TRV
Translation
King James Version
My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.
Complete Jewish Bible
The man I love put his hand through the hole by the door-latch, and my heart began pounding at the thought of him.
American Standard Version
My beloved put in his hand by the holeof the door, And my heart was moved for him.
World English Bible Messianic
My beloved thrust his hand in through the latch opening. My heart pounded for him.
Geneva Bible (1599)
My welbeloued put in his hand by the hole of the doore, and mine heart was affectioned toward him.
Young's Literal Translation
My beloved sent his hand from the net-work, And my bowels were moved for him.
See also
In the KJVVerse 17,603 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers . Public domain.
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Basil of CaesareaAD 379
HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 16:1 (PSALM 33)
According to the counsel of the apostle, the zealous person can do all things for the glory of God, so that every act and every word and every work has in it power of praise. Whether the just person eats or drinks, he does all for the glory of God. The heart of such a one watches when he is sleeping, according to him who said in the Song of Solomon: “I sleep, and my heart watches.” For on many occasions the visions seen during sleep are images of our thoughts by day.
Gregory of NyssaAD 395
HOMILIES ON THE SONG OF SONGS 12
Resurrection is not effected in us unless a voluntary death precedes it. Such a voluntary death is indicated by the drops of myrrh dripping from the bride’s hands, for her fingers are filled with this spice. She says that myrrh did not come into her hands from any other source—if this were so, myrrh would mean something accidental and involuntary. Rather her hands (the operative faculties of the soul) drop myrrh, meaning a voluntary mortification of her bodily passions.
Gregory of NyssaAD 395
HOMILIES ON THE SONG OF SONGS 10
Once all the senses have been put to sleep and are gripped by inaction, the heart’s action is pure; reason looks above while it remains undisturbed and free from the senses’ movement.…If a person pays attention to the senses and is drawn by pleasure in the body, he will live his life without tasting the divine joy, since the good can be overshadowed by what is inferior. For those who desire God, a good not shadowed over by anything awaits them; they realize that what enters the senses must be avoided. Therefore, when the soul enjoys only the contemplation of being, it will not arise for those things that effect sensual pleasure. It puts to rest all bodily movement, and by naked, pure insight, the soul will see God in a divine watchfulness. May we be made worthy through this sleep, of which the Song has spoken, to keep our soul vigilant.
Ambrose of MilanAD 397
Concerning Virginity 12:70
As the dew from the heavens removes the dryness of the night, so the dew of our Lord Jesus Christ descends as the moisture of eternal life into the nocturnal shadows of the world. This is the head that knows nothing of the dryness caused by the heat of this world.
Ambrose of MilanAD 397
On Isaac and the Soul 6.50-52
She is now awakened from sleep by him, although she was keeping watch with her heart so that she might hear his voice at once when he knocked. But while she was rising, she experienced a delay, because she could not match the swiftness of the Word. While she was opening the door, the Word passed by. She went out at his word, sought for him through wounds, but wounds of love, and, finally and with difficulty, found him and embraced him, so that she might not lose him.…Even though you are asleep, if only Christ has come to know the devotion of your soul, he comes and knocks at her door and says, “Open to me, my sister.” “Sister” is well put, because the marriage of the Word and the soul is spiritual. For souls do not know covenants of wedlock or the ways of bodily union, but they are like the angels in heaven. “Open to me,” but close to strangers. Close to the times, close to the world, do not go out of doors to material things, do not abandon your own light and search for another’s, because material light pours out a dark mist, so that the light of true glory is not seen. “Open,” therefore, “to me”; do not open to the adversary or give place to the devil. “Open yourself to me,” do not be confined, but expand, and I will fill you. And because, in my passage through the world, I have found very much trouble and vexation and have not readily had a place to rest, do you then open, that the Son of man may rest his head on you, for he has no rest save on one who is humble and quiet.
The soul, hearing “Open to me,” and “My head is wet with dew,” that is, the soul that was suddenly disturbed by the temptations of the world and was bidden to rise, and indeed is on the point of rising, as it were, speaks: fragrant with aloe and myrrh, signs of burial.
