Song of Solomon 3:5
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Song of Solomon 3:5
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.
Chapter Context
Song of Solomon 3 is a poetic love song chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of love. Written during Solomon's reign (c. 970-930 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Ancient Near Eastern love poetry often used agricultural and royal imagery.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-11: Development of key themes
This chapter is significant because it foreshadows Christ's work through typology and prophetic elements. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Song of Solomon and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Song of Solomon 3:5
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.
Analysis
The bride repeats her adjuration: '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.' This refrain (appearing in 2:7; 3:5; 8:4) emphasizes love's proper timing. The context here follows the bride's successful search for her beloved (verses 1-4), celebrating reunion after separation. The warning still applies: don't force or manipulate love's rhythms. Even within committed relationship, intimacy requires mutual readiness and appropriate timing. The verse teaches that covenant love respects both partners' readiness, never coercing or demanding beyond what is freely given. Spiritually, it reminds believers that God's timing in spiritual development and answered prayer cannot be rushed through human manipulation.
Historical Context
The repetition of this refrain creates structure in the Song, marking transitions between sections. Ancient readers would recognize the pattern: seasons of seeking, finding, intimacy, and restraint cycle throughout courtship and marriage. The emphasis on not awakening love prematurely appears especially after intimate union (verse 4 describes bringing the beloved into chambers), suggesting that even within marriage, respect for the beloved's timing and readiness remains crucial. Early church fathers applied this to spiritual maturity—God's work in the soul progresses at His pace, not ours. The Reformers emphasized that sanctification is gradual, requiring patience and avoiding presumptuous demands on God. Modern readers see wisdom for both sexual ethics (respecting boundaries and timing) and spiritual formation (trusting God's timing in growth).
Reflection
- How does this repeated warning about timing inform your approach to both physical intimacy in marriage and spiritual formation?
- What areas of life are you trying to 'stir up or awaken' prematurely rather than trusting God's timing?
Word Studies
- Love: אַהֲבָה / חֶסֶד (Ahavah / Chesed) H160 - Love / Loyal-love
Cross-References
- Related: Song of Solomon 2:7, 8:4