Song Of Solomon 5:2

¶ I 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.

I sleep {H3463}, but my heart {H3820} waketh {H5782}: it is the voice {H6963} of my beloved {H1730} that knocketh {H1849}, saying, Open {H6605} to me, my sister {H269}, my love {H7474}, my dove {H3123}, my undefiled {H8535}: for my head {H7218} is filled {H4390} with dew {H2919}, and my locks {H6977} with the drops {H7447} of the night {H3915}.

[She] I am asleep, but my heart is awake. Listen! I hear my darling knocking! [He] Open for me, my sister, my love, my dove, my flawless one! For my head is wet with dew, my hair with the moisture of the night.

I sleep, but my heart is awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.”

I 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.

Commentary

Song of Solomon 5:2 presents a pivotal and often allegorized scene within the passionate dialogue between the Shulamite woman and her beloved king. It captures a moment of yearning, hesitation, and earnest pursuit, revealing the dynamics of deep affection and the subtle tests of devotion.

Context

This verse marks a significant turning point in the Song of Solomon, often interpreted as a dream sequence or a dramatic interlude following the established intimacy of previous chapters. The Shulamite woman is in her chamber, and her beloved arrives unexpectedly at night, seeking entry. This scene serves as a test of her immediate responsiveness and devotion, setting the stage for a period of separation and longing that follows.

Key Themes

  • Yearning and Pursuit: The beloved's persistent knocking and heartfelt plea ("Open to me...") demonstrate his deep desire for communion and his active pursuit of the Shulamite woman. His vulnerability, exposed to the "dew" and "drops of the night," underscores the earnestness and even sacrifice of his love.
  • Spiritual Responsiveness: The woman's state, "I sleep, but my heart waketh," highlights a tension between physical rest and inner awareness. It represents a common human struggle with spiritual readiness—hearing the call but hesitating to fully engage. This imagery is powerfully echoed in the New Testament, where Christ is depicted as knocking at the door of the human heart in Revelation 3:20.
  • Intimacy and Purity: The endearing titles the beloved uses—"my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled"—reveal the profound respect, tender affection, and high regard he holds for her. "My sister" emphasizes a pure, familial bond alongside romantic love, while "my undefiled" (Hebrew: tammati) signifies her perfect, complete, and unblemished character in his eyes, much like how she is described as "all fair" in Song of Solomon 4:7.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "I sleep, but my heart waketh" (Hebrew: ani yeshena ve-libbi er) presents a vivid picture of a state of partial slumber or a dream. It suggests an inner awareness or spiritual sensitivity even when outwardly passive or unresponsive.
  • The term "undefiled" (Hebrew: tammati) comes from a root meaning "perfect," "complete," or "innocent." It speaks to the beloved's perception of her as pure and without blemish, highlighting the depth of his admiration and the sanctity of their bond.
  • "Dew" (Hebrew: tal) and "drops of the night" refer to the cold, damp conditions of an ancient Near Eastern night. This detail emphasizes the beloved's discomfort and perseverance, as he has waited outside for her.

Practical Application

For believers, Song of Solomon 5:2 serves as a powerful allegory for the relationship between Christ and His Church, or the individual soul. Just as the beloved seeks entry, Christ continually pursues and invites us into deeper fellowship. The verse prompts self-reflection:

  • Are we quick to respond to the Lord's calling, or do we delay?
  • Do we appreciate the cost of His pursuit and His earnest desire for intimacy with us?
  • How do we cultivate a "waking heart" that is always sensitive to His voice, even amidst the distractions or comforts of life?

This passage encourages us to value and respond to the persistent, self-sacrificing love that seeks to enter our lives and hearts.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 3:20

    Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

  • Song Of Solomon 2:14

    ¶ O my dove, [that art] in the clefts of the rock, in the secret [places] of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet [is] thy voice, and thy countenance [is] comely.

  • Song Of Solomon 6:9

    My dove, my undefiled is [but] one; she [is] the [only] one of her mother, she [is] the choice [one] of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; [yea], the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.

  • Zechariah 4:1

    ¶ And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,

  • Psalms 119:1

    ¶ ALEPH. Blessed [are] the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

  • Song Of Solomon 8:7

    Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if [a] man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

  • Isaiah 50:6

    I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
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