New International VersionMy dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
New Living TranslationMy dove is hiding behind the rocks, behind an outcrop on the cliff. Let me see your face; let me hear your voice. For your voice is pleasant, and your face is lovely. Young Women of Jerusalem
English Standard VersionO my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
Berean Standard BibleO 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.
King James BibleO 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.
New King James Version“O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret places of the cliff, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely.”
New American Standard Bible“My dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the hiding place of the mountain pathway, Let me see how you look, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is pleasant, And you look delightful.”
NASB 1995“O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret place of the steep pathway, Let me see your form, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your form is lovely.”
NASB 1977“O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret place of the steep pathway, Let me see your form, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your form is lovely.”
Legacy Standard Bible“O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret place of the steep pathway, Let me see your appearance, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your appearance is lovely.”
Amplified Bible“O my dove, [here] in the clefts in the rock, In the sheltered and secret place of the steep pathway, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely.”
Christian Standard BibleMy 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 face is lovely. Woman
Holman Christian Standard BibleMy 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 face is lovely. (W)
American Standard VersionO my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, In the covert of the steep place, Let me see thy countenance, Let me hear thy voice; For sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
Contemporary English VersionYou are my dove hiding among the rocks on the side of a cliff. Let me see how lovely you are! Let me hear the sound of your melodious voice.
English Revised VersionO my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the steep place, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice: for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationMy dove, in the hiding places of the rocky crevices, in the secret places of the cliffs, let me see your figure and hear your voice. Your voice is sweet, and your figure is lovely."
Good News TranslationYou are like a dove that hides in the crevice of a rock. Let me see your lovely face and hear your enchanting voice.
International Standard VersionMy dove, in the hidden places of the rocks, in the secret places of the cliffs, show me your form, and let me hear your voice. For your voice is pleasant, and your shape is lovely.
NET BibleO my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the mountain crags, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
New Heart English BibleMy dove in the clefts of the rock, In the hiding places of the mountainside, Let me see your face. Let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
Webster's Bible TranslationO 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleO 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.
World English BibleMy dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the mountainside, let me see your face. Let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionMy dove, in clefts of the rock, "" In a secret place of the ascent, "" Cause me to see your appearance, "" Cause me to hear your voice, "" For your voice [is] sweet, and your appearance lovely.”
Young's Literal Translation My dove, in clefts of the rock, In a secret place of the ascent, Cause me to see thine appearance, Cause me to hear thy voice, For thy voice is sweet, and thy appearance comely.
Smith's Literal TranslationMy dove in the refuges of the rock, in the biding of the steep mountain: cause me to see thy form, cause me to hear thy voice; for thy voice is sweet and thy form becoming. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleMy dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hollow places of the wall, shew me thy face, let thy voice sound in my ears: for thy voice is sweet, and thy face comely.
Catholic Public Domain Version
New American BibleMy dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff, Let me see your face, let me hear your voice, For your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.”
New Revised Standard VersionO my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleO my dove, who nests in the clefts of the rock and in the secret places of the hedge, let me see your countenance, let me hear your voice; for sweet is your voice, and your countenance is comely.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedMy dove in the clefts of the rock, in secret places of a hedge, show me your beauty, your appearance, and make me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet and your appearance is beautiful! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; For sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.'
Brenton Septuagint TranslationThou art my dove, in the shelter of the rock, near the wall: shew me thy face, and cause me to hear thy voice; for thy voice is sweet, and thy countenance is beautiful.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Bride's Admiration… 13The fig tree ripens its figs; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come away, my darling; come away with me, my beautiful one.” 14O my dovein the cleftsof the rock,in the crevicesof the cliff,let me seeyour face,let me hearyour voice;foryour voiceis sweet,and your countenanceis lovely.15Catch for us the foxes—the little foxes that ruin the vineyards—for our vineyards are in bloom.…
Cross References Psalm 27:5For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high upon a rock.
Psalm 91:1-2He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. / I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Isaiah 26:20Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourselves a little while until the wrath has passed.
Isaiah 32:2Each will be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in a dry land, like the shadow of a great rock in an arid land.
Jeremiah 49:16The terror you cause and the pride of your heart have deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks, O occupiers of the mountain summit. Though you elevate your nest like the eagle, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.
Ezekiel 7:16The survivors will escape and live in the mountains, moaning like doves of the valley, each for his own iniquity.
