will, would.