The Bride's Night Search and Distress
Song 5:2-8
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Son.5.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- ישנה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- ולבי: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,_,sg
- ער: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- קול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דודי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
- דופק: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- פתחי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- אחתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
- רעיתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs,1
- יונתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
- תמתי: ADJ,f,sg,abs+1,sg
- שראשי: REL+NOUN,m,sg,abs+1,sg
- נמלא: VERB,nifal,perf,3,m,sg
- טל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קוצותי: NOUN,f,pl,abs+1,sg
- רסיסי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+1,sg
- לילה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Song of Solomon 3:1-4 (thematic): Nighttime searching and awakening for the beloved: 3:1 describes seeking the lover 'by night' and not finding him, then finding him (3:4), paralleling the motif of sleeping/awakening and desire in 5:2.
- Song of Solomon 6:9 (verbal): Uses the same endearment—'my dove, my perfect one' (יונתי תמתי) echoing the identical epithet applied to the beloved in 5:2.
- Song of Solomon 5:6-8 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same scene: 5:6–8 narrate the opening/absence and the daughter's search, providing the direct narrative parallel and outcome to the knocking described in 5:2.
- Revelation 3:20 (allusion): Similar image of one standing at a door and knocking—an invitation to open—which functions as a New Testament theological echo of the door-knocking motif in 5:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- I slept, but my heart was awake. The voice of my beloved—he knocks: "Open to me, my sister, my bride, my dove, my perfect one! For my head is filled with dew, my hair with the drops of the night."
- I sleep, but my heart is awake; the voice of my beloved—he knocks: Open to me, my sister, my bride, my dove, my perfect one; for my head is full of dew, my locks with the drops of the night.
Son.5.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- פשטתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- כתנתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1s
- איככה: ADV
- אלבשנה: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg+3f
- רחצתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- רגלי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- איככה: ADV
- אטנפם: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg+3m
Parallels
- Song of Songs 5:2 (structural): Immediate context: the night's encounter (knocking, waking) leads directly into the speaker's gesture of removing her robe and washing her feet—this verse is part of the same scene and continues its emotional logic.
- Song of Songs 5:4 (structural): Direct continuation: the beloved leaves and the speaker reacts (calling after him, seeking him). The removal of garments and washing of feet sets up the separation and longing that follow.
- Exodus 30:18-21 (verbal): Priestly ordinance to wash hands and feet before approaching the sanctuary to avoid defilement; parallels the language and concern of washing feet to prevent contamination.
- John 13:5,10 (verbal): Jesus washes the disciples' feet and says that one who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed to be fully clean—echoes the specific imagery of foot-washing tied to purity and relational intimacy.
Alternative generated candidates
- I laid aside my robe—how shall I put it on? I bathed my feet—how shall I soil them?
- I have put off my tunic—how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet—how shall I defile them?
Son.5.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- דודי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
- שלח: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ידו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- מן: PREP
- החר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ומעי: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs+pss.1s
- המו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Song of Solomon 5:2-3 (structural): Immediate context of the same scene: the beloved knocks, the bride opens but he withdraws—v.4 continues this episode (hand at the latch; emotional response).
- Song of Solomon 3:4 (thematic): Similar language of finding, seizing, and clinging to the beloved ('I held him, and would not let him go'), reflecting mutual longing and physical reach between lovers.
- Revelation 3:20 (allusion): Door/knocking motif and appeal for entry—'Behold, I stand at the door and knock'—parallels the intimacy and tension of one seeking access and communion with another.
- Psalm 42:1–2 (thematic): Imagery of intense longing ('As the hart panteth... so panteth my soul after thee') parallels the bride's deep emotional stirring ('my heart was moved for him').
- Song of Solomon 8:5 (thematic): Depiction of the beloved's close physical support ('who is this that comes up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved') echoes the intimate bodily contact and yearning found in 5:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- My beloved reached his hand through the opening; my inmost being was stirred for him.
- My beloved put his hand through the opening, and my inmost being was stirred for him.
Son.5.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- קמתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- לפתח: PREP
- לדודי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss:1cs
- וידי: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs+1s
- נטפו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- מור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואצבעתי: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:1cs
- מור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- כפות: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- המנעול: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Song of Solomon 1:13 (verbal): Direct lexical connection: the beloved is described with myrrh (׳רְכֶ֥זֶת מֹר־עָנָֽגִי׳), linking the scent/perfume imagery and the intimacy between lovers.
- Psalm 45:8 (thematic): Royal/bridal perfume imagery — 'all thy garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia' — parallels the Song's emphasis on fragrant oils and the sensuous depiction of the beloved.
- Exodus 30:23–25 (allusion): The prescribed anointing oil includes myrrh; the Song's myrrh-on-hands imagery echoes the sacred/ritual use of fragrant substances and their connotations of consecration and affection.
- Psalm 133:2 (thematic): The image of oil running down (''like the precious oil...that ran down upon the beard'') resonates with the Song's depiction of hands and fingers flowing with myrrh—shared motif of flowing perfume/oil.
- Revelation 3:20 (structural): Door/entrance motif: whereas Song 5:5 portrays the lover opening the door with fragrant hands, Revelation depicts a figure standing at a door and knocking — both use door imagery to explore access, intimacy, and response.