Ambrose of MilanAD 397
DEATH AS A GOOD 5:20
“I sleep, but my heart is awake.” Let us learn what food and produce God feasts upon and in which ones he takes pleasure. He takes pleasure in this, if anyone dies to his sin, blots out his guilt, and destroys and buries his iniquities. The myrrh represents the burial of the dead, but sins are dead, for they cannot possess the sweetness of life. Moreover, some wounds of sinners are moistened with the ointments of Scripture and the stronger food of the word as with bread, and are treated with the sweeter word like honey.
Ambrose of MilanAD 397
Concerning Virginity 9:55
In this night of the world the garment of corporeal life is first to be taken off as the Lord divested himself in his flesh that for you he might triumph over the dominions and powers of this world.
John ChrysostomAD 407
HOMILIES ON REPENTANCE AND ALMSGIVING 1:3-4
Both when I stayed at home and when I departed, when I walked and rested, and wherever I went, I continuously turned your love over in my mind and dreamt about it. I found pleasure in these dreams not only during the day but also at night. The very statement made by Solomon, “I sleep but my heart is awake,” was then happening to me. The necessity for sleep weighed down my eyelids, but the great power of your love chased away the sleep from the eyes of my soul; and constantly I thought that I was speaking with you in my sleep.At night, it is natural for the soul to see in her dreams all the things that she thinks about in the day, something that I was then experiencing. Although I did not see you with the eyes of my body, I saw you with the eyes of love. In spite of my physical absence, I was close to you in disposition, and my ears always heard your vivacious voice.
AponiusAD 500
EXPOSITION OF SONG OF SONGS 7:59
“I sleep and my heart remains awake.” The divine Word, who is to be understood here under the title of the heart, never sleeps or falls asleep while hidden within the veil of the flesh, but he carries the sleeper. He explains this in a deeply mysterious way to the friends and beloveds who believe in him and whom he invites to partake of the joy of human salvation. [He does this] lest, while they see him detained in the sleep of death according to his humanity, they are deprived of the faith through which they see in him a majesty that is full and ever watchful. I am asleep to you through bodily absence, he says, but I am awake in heart by never withdrawing the presence of my deity from you.
Gregory the DialogistAD 604
FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 8 (10)
Myrrh indicates the death of our flesh, and so the church says of its members who are striving even to death on behalf of God: “My hands dripped with myrrh.”
BedeAD 735
Commentary on the Song of Songs
My beloved put his hand through the opening. My beloved puts his hand through the opening when the Lord secretly and invisibly kindles us with the hidden spur of divine love toward virtuous acts. He puts his hand to us when, seeing us longing to rest, he recalls to our memory his work in us—not only that we are men but also that we belong to him. He extends his hand to remind us of his work on our behalf: He left the bosom of the Father to become human like us, not only to be incarnate and dwell on earth, making us spiritual and heavenly, but also to die so that we might live forever. Therefore, rightly, our heart trembles at his touch, for when our conscience recalls his merciful deeds, it is filled with awe, inspired by prophetic insight: "I have considered your works and was afraid" and hurries to aid in the salvation of others for whom God was incarnate and died. For by the name "womb" is often meant the heart because just as food is digested in the womb, so thoughts mature in the heart through diligent reflection. Thus, Jeremiah says, "My womb, my womb, I am in pain" (Jer. IV). What would it profit listeners if a teacher complained of pain in his stomach? But his intention was to greatly benefit them by testifying that his own conscience was troubled and filled with deep pain due to their rebellious acts. The term "womb" can also denote the softness and fragility of those who, either because they consider themselves less capable, tremble to undertake the duty of teaching, or because they delight in the ease of their rest, shy away. And the bride's womb trembled at the beloved’s touch when, moved by divine compunction, the weak in the Church shook off their sluggishness and aroused themselves to practice good works, rising up to advise others through preaching. This is precisely shown in the following phrase:
Richard ChallonerAD 1781
My beloved put his hand through the key hole: The spouse of Christ, his church, at times as it were penned up by its persecutors, and in fears, expecting the divine assistance, here signified by his hand: and ver. 6, but he had turned aside and was gone, that is, Christ permitting a further trial of suffering: and again, ver. 7, the keepers, etc., signifying the violent and cruel persecutors of the church taking her veil, despoiling the church of its places of worship and ornaments for the divine service.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Song of Solomon 5:4 vividly portrays a pivotal moment in the Shulamite woman's dream, where her beloved's intimate gesture of reaching his hand through the door's opening elicits an immediate, profound, and visceral emotional response within her. This verse powerfully conveys the intensity of her yearning and deep affection, underscoring the transformative impact of his presence and initiative on her innermost being.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This verse is intricately woven into a dream sequence (Song 5:2-8) that immediately follows a period of separation and longing between the lovers. The Shulamite recounts awakening to her beloved's arrival at her door, knocking and asking to be admitted. Her initial hesitation, perhaps due to comfort or modesty, leads to a delay in opening the door. His action of putting his hand through the door's opening is a poignant, persistent attempt to gain entry, a clear sign of his earnest desire for intimacy despite her delay. This moment serves as a critical turning point, profoundly intensifying her longing and compelling her to eventually rise, though by then he has departed. This prompts her frantic search for him through the city, culminating in her passionate and detailed description of her beloved in Song of Solomon 5:10-16. The entire passage masterfully underscores themes of desire, pursuit, the pain of separation, and the transformative power of love.
Historical & Cultural Context: Ancient Israelite homes commonly featured simple wooden doors secured by an internal bolt or latch. To open such a door from the outside, one would typically manipulate the latch through a small "hole" or opening, or insert a key. The beloved's act of inserting his hand through this opening signifies his immediate physical presence at her threshold and his intimate knowledge of how to gain access, even as she hesitates. It is a gesture imbued with both physical proximity and emotional persistence. The cultural understanding of "bowels" (Hebrew: mêʻeh) in biblical times was not merely anatomical but deeply metaphorical, representing the seat of profound emotions, compassion, and intense affection, akin to how modern English speakers might refer to the "heart" or "gut." This idiom conveys a deep, involuntary stirring that transcends superficial feeling, reflecting a widespread biblical understanding of human physiology as intrinsically linked to emotional and spiritual states, as also depicted in Proverbs 4:23.
Key Themes: Song of Solomon 5:4 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates intense yearning and desire, showcasing the Shulamite's profound emotional and physical longing for her beloved. Her visceral reaction underscores the depth of their passionate love and mutual attraction. Secondly, it highlights the beloved's persistent pursuit and initiative; his action of reaching through the door demonstrates his earnestness in seeking connection, even when faced with a delayed response. This mirrors the active, seeking nature of true love and commitment. Thirdly, the verse speaks to internal awakening and responsiveness, depicting how the beloved's presence and intimate gesture stir the Shulamite's deepest affections, leading to an immediate and overwhelming desire for intimacy. This internal stirring is a testament to the transformative power of love and the profound impact one person can have on another's innermost being, a theme woven throughout the Song of Solomon as a whole.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse is rich in Symbolism. The "hand" of the beloved symbolizes his presence, initiative, and desire for intimacy, while the "hole of the door" represents both an obstacle and a point of potential access, a threshold to deeper communion. The "bowels" are a powerful symbol of the deepest seat of human emotion and affection, signifying a profound, gut-level response rather than a superficial one. Metonymy is evident in the use of "bowels" to represent the entirety of the Shulamite's intense emotional and physical yearning. The phrase "my bowels were moved" is an example of Idiomatic Expression, conveying a specific cultural understanding of deep emotional stirring. The verse also employs strong Sensory Imagery, particularly tactile (the hand reaching through the hole) and kinesthetic (the internal movement of the bowels), drawing the reader intimately into the Shulamite's profound experience.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
While primarily a human love poem celebrating marital intimacy, Song of Solomon 5:4 offers profound allegorical insights into the spiritual relationship between God and humanity, or Christ and His Church. The beloved's persistent initiative in seeking entry can be seen as a beautiful metaphor for God's relentless pursuit of His people, His desire for intimate fellowship, and His gentle knocking at the door of our hearts. The Shulamite's visceral, overwhelming response mirrors the deep yearning and passionate devotion that the human soul can and should cultivate for its Creator. This verse underscores the reciprocal nature of divine-human relationship: God initiates, and our deepest being is stirred to respond with fervent love and longing. It challenges believers to cultivate a heart that is sensitive and quick to respond to the Lord's presence and invitations, allowing His love to stir our innermost affections and draw us into deeper communion.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Song of Solomon 5:4 serves as a powerful reminder of the profound impact that genuine, persistent love can have, both in human relationships and, allegorically, in our spiritual walk. The beloved's gentle yet determined act of reaching through the door signifies an invitation to deeper intimacy, a seeking presence that stirs the soul. For us, this can be a call to recognize and respond to God's constant initiative in our lives. Often, God "knocks" or "reaches in" through His Word, through prayer, through the Holy Spirit's promptings, or through the circumstances of life, inviting us into a deeper relationship. Our challenge is to cultivate a heart that is not hesitant or slow to respond, but one that is exquisitely sensitive to His presence, allowing His love to move our "bowels"—our deepest affections and innermost being—with fervent yearning and devotion. This verse encourages us to move beyond mere intellectual assent to a passionate, visceral love for God, a love that compels us to open the door of our hearts wide and embrace the intimacy He offers.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "my bowels were moved for him" truly mean in this context?
