Song of Solomon 2:9
New International Version
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.

New Living Translation
My lover is like a swift gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he is behind the wall, looking through the window, peering into the room.

English Standard Version
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, there he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, looking through the lattice.

Berean Standard Bible
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.

King James Bible
My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.

New King James Version
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he stands behind our wall; He is looking through the windows, Gazing through the lattice.

New American Standard Bible
“My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he is standing behind our wall, He is looking through the windows, He is peering through the lattice.

NASB 1995
“My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he is standing behind our wall, He is looking through the windows, He is peering through the lattice.

NASB 1977
“My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he is standing behind our wall, He is looking through the windows, He is peering through the lattice.

Legacy Standard Bible
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he is standing behind our wall; He gazes through the windows; He is peering through the lattice.

Amplified Bible
“My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he is standing behind our wall, He is looking through the windows, He is gazing through the lattice.

Christian Standard Bible
My love is like a gazelle or a young stag. See, he is standing behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
My love is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, he is standing behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.

American Standard Version
My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: Behold, he standeth behind our wall; He looketh in at the windows; He glanceth through the lattice.

Contemporary English Version
like a deer or a gazelle. Now he stands outside our wall, looking through the window

English Revised Version
My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh in at the windows, he sheweth himself through the lattice.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, peeking through the window, looking through the lattice.

Good News Translation
My lover is like a gazelle, like a young stag. There he stands beside the wall. He looks in through the window and glances through the lattice.

International Standard Version
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he stands behind our wall, looking through the windows, gazing through the lattice.

Majority Standard Bible
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.

NET Bible
My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the window, peering through the lattice.

New Heart English Bible
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young deer. Look, he stands behind our wall. He looks in at the windows. He glances through the lattice.

Webster's Bible Translation
My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, showing himself through the lattice.

World English Bible
My beloved is like a roe or a young deer. Behold, he stands behind our wall! He looks in at the windows. He glances through the lattice.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
My beloved [is] like to a roe, "" Or to a young one of the harts. Behold, this—he is standing behind our wall, "" Looking from the windows, "" Blooming from the lattice.

Young's Literal Translation
My beloved is like to a roe, Or to a young one of the harts. Lo, this -- he is standing behind our wall, Looking from the windows, Blooming from the lattice.

Smith's Literal Translation
My beloved is like to the roe or to the fawn of the hinds: behold him standing behind our wall looking forth from the windows, glancing from the lattices.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart. Behold he standeth behind our wall, looking through the windows, looking through the lattices.

Catholic Public Domain Version
My beloved is like a doe and like a young stag. Lo, he stands beyond our wall, gazing through the windows, watching through the lattices.

New American Bible
My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. See! He is standing behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices.

New Revised Standard Version
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young roe; behold, he stands behind our wall, he looks through the windows, bending himself over the lattice.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
My love is like a deer or to the fawn of a hart on the mountains of Bayth Eil, behold he is standing behind our wall; he watches from the windows; he stoops at the thresholds
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young hart; Behold, he standeth behind our wall, He looketh in through the windows, He peereth through the lattice.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
My kinsman is like a roe or a young hart on the mountains of Baethel: behold, he is behind our wall, looking through the windows, peeping through the lattices.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Bride's Admiration
8Listen! My beloved approaches. Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills. 9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice. 10My beloved calls to me, “Arise, my darling. Come away with me, my beautiful one.…

Cross References
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

John 10:27
My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.

Matthew 9:28-30
After Jesus had entered the house, the blind men came to Him. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He asked. “Yes, Lord,” they answered. / Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.” / And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one finds out about this!”

James 5:9
Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!

Isaiah 62:5
For as a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.

Psalm 45:2
You are the most handsome of men; grace has anointed your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.

1 Peter 1:8
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

John 14:23
Jesus 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.

Matthew 25:6
At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

Isaiah 26:21
For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain.

Genesis 18:10
Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent.

Luke 12:36
Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.

Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Psalm 34:15
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.

2 Corinthians 6:16
What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”


Treasury of Scripture

My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he stands behind our wall, he looks forth at the windows, showing himself through the lattice.

like

Song of Solomon 2:17
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

Song of Solomon 8:14
Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.

he standeth

1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

2 Corinthians 3:13-18
And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: …

Ephesians 2:14,15
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; …

shewing

Luke 24:35
And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

John 5:39,46
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me…

John 12:41
These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

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Beloved Forth Gazelle Gazing Glances Glancing Hart Harts Looks Loved Roe Shewing Showing Side Spaces Stag Standeth Standing Stands Wall Windows Young
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Song of Solomon 2
1. the mutual love of Christ and his church
8. The hope
10. and calling of the church
14. Christ's care of the church
16. The profession of the church, her faith, and hope














My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, gazelles and stags were symbols of beauty, grace, and swiftness. The comparison of the beloved to these animals highlights his attractiveness and vitality. This imagery is consistent with the poetic nature of the Song of Solomon, which often uses nature to describe human emotions and relationships. The gazelle and stag are also associated with freedom and agility, suggesting the beloved's ability to move effortlessly and with purpose. In a typological sense, some Christian interpretations see this as a representation of Christ's pursuit of the Church, characterized by His beauty and strength.

