Song of Solomon 5:2
New International Version
I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.”

New Living Translation
I slept, but my heart was awake, when I heard my lover knocking and calling: “Open to me, my treasure, my darling, my dove, my perfect one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.”

English Standard Version
I slept, but my heart was awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking. “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one, for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.”

Berean Standard Bible
I sleep, but my heart is awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.”

King James Bible
I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

New King James Version
I sleep, but my heart is awake; It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, “Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.”

New American Standard Bible
“I was asleep but my heart was awake. A voice! My beloved was knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, My dove, my perfect one! For my head is drenched with dew, My locks with the dew drops of the night.’

NASB 1995
“I was asleep but my heart was awake. A voice! My beloved was knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, My dove, my perfect one! For my head is drenched with dew, My locks with the damp of the night.’

NASB 1977
“I was asleep, but my heart was awake. A voice! My beloved was knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, My dove, my perfect one! For my head is drenched with dew, My locks with the damp of the night.’

Legacy Standard Bible
“I was asleep, but my heart was awake. A voice! My beloved was knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, My dove, my perfect one! For my head is full of dew, My locks with the damp of the night.’

Amplified Bible
“I was asleep, but my heart was awake. A voice [in my dream]! My beloved was knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, My dove, my perfect one! For my head is drenched with the [heavy night] dew; My hair [is covered] with the dampness of the night.’

Christian Standard Bible
I was sleeping, but my heart was awake. A sound! My love was knocking! Man Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my perfect one. For my head is drenched with dew, my hair with droplets of the night. Woman

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I sleep, but my heart is awake. A sound! My love is knocking! M Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my perfect one. For my head is drenched with dew, my hair with droplets of the night. W

American Standard Version
I was asleep, but my heart waked: It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; For my head is filled with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
I was sleeping and my heart was awake. The voice of my love who was knocking: "Open to me, my sister, my intimate, my innocent dove, for my head is filled with dew and my curls from drops of the night

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I sleep, but my heart is awake: the voice of my kinsman knocks at the door, saying, Open, open to me, my companion, my sister, my dove, my perfect one: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

Contemporary English Version
I was asleep, but dreaming: The one I love was at the door, knocking and saying, "My darling, my very own, my flawless dove, open the door for me! My head is drenched with evening dew."

Douay-Rheims Bible
I sleep, and my heart watcheth; the voice of my beloved knocking: Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is full of dew, and my locks of the drops of the nights.

English Revised Version
I was asleep, but my heart waked: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I sleep, but my mind is awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking. Open to me, my true love, my sister, my dove, my perfect one. My head is wet with dew, my hair with the dewdrops of night.

Good News Translation
While I slept, my heart was awake. I dreamed my lover knocked at the door. Let me come in, my darling, my sweetheart, my dove. My head is wet with dew, and my hair is damp from the mist.

International Standard Version
I was asleep, but my heart was awake. There's a sound! My beloved is knocking. "Open up for me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my perfect one. For my head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night."

JPS Tanakh 1917
I sleep, but my heart waketh; Hark! my beloved knocketh: 'Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; For my head is filled with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.'

Literal Standard Version
I am sleeping, but my heart wakes: The sound of my beloved knocking! “Open to me, my sister, my friend, | My dove, my perfect one, | For my head is filled [with] dew, | My locks [with] drops of the night.”

Majority Standard Bible
I sleep, but my heart is awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.”

New American Bible
I was sleeping, but my heart was awake. The sound of my lover knocking! “Open to me, my sister, my friend, my dove, my perfect one! For my head is wet with dew, my hair, with the moisture of the night.”

NET Bible
I was asleep, but my mind was dreaming. Listen! My lover is knocking at the door! The Lover to His Beloved: "Open for me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one! My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night."

New Revised Standard Version
I slept, but my heart was awake. Listen! my beloved is knocking. “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one; for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.”

New Heart English Bible
I was asleep, but my heart was awake. It is the voice of my beloved who knocks: "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; for my head is filled with dew, and my hair with the dampness of the night."

Webster's Bible Translation
I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

World English Bible
I was asleep, but my heart was awake. It is the voice of my beloved who knocks: “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; for my head is filled with dew, and my hair with the dampness of the night.”

Young's Literal Translation
I am sleeping, but my heart waketh: The sound of my beloved knocking! 'Open to me, my sister, my friend, My dove, my perfect one, For my head is filled with dew, My locks with drops of the night.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Bride and Her Beloved
1I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends, and drink; drink freely, O beloved. 2I sleep, but my heart is awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.” 3I have taken off my robe—must I put it back on? I have washed my feet—must I soil them again?…

Cross References
Matthew 7:8
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Song of Solomon 1:16
How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how delightful! The soft grass is our bed.

Song of Solomon 2:14
O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely.

Song of Solomon 4:9
You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your neck.

Song of Solomon 5:6
I opened for my beloved, but he had turned and gone. My heart sank at his departure. I sought him, but did not find him. I called, but he did not answer.

Song of Solomon 5:11
His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven.

Song of Solomon 6:9
but my dove, my perfect one, is unique, the favorite of the mother who bore her. The maidens see her and call her blessed; the queens and concubines sing her praises.


Treasury of Scripture

I sleep, but my heart wakes: it is the voice of my beloved that knocks, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

sleep

Song of Solomon 3:1
By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

Song of Solomon 7:9
And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.

Daniel 8:18
Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.

the voice

Song of Solomon 2:8,10
The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills…

John 10:4
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

knocketh

Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

open

Psalm 24:7-10
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in…

Psalm 81:10
I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Proverbs 23:26
My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

my dove

Song of Solomon 2:14
O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

Song of Solomon 6:9
My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.