Hosea 2:14“Therefore, behold, I will allure her and lead her to the wilderness, and speak to her tenderly.
Matthew 10:16Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Matthew 11:28-30Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 23:37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
Luke 13:34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
John 10:27-28My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. / I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.
John 14:23Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
John 15:4Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
Romans 8:35-39Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? / As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” / No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ...
Treasury of Scripture O my dove, that are in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see your countenance, let me hear your voice; for sweet is your voice, and your countenance is comely. my dove Song of Solomon 5:2
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. Song of Solomon 6:9
My dove, my undefiled isbut one; sheis theonly one of her mother, sheis the choiceone of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her;yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. Psalm 68:13
Though ye have lien among the pots,yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. that art Exodus 3:6
Moreover he said, Iam the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. Exodus 4:11-13
And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? … Ezra 9:5,6
And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, … let me Song of Solomon 8:13
Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hearit. Psalm 50:14,15
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: … Proverbs 15:8
The sacrifice of the wickedis an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the uprightis his delight. for sweet Psalm 22:3
But thouart holy,O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Psalm 50:23
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that orderethhis conversationaright will I shew the salvation of God. Isaiah 51:3
For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. Jump to Previous AppearanceAscentCauseCleftsCliffCountenanceCovertCracksDoveEarsFaceFairFormHearHidingHighHillsHolesLovelyMountainMountainsidePathwayPlacesPrecipiceRockSecretShowSidesStairsSteepSweetVoiceJump to Next AppearanceAscentCauseCleftsCliffCountenanceCovertCracksDoveEarsFaceFairFormHearHidingHighHillsHolesLovelyMountainMountainsidePathwayPlacesPrecipiceRockSecretShowSidesStairsSteepSweetVoiceSong of Solomon 2 1.the mutual love of Christ and his church8.The hope10.and calling of the church14.Christ's care of the church16.The profession of the church, her faith, and hopeO my dove in the clefts of the rockThe imagery of the dove is significant in biblical literature, often symbolizing purity, peace, and the Holy Spirit. In the context of Song of Solomon, the dove represents the beloved, who is cherished and gentle. The "clefts of the rock" suggest a place of safety and refuge, reminiscent of God providing protection, as seen in Exodus 33:22 when God places Moses in the cleft of the rock. This phrase evokes the idea of intimacy and security within a relationship, where the beloved is hidden yet cherished. in the crevices of the cliff
The "crevices of the cliff" further emphasize the idea of seclusion and protection. In ancient times, cliffs and rocks were natural fortresses, offering safety from enemies. This setting can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual refuge found in God, as well as the intimate and protected relationship between the lovers. The imagery also suggests a sense of mystery and allure, as the beloved is partially hidden from view. let me see your face
The desire to see the beloved's face indicates a longing for closeness and personal connection. In biblical terms, seeing someone's face often signifies favor and acceptance, as inNumbers 6:25, where the Lord's face shining upon someone is a blessing. This request reflects the deep yearning for communion and the unveiling of the beloved's presence. let me hear your voice
Hearing the beloved's voice is a metaphor for communication and understanding. In the biblical context, the voice is powerful and significant, as seen inGenesis 1, where God speaks creation into existence. The request to hear the voice underscores the importance of dialogue and the joy found in the beloved's words, reflecting the intimate exchange between the lovers. for your voice is sweet
The sweetness of the voice highlights the pleasure and delight found in the beloved's words. This can be compared to the psalmist's description of God's words as "sweeter than honey" (Psalm 119:103). The sweetness signifies the deep affection and satisfaction derived from the relationship, emphasizing the beauty and desirability of the beloved's communication. and your countenance is lovely
The loveliness of the countenance speaks to the overall beauty and grace of the beloved. In biblical literature, physical beauty often symbolizes inner virtue and favor, as seen in the description of Rachel inGenesis 29:17. This phrase captures the admiration and adoration the speaker has for the beloved, reflecting the deep emotional and spiritual connection between them. Persons / Places / Events 1. The BelovedThe speaker in this verse, often interpreted as Solomon or a representation of Christ, expressing love and desire for the beloved. 2. The DoveSymbolizes the beloved, often seen as the Shulammite woman or the Church, representing purity, gentleness, and beauty. 3. Clefts of the RockA metaphorical place of safety and seclusion, symbolizing intimacy and protection. 4. MountainsideRepresents a place of elevation and separation, indicating a spiritual or emotional distance that the speaker wishes to bridge. 5. Voice and FaceRepresents communication and presence, emphasizing the desire for closeness and relationship. Teaching Points Intimacy with GodJust as the beloved desires to see and hear the dove, God desires intimacy with us. We are called to seek His presence and listen to His voice. Spiritual Safety and RefugeThe clefts of the rock symbolize a place of refuge. In times of trouble, we can find safety and peace in God's presence. The Beauty of HolinessThe description of the beloved's voice and face as sweet and lovely reminds us of the beauty found in a life dedicated to holiness and purity. Overcoming Spiritual DistanceThe mountainside represents barriers to intimacy. We are encouraged to overcome spiritual and emotional distances to deepen our relationship with God. The Call to Reveal OurselvesJust as the beloved is called to show her face and voice, we are invited to be open and vulnerable before God, allowing Him to see and transform us. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Song of Solomon 2
Does the romantic language throughout Song of Solomon 2 conflict with traditional interpretations of divine or covenantal themes elsewhere in the Bible?
