In biblical literature, the term "doe" refers to a female deer and is often used symbolically to convey beauty, grace, and swiftness. The imagery of a doe is employed in various passages to evoke a sense of natural elegance and gentle beauty, often in the context of love and admiration.

Symbolism and Imagery

The doe is frequently used in the poetic and wisdom literature of the Bible. In the Song of Solomon, a book known for its rich and vivid imagery celebrating love and marital intimacy, the doe is a symbol of beauty and desirability. Song of Solomon 2:9 states, "My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice." Here, the comparison to a gazelle or young stag, which includes the doe, highlights the beloved's grace and allure.

Similarly, in Song of Solomon 4:5 , the imagery of a doe is used to describe the beloved's physical beauty: "Your breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle grazing among the lilies." This metaphor emphasizes tenderness and the natural beauty of the beloved, drawing on the gentle and nurturing characteristics associated with a doe.

Doe in Wisdom Literature

In Proverbs, the doe is used to convey the joy and satisfaction found in marital fidelity. Proverbs 5:18-19 advises, "May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth: a loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever." The imagery of a loving doe and graceful fawn underscores the delight and fulfillment that comes from a faithful and loving marital relationship.

Doe in the Psalms

The Psalms also make use of the imagery of a doe to express longing and desire for God. Psalm 42:1 famously begins, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God." While the term "deer" is used here, the imagery is often associated with the doe, emphasizing a deep, instinctual yearning for spiritual sustenance and communion with God.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, deer, including does, were common in the landscape and familiar to the people of Israel. Their presence in the natural environment made them a fitting symbol in biblical poetry and wisdom literature. The doe's characteristics of grace, beauty, and swiftness were well recognized, making them an apt metaphor for expressing human emotions and spiritual truths.

Conclusion

The use of the doe in biblical texts serves as a powerful symbol of beauty, grace, and longing. Whether in the context of romantic love, marital fidelity, or spiritual yearning, the imagery of the doe enriches the biblical narrative, offering readers a glimpse into the profound and multifaceted nature of human and divine relationships.1. (n.) A female deer or antelope; the female of the fallow deer, of which the male is called a buck. Also applied to the female of other animals, as the rabbit. See Buck.

2. (n.) A feat. [Obs.] See Do, n.

DOE

do. See DEER.

1325. didomi -- to give (in various senses lit. or fig.)
... (dounai) -- 33 Occurrences. (dous) -- 11 Occurrences. (do) -- 6 Occurrences. (doe) --
6 Occurrences. (domen) -- 5 Occurrences. (dos) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1325.htm - 12k355. ayyalah -- a hind, doe
... 354, 355. ayyalah. 356 . a hind, doe. Transliteration: ayyalah Phonetic
Spelling: (ah-yaw-law') Short Definition: doe. Word Origin fem. ...
/hebrew/355.htm - 6k

3280. yaalah -- female mountain goat
... 3279, 3280. yaalah. 3281 . female mountain goat. Transliteration: yaalah Phonetic
Spelling: (yah-al-aw') Short Definition: doe. Word Origin fem. ...
/hebrew/3280.htm - 6k

365. ayeleth -- "lofty tree," a city and harbor on the Red Sea
... hind. hind, Aijeleth The same as 'ayalah; a doe -- hind, Aijeleth. see HEBREW
'ayalah. 364, 365. ayeleth. 365a . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/365.htm - 5k

3163. Yachdo -- a Gileadite
... 3162, 3163. Yachdo. 3164 . a Gileadite. Transliteration: Yachdo Phonetic
Spelling: (yakh-doe') Short Definition: Jahdo. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/3163.htm - 6k

Germantown, Pennsylvania.
... Now what is this better done as Turcks doe? ... Oh! doe consider well this things,
you who doe it; if you would be done at this manner? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bente/american lutheranism/germantown pennsylvania.htm

The Fift Part.
... [Sidenote: 2 Object.]. What would you have us doe? wee professe, keepe our Church,
heare Sermons, as Christians ought to doe. [Sidenote: Answer.]. ...
/.../ward/a coal from the altar to kindle the holy fire of zeale/the fift part.htm

The Third Part.
... Doe men choose the forwardest Deere in the heard, and the liveliest Colt in the
drove? ... All that we can doe is but the deede done, unlesse zeale conferre grace. ...
/.../ward/a coal from the altar to kindle the holy fire of zeale/the third part.htm

Of the Subject to whom to the Key of Church Priviledge, Power, or ...
... examined the offender and his offence, and the proofes thereof, to prepare the matter
and ripen it for the Churches cognizance: but doe also publickly revise ...
/.../chap iiii of the subject.htm

The Sixt Part.
... in grace and zeale in the Ministers, whom the Preacher calls the master of the
assemblies; that they should exceede as farre the people, as Angels doe men, and ...
/.../ward/a coal from the altar to kindle the holy fire of zeale/the sixt part.htm

First Part.
... [Sidenote: Psalme Love.]. How doe I love thy Law (O Lord) more then the hony or
the hony-combe, more then thousands of silver and gold! [Sidenote: Hatred.]. ...
/.../ward/a coal from the altar to kindle the holy fire of zeale/first part.htm

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
... This may have arisen from the author's having sold his entire copyright"a fact which
prevented Charles Doe from publishing many other of Bunyan's treatises ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm

The Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Judgment:
... of what appears to be the first edition, is in the British Museum, a small 8vo,
without date"and from this, collated with the reprint by C. Doe in Bunyan's ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the resