Song Of Solomon 5:7

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.

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.

The watchmen roaming the city found me; they beat me, they wounded me; they took away my cloak, those guardians of the walls!

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.

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.

Commentary

Song of Solomon 5:7 describes a dramatic and troubling encounter for the Shulamite bride as she searches for her beloved. Having risen to find him gone after her delay, she ventures into the city and is met with unexpected hostility from the watchmen. Instead of offering help or protection, they assault and humiliate her, symbolizing the painful and often confusing trials that can arise in the pursuit of love or spiritual devotion.

Context

This verse is part of a vivid, dream-like sequence in Song of Solomon Chapter 5, following the Bride's regret over her initial hesitation to open the door for her Beloved (Song of Solomon 5:6). Her search leads her into the city streets at night, a vulnerable position. The watchmen, who are typically guardians of the city, here act as antagonists. This is a stark contrast to her earlier, more benign encounter with watchmen in Song of Solomon 3:3, where they merely find her and she asks if they have seen her beloved.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Unexpected Hostility: The watchmen, symbols of order and protection, surprisingly turn violent. This highlights that trials and opposition can come from unexpected sources, even those who should be supportive or neutral.
  • Vulnerability and Suffering: The phrases "smote me" and "wounded me" convey physical pain and emotional distress. This illustrates the deep vulnerability and suffering that can accompany a fervent search for connection, whether in human relationships or in one's spiritual walk.
  • Loss of Honor and Modesty: The removal of her veil was a significant act of public humiliation and exposure in ancient culture. A veil symbolized a woman's modesty, honor, and often her marital status. Its forceful removal implied disgrace and a stripping away of her dignity.
  • The Cost of Delay: While not directly stated as punishment, this harsh experience follows the Bride's earlier reluctance, suggesting that spiritual apathy or delay in responding to the Beloved's call can lead to painful consequences and difficult pathways.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "veil" here is radid (ืจึธื“ึดื™ื“), referring to a light mantle or outer garment. Its removal signifies a profound act of exposure and humiliation, stripping the Shulamite of her covering and public dignity. The terms "smote" (ื ึธื›ึธื”, nakah) and "wounded" (ืคึธึผืฆึทืข, patsa') emphasize the physical and emotional assault she endured.

Practical Application

This verse, often interpreted allegorically as the soul's journey with Christ or the Church's experience in the world, offers several insights:

  • Trials in the Pursuit of Faith: Believers may encounter unexpected opposition or even hostility from within the broader community or from those who seem to be "keepers" of the faith, as they earnestly seek a deeper relationship with God.
  • The Reality of Spiritual Struggle: The Christian walk is not always smooth. There are seasons of pain, misunderstanding, and feeling exposed, especially when one is passionately pursuing God or recovering from a period of spiritual neglect.
  • Perseverance Despite Adversity: Despite the painful experience, the Bride's ultimate goal remains finding her Beloved. This encourages perseverance in faith even when the path is difficult and marked by suffering or humiliation.
  • Self-Reflection on Apathy: The passage can serve as a gentle warning against spiritual complacency or delaying obedience, reminding us that neglecting the call of the Beloved can lead to unforeseen challenges in our spiritual journey.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • 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.
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