Song Of Solomon 5:8

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I [am] sick of love.

I charge {H7650} you, O daughters {H1323} of Jerusalem {H3389}, if ye find {H4672} my beloved {H1730}, that ye tell {H5046} him, that I am sick {H2470} of love {H160}.

I charge you, daughters of Yerushalayim, that if you find the man I love, what are you to tell him? That I am sick with love.

O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you, if you find my beloved, tell him I am sick with love.

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If ye find my beloved, That ye tell him, that I am sick from love.

Commentary

Song of Solomon 5:8 captures the intense longing and deep affection of the Shulamite woman for her beloved shepherd-king. Her passionate plea to the daughters of Jerusalem reveals a heart overwhelmed by love's powerful emotions, a love so profound it affects her very being.

Context

This verse immediately follows a vivid dream sequence in Song of Solomon 5:2-7, where the Shulamite describes missing an opportunity to open the door for her beloved. She then frantically searches for him in the city streets, even enduring mistreatment from the watchmen. Her declaration, "I am sick of love," is not an expression of physical illness but an overwhelming emotional state of yearning and distress due to her beloved's absence and the intensity of her desire to find him. The "daughters of Jerusalem" serve as a recurring chorus or audience, often providing a sounding board for the Shulamite's deepest feelings and sometimes receiving a charge from her, as seen also in Song of Solomon 2:7.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Intense Longing and Passionate Love: The core message is the profound, almost debilitating, nature of her love. It's a love that consumes her thoughts and energy, making her feel unwell until her beloved is found.
  • Desperate Seeking: Her request to the daughters underscores her desperate search. Unable to find him on her own, she enlists their help, mirroring the frantic search described in Song of Solomon 3:1-4.
  • Vulnerability and Openness: By openly admitting her emotional state, the Shulamite displays deep vulnerability and trust in her confidantes. This transparency is a hallmark of true intimacy.
  • The Power of Love: The verse vividly portrays love not as a fleeting emotion but as a powerful, consuming force that can bring both immense joy and profound distress when separated from the beloved. This echoes the sentiment that love is strong as death.

Linguistic Insights

The key phrase "sick of love" is a translation of the Hebrew cholat ahavah (ื—ึนืœึทืช ืึทื”ึฒื‘ึธื”). The word cholat means "sick," "weak," "faint," or "languishing." Combined with ahavah, meaning "love," it describes being utterly overcome by the emotion of love, to the point of feeling weak or unable to function normally. It's not a negative sickness, but rather an intense, overwhelming longing for the beloved's presence. This phrase perfectly conveys the depth of her emotional distress and desire.

Practical Application

On a human level, this verse beautifully legitimizes the depth and passion of romantic love within a committed relationship, such as marriage. It speaks to the profound emotional connection and yearning that can exist between two people, highlighting the importance of presence and intimacy. It also shows the value of confiding in trusted friends during times of emotional distress.

Spiritually, many commentators interpret the Song of Solomon allegorically, seeing it as a depiction of the intense love between God and His people, or Christ and His Church. In this sense, "sick of love" can represent a soul's profound and unquenchable yearning for a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. It signifies a spiritual hunger that cannot be satisfied by anything else, driving the believer to seek God more earnestly, much like the psalmist's longing for God in Psalm 42:1. This verse encourages believers to cultivate such a passionate desire for the Lord's presence and to seek Him diligently when He seems distant.

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

Cross-References

  • Song Of Solomon 2:5

    Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I [am] sick of love.

  • 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.

  • Psalms 42:1

    ยถ To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

  • Psalms 42:3

    My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where [is] thy God?

  • 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.

  • Romans 15:30

    ยถ Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in [your] prayers to God for me;

  • Psalms 63:1

    ยถ A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou [art] my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
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