Why is the Holy Spirit symbolized by a dove?
In Song of Solomon 2:1, is there any historical or botanical proof that the 'rose of Sharon' existed in ancient Israel?
In Song of Solomon 2:15, is there any documented threat from 'little foxes' spoiling vineyards in that region, or is it purely metaphorical?(14) O my dove . . . in the clefts of the rock.--The rock pigeon ( Columba livia) ,the origin of the domestic races, invariably selects the lofty cliffs and deep ravines (comp. Jeremiah 48:28; Ezekiel 7:16) for its roosting places, and avoids the neighbourhood of men. The modesty and shyness of his beloved are thus prettily indicated by the poet. For the expression "clefts of the rock," see Note, Obadiah 1:3. The stairs--i.e.,steep places (comp.Ezekiel 38:20, margin), from root =to go up. Verse 14. - O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the steep places, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. The wood pigeon builds in clefts of rocks and in steep rocky places (see Jeremiah 48:28; and cf. Psalm 74:19; Psalm 56:1; Hosea 7:11). The bridegroom is still addressing his beloved one, who has not yet come forth from the house in the rocks, though she has shown herself at the window. The language is highly poetical, and may be compared with similar words in Homer and Virgil (cf. 'Iliad.' 21:493; 'Aeneid.' 5:213, etc.). The Lord loveth the sight of his people. He delightcth in their songs and in their prayers. He is in the midst of their assemblies. Secret religion is not the highest religion. The highest emotions of the soul do not decrease in their power as they are expressed. They become more and more a ruling principle of life. There are many who need this encouragement to come forth out of secrecy, out of solitude, out of their own private home and individual thoughts, and realize the blessing of fellowship with the Lord and with his people.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew O my doveיוֹנָתִ֞י(yō·w·nā·ṯî)Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3123:A dovein the cleftsבְּחַגְוֵ֣י(bə·ḥaḡ·wê)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2288:Places of concealment, retreatsof the rock,הַסֶּ֗לַע(has·se·la‘)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5553:A craggy rockin the crevicesבְּסֵ֙תֶר֙(bə·sê·ṯer)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5643:A covering, hiding place, secrecyof the cliff,הַמַּדְרֵגָ֔ה(ham·maḏ·rê·ḡāh)Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4095:A step, a steep, inaccessible placelet me seeהַרְאִ֙ינִי֙(har·’î·nî)Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 7200:To seeyour face,מַרְאַ֔יִךְ(mar·’a·yiḵ)Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 4758:Sight, appearance, visionlet me hearהַשְׁמִיעִ֖ינִי(haš·mî·‘î·nî)Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 8085:To hear intelligentlyyour voice;קוֹלֵ֑ךְ(qō·w·lêḵ)Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 6963:A voice, soundforכִּי־(kî-)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionyour voiceקוֹלֵ֥ךְ(qō·w·lêḵ)Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 6963:A voice, soundis sweet,עָרֵ֖ב(‘ā·rêḇ)Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6156:Sweet, pleasantand your countenanceוּמַרְאֵ֥יךְ(ū·mar·’êḵ)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 4758:Sight, appearance, visionis lovely.נָאוֶֽה׃(nā·weh)Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5000:Suitable, beautiful
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OT Poetry: Song of Solomon 2:14 My dove in the clefts of the (Song Songs SS So Can) |
