Song - 8:4



4 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires. Friends

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Song 8:4.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, Until he please.
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you stir not up, nor awake my love till she please.
I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, Why should ye stir up, why awake my love, till he please?
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awaken love, until it please.
I have adjured you, daughters of Jerusalem, How ye stir up, And how ye wake the love till she please!
I say to you, O daughters of Jerusalem, do not let love be moved till it is ready.
'I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem: Why should ye awaken, or stir up love, Until it please?'
I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

That ye stir not up - literally, as in the margin. For "my love" read as before love. The omission of "the roes and hinds" here is noticeable. Hebrew scholars regard this charge here and elsewhere Song 2:7; Song 3:5 as an admonition to Israel not to attempt obtaining a possession of, or restoration to, the promised land, and union or reunion there with the Holy One, before being inwardly prepared for it by the trials of the wilderness and the exile. This interpretation comes very near to what appears to be the genuine literal meaning (see Song 2:7 note). They suppose the words here to be addressed by Messiah to Israel in "the wilderness of the people" Ezekiel 20:35, in the latter day, and the former words Song 3:5 by Moses in the wilderness of Sinai.

(c) I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not, nor awake [my] love, until he please.
(c) Read (Song 3:5).

I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up,
nor awake my love, until he please. The phrase, "by the roes and by the hinds of the field", used in Song 2:7; is here omitted; not as if the charge was less vehement and earnest here, for the form of expostulation seems rather to express more earnestness: for the words may be rendered, "why will ye", or "why should ye stir up, and why awake my love?" (i) being apprehensive they were about to do it; and which she dissuades from, as unreasonable and dangerous, and might be prejudicial to them as well as to her. The allusion is to virgins, that sung songs at marriages; one in the evening, lulling to sleep; and another in the morning, awaking and stirring up from it (k).
(i) "cur", Montanus, Schmidt. (k) Vid. Theocrit. Idyll. 18.

*More commentary available at chapter level.


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