Look, he stands behind our wall,
The wall represents a barrier or separation between the lovers. In the context of the Song of Solomon, it may symbolize the obstacles that can exist in relationships, whether physical, emotional, or societal. The beloved's presence behind the wall indicates his desire to be near and his willingness to overcome these barriers. This can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual longing and pursuit between Christ and the believer, where Christ stands ready to bridge the gap created by sin.

gazing through the windows,
Windows in ancient architecture were often small openings, suggesting limited visibility. The beloved's act of gazing through the windows implies a deep longing and attentiveness. It reflects an intimate desire to connect and communicate despite the separation. This can be paralleled with the way God seeks to reveal Himself to humanity, looking for opportunities to engage with us even when we are not fully aware of His presence.

peering through the lattice.
The lattice, a decorative framework, allows for partial visibility and interaction. The beloved peering through it suggests a sense of anticipation and eagerness. This imagery conveys the idea of a love that is persistent and watchful, waiting for the right moment to fully reveal itself. In a spiritual context, it can be seen as a depiction of Christ's patient and persistent love for His people, always watching over them and waiting for them to respond to His call.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Beloved
In the context of the Song of Solomon, the beloved is often interpreted as Solomon or a representation of a lover. In a broader spiritual sense, many conservative Christians see the beloved as a type of Christ, symbolizing His love and pursuit of the Church.

2. The Gazelle/Young Stag
These animals are symbols of swiftness, grace, and beauty. They represent the beloved's qualities and the eagerness and vitality of his love.

3. The Wall
The wall can symbolize barriers or obstacles in relationships, whether between human lovers or between Christ and the believer.

4. The Windows and Lattice
These elements suggest a partial view or a glimpse, indicating that while the beloved is near, there is still a separation or a need for a deeper connection.
Teaching Points
The Pursuit of Love
Just as the beloved eagerly seeks the presence of his love, so does Christ pursue a relationship with us. We should be responsive to His pursuit and open our hearts to Him.

Overcoming Barriers
The wall represents obstacles in our spiritual life. We must identify and overcome these barriers to experience a fuller relationship with Christ.

The Beauty of Christ's Love
The imagery of the gazelle and young stag highlights the beauty and desirability of Christ's love. We should cherish and seek to understand the depth of His love for us.

Seeking Intimacy with God
The beloved's actions of gazing and peering suggest a desire for closeness. We should strive for intimacy with God through prayer, worship, and studying His Word.(9) Wall.--As an instance of the fertility of allegorical interpretation, the variety of applications of this passage may be quoted. The wall = (1) the wall between us and Christ, i.e., our mortal condition; (2) "the middle wall of partition," the law; (3) the iniquities separating man from God, so that He does not hear or His voice cannot reach us; (4) the creatures behind whom God Himself stands speaking through them, and "si fas dicere, (5) the flesh of Christ itself spread over His Divinity, through which it sounds sweetly and alters its voice" (Bossuet).

Looketh forth.--Rather, looking through, as in next clause, where the same Hebrew particle occurs. and may = either out or in, as context requires. Here plainly in at.

Shewing himself.--Marg., flourishing. The primitive idea seems to be "to look bright." Hence the Hiphil conjugation = "to make to look bright;" here "making his eyes glance or twinkle as he peers in through the lattice."

Verse 9. - My beloved is like a roe or a young hart; behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh in at the windows, he showeth himself through the lattice. The tsevi is the gazelle, Arabic ghazal. Our word is derived through the Spanish or Moorish gazela. The young hart, or chamois, is probably so called from the covering of young hair (cf. 2 Samuel 2:18; Proverbs 6:5; Hebrews 3:19). Shulamith represents herself as within the house, waiting for her friend. Her beloved is standing behind the wall, outside before the house; he is playfully looking through the windows, now through one and now through another, seeking her with peering eyes of love. Both the words employed, convey, the meaning of searching and moving quickly. The windows; literally, the openings; i.e. a window broken through a wall, or the meaning may be a lattice window, a pierced wooden structure. The word is not the common word for a window, which is shevaka (now shabbaka), from a root meaning "to twist," "to make a lattice." Spiritually, we may see an allusion to the glimpses of truth and tastes of the goodness of religion, which precede the real fellowship of the soul with God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

is like
דּוֹמֶ֤ה (dō·w·meh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1819: To compare, to resemble, liken, consider

a gazelle
לִצְבִ֔י (liṣ·ḇî)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6643: Splendor, a gazelle

or
א֖וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

a young stag.
לְעֹ֣פֶר (lə·‘ō·p̄er)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6082: A young hart, stag

Look,
הִנֵּה־ (hin·nêh-)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

he
זֶ֤ה (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

stands
עוֹמֵד֙ (‘ō·w·mêḏ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

behind
אַחַ֣ר (’a·ḥar)
Preposition
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

our wall,
כָּתְלֵ֔נוּ (kā·ṯə·lê·nū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural
Strong's 3796: Wall (of a house)

gazing
מַשְׁגִּ֙יחַ֙ (maš·gî·aḥ)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7688: To peep, glance sharply at

through
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the windows,
הַֽחֲלֹּנ֔וֹת (ha·ḥăl·lō·nō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - common plural
Strong's 2474: A window

peering
מֵצִ֖יץ (mê·ṣîṣ)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6692: To twinkle, glance, to blossom

through
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the lattice.
הַֽחֲרַכִּֽים׃ (ha·ḥă·rak·kîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2762: A net, lattice


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OT Poetry: Song of Solomon 2:9 My beloved is like a roe (Song Songs SS So Can)
Song of Solomon 2:8
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