Answer: In ancient Hebrew thought, the "bowels" (Hebrew: mêʻeh) were considered the seat of deep emotions, not just physical organs. Therefore, "my bowels were moved for him" is an idiom signifying a profound, visceral, and intense emotional and physical yearning. It's an involuntary, gut-level response of overwhelming affection, compassion, and desire, indicating that her entire being was stirred by her beloved's presence and action. It conveys a love so deep it resonates in her very core, similar to how we might say "my heart went out to him" or "I felt it in my gut." This phrase emphasizes the depth and authenticity of her passionate love.
Is this verse only about human love, or does it have spiritual meaning?
Answer: While Song of Solomon 5:4 is explicitly a description of human romantic love within the narrative of the Shulamite and her beloved, it has been widely interpreted allegorically throughout Jewish and Christian tradition. In Jewish tradition, it often represents the love between God and Israel. In Christian tradition, it is frequently understood as an allegory for the passionate love between Christ and His Church, or between Christ and the individual believer. The beloved's persistent pursuit and the Shulamite's deep, responsive yearning are seen as parallels to Christ's initiative in seeking us and our call to respond with fervent devotion. This spiritual interpretation enriches the text, providing profound insights into divine-human intimacy, as seen in Revelation 3:20.
How does the "hole of the door" relate to ancient homes?
Answer: In ancient Israelite homes, doors were often secured by a wooden bolt or latch on the inside. To open the door from the outside, a person might insert a "key" (often a simple wooden peg) or their hand through a small opening or "hole" in the door to manipulate the latch. This "hole" allowed for a degree of access and communication even when the door was closed. The beloved's action of putting his hand through this opening signifies his intimate knowledge of the home's mechanics and his earnest, personal attempt to gain entry, highlighting his close proximity and desire to be with the Shulamite.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Song of Solomon 5:4, when viewed through a Christ-centered lens, beautifully foreshadows the intimate and persistent pursuit of Christ for His Church and for every individual believer. Just as the beloved reaches his hand through the door, signifying his presence and desire for communion, so too does Christ stand at the door of our hearts and knock, desiring to enter and sup with us (Revelation 3:20). His "hand" represents His power, His active grace, and His unwavering initiative in seeking a relationship with us, even when we are slow to respond or hesitant. The Shulamite's visceral reaction, her "bowels moved for him," becomes a powerful metaphor for the profound, Spirit-wrought yearning and love that the believer experiences for Christ. It speaks to a love that is not merely intellectual assent but a deep, emotional, and all-encompassing devotion that stirs our innermost being. Christ, as the ultimate Bridegroom (Ephesians 5:25-27), continually extends His invitation to abundant life (John 10:10), and our spiritual maturity is often marked by how readily and passionately our hearts are moved to open the door and welcome His transforming presence. This verse reminds us that true intimacy with God is a response to His divine initiative, stirring within us a love that mirrors His own fervent pursuit.