Psalm 119:1
ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

my head

Song of Solomon 8:7
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

Genesis 29:20
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

Jump to Previous
Asleep Awake Beautiful Beloved Darling Dew Door Dove Drenched Drops Filled Flawless Friend Hair Hark Head Heart Knocketh Knocking Knocks Locks Love Night Open Perfect Sister Sleep Sleeping Slept Sound Undefiled Voice Waked Waketh Wet
Jump to Next
Asleep Awake Beautiful Beloved Darling Dew Door Dove Drenched Drops Filled Flawless Friend Hair Hark Head Heart Knocketh Knocking Knocks Locks Love Night Open Perfect Sister Sleep Sleeping Slept Sound Undefiled Voice Waked Waketh Wet
Song of Solomon 5
1. Christ awakes the church with his calling
2. The church having a taste of Christ's love is sick of love
9. A description of Christ by his graces














(2) I sleep.--This begins the old story under an image already employed (Song of Solomon 3:1). Here it is greatly amplified and elaborated. The poet pictures his lady dreaming of him, and when he seems to visit her, anxious to admit him. But, as is so common in dreams, at first she cannot. The realities which had hindered their union reappear in the fancies of sleep. Then, when the seeming hindrance is withdrawn, she finds him gone, and, as before, searches for him in vain. This gives opportunity to introduce the description of the charms of the lost lover, and so the end of the piece, the union of the pair, is delayed to Song of Solomon 6:3.

My head is filled with dew.--Anacreon, iii. 10 is often compared to this.

"' Fear not,' said he, with piteous din,

'Pray ope the door and let me in.

A poor unshelter'd boy am I,

For help who knows not where to fly:

Lost in the dark, and with the dews,

All cold and wet, that midnight brews.'" . . .

Verse 2-ch. 8:4. - Part IV. REMINISCENCES OF LOVE DAYS. The bridegroom rejoicing in the bride. Verse 2. - The bride's reminiscence of a love dream. I was asleep, but my heart waked, It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, my locks with the drops of the night. There is a resemblance between this account of what was apparently a dream, and that which is related in Song of Solomon 3:1-4; but the difference is very clear. In the former case the lover is represented as dismissed for a season, and then the relenting heart of the maiden sought after him and found him. In this case he "stands at the door and knocks," coming in the night; and the maiden rises to open, but finds him gone, and so is drawn after him. The second dream is much more vivid and elaborate, and seems to be an imitation and enlargement of the other, being introduced apparently more for the sake of dwelling on the attractions of the beloved one and his preciousness in the eyes of the maiden than in self-reproach. Is it not possible that the poem originally concluded at Song of Solomon 5:1 with the marriage, and that the whole of the latter half was an amplification, either by Solomon himself, the author of the first half, or by some one who has entered into the spirit of the song? This would explain the apparent repetition, with the variations. But, at all events, the second part certainly is more from the standpoint of married life than the first. Hence the bride speaks at great length, which she does not in the earlier portion. Delitzsch thinks that this second love dream is intended to represent what occurred in early married life; but there are two objections to that - first, that the place is evidently a country residence; and secondly, that such an occurrence is unsuitable to the conditions of a royal bride. It is much more natural to suppose that the bride is recalling what occurred in her dream when the lover, having been sent away until the evening, as on the former occasion, returned, and in the night knocked at the door. "My heart waked" is the same as "My mind was active." The "heart" in Hebrew is the inner man, both intellect and feeling. "I was asleep, but I was thinking" (cf. Cicero, 'De Divinatione,' 1:30). The lover has come off a long journey over the mountains, and arrives in the night time. The terms with which he appeals to his beloved are significant, denoting

(1) equal rank - my sister;

(2) free choice - my love;

(3) purity, simplicity, and loveliness - my dove; . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I
אֲנִ֥י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

sleep,
יְשֵׁנָ֖ה (yə·šê·nāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 3462: To be slack, languid, sleep, to grow old, stale, inveterate

but my heart
וְלִבִּ֣י (wə·lib·bî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

is awake.
עֵ֑ר (‘êr)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5782: To rouse oneself, awake

A sound!
ק֣וֹל ׀ (qō·wl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

My beloved
דּוֹדִ֣י (dō·w·ḏî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1730: To love, a love-token, lover, friend, an uncle

is knocking:
דוֹפֵ֗ק (ḏō·w·p̄êq)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1849: To knock, to press severely

“Open to me,
פִּתְחִי־ (piṯ·ḥî-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

my sister,
אֲחֹתִ֤י (’ă·ḥō·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 269: Sister -- a sister

my darling,
רַעְיָתִי֙ (ra‘·yā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7474: A female associate

my dove,
יוֹנָתִ֣י (yō·w·nā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3123: A dove

my perfect one.”
תַמָּתִ֔י (ṯam·mā·ṯî)
Adjective - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 8535: Complete, pious, gentle, dear

My head
שֶׁרֹּאשִׁי֙ (šer·rō·šî)
Pronoun - relative | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7218: The head

is drenched
נִמְלָא־ (nim·lā-)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of

with dew,
טָ֔ל (ṭāl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2919: Night mist, dew

my hair
קְוֻּצּוֹתַ֖י‪‬ (qəw·wuṣ·ṣō·w·ṯay)
Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6977: Locks (of hair)

with the dampness
רְסִ֥יסֵי (rə·sî·sê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7447: Dripping to pieces, a ruin, a dew-drop

of the night.
לָֽיְלָה׃ (lā·yə·lāh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity


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OT Poetry: Song of Solomon 5:2 I was asleep but my heart was (Song Songs SS So Can)
Song of Solomon 5:1
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