Alternative generated candidates
- I rose to open to my beloved; my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers flowed with myrrh upon the bolt of the lock.
- I rose to open to my beloved; my hands dropped myrrh, and my fingers flowed with liquid myrrh on the handles of the bolt.
Son.5.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- פתחתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,f,sg
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- לדודי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,poss1
- ודודי: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,poss1
- חמק: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נפשי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
- יצאה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- בדברו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- בקשתיהו: VERB,qal,perf,1,f,sg+obj3m
- ולא: CONJ
- מצאתיהו: VERB,qal,perf,1,f,sg+obj3m
- קראתיו: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- ענני: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Song of Solomon 3:1-4 (thematic): Same bride-figure searching for her beloved in the night; both passages depict ardent seeking of the beloved—3:1-4 narrates a search that succeeds, 5:6 records a search that fails, highlighting the theme of longing and pursuit.
- Lamentations 3:8 (verbal): Very close verbal and thematic parallel about calling and receiving no answer (’when I call, he shuts out my prayer’), conveying desolation and unanswered cry similar to the bride’s complaint.
- Revelation 3:20 (allusion): Shared door-image: Song describes the lover opening the door to find the beloved gone, while Revelation depicts Christ standing at the door and knocking—contrast/echo of presence, absence, and response.
- Proverbs 1:24,28 (verbal): Proverbs uses the striking formula ‘I called, and you refused… then they will call and I will not answer,’ paralleling the motif of calling and being left unanswered found in 5:6.
- Psalm 22:2 (thematic): Psalmist’s anguished cry that God seems far and does not answer (‘why have you forsaken me…’) parallels the bride’s experience of soul-wrenching abandonment and unanswered calling in 5:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn and gone; my soul went out when he spoke. I sought him but did not find him; I called him, but he gave no answer.
- I opened to my beloved, and my beloved had slipped away; my soul went out when he spoke. I sought him and found him not; I called him, and he gave no answer.
Son.5.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- מצאני: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- השמרים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- הסבבים: ADJ,qal,ptc,m,pl,def
- בעיר: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הכוני: VERB,hiph,imp,2,m,sg
- פצעוני: VERB,piel,perf,3,pl
- נשאו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- רדידי: NOUN,m,sg,poss
- מעלי: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- שמרי: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,pl
- החמות: NOUN,f,pl,def
Parallels
- Song of Solomon 3:3-4 (structural): Very close verbal parallel within the same book: watchmen of the city find and strike (or beat) the speaker and the keepers take away the veil — a repeated scene/image in the Song.
- Isaiah 50:6 (verbal): Shared language of personal humiliation and violence—'I gave my back to the smiters' / being struck and wounded—echoing the Song's report of being beaten and wounded by the watchmen.
- Genesis 24:65 (thematic): The veil functions as a bridal/covering motif: in Genesis the veil marks modesty and betrothal; in Song 5:7 the keepers' removal of the veil signals loss of honor or dispossession.
- Isaiah 3:24–26 (allusion): Imagery of women stripped of finery and exposed as a form of disgrace parallels the Song's motif of the veil taken away—removal of covering as public humiliation.
Alternative generated candidates
- The watchmen who go about the city found me; they struck and wounded me; the keepers of the walls took my mantle from me.
- The watchmen who patrol the city found me; they struck me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took my cloak from me.
Son.5.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- השבעתי: VERB,hiph,perf,1,com,sg
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- בנות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אם: CONJ
- תמצאו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- דודי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
- מה: PRON,int
- תגידו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- שחולת: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- אהבה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- אני: PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- Song of Songs 2:7 (quotation): Same adjuration formula to the 'daughters of Jerusalem' (charge not to awaken love); structural refrain closely related to 5:8's address and oath.
- Song of Songs 3:5 (quotation): Another occurrence of the adjuration 'I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem'—repeating the courtroom/adjuration motif that frames the lover's appeals.
- Song of Songs 8:4 (quotation): Final reprise of the same adjuration formula, reinforcing the communal appeal to the daughters of Jerusalem and echoing the language of 5:8.
- Song of Songs 2:5 (verbal): 'Sustain me with raisins…for I am lovesick'—the explicit phrase 'I am lovesick' (שחולת אהבה) parallels the speaker's declaration in 5:8.
- Song of Songs 3:1–4 (thematic): Narrative theme of seeking and finding the beloved (search, calling, and recognition) parallels the plea in 5:8 to inform the beloved of the speaker's condition if he is found.
Alternative generated candidates
- I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem—if you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him I am lovesick.
- I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem: If you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him I am sick with love.
I slept, but my heart was awake; the voice—my beloved—he knocks: "Open to me, my sister, my bride; my dove, my perfect one; for my head is full of dew, my locks with the drops of the night."
I stripped off my garment—how shall I put it on? I washed my feet—how shall I defile them?
My beloved put his hand through the opening, and my inmost being was stirred for him.
I rose to open for my beloved; my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers flowed with liquid myrrh upon the handles of the bolt.
I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn and gone; my soul went out when he spoke. I sought him, but I did not find him; I called him, but he gave no answer.
The watchmen who patrol the city found me; they struck me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took my veil from me.
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem—if you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him I am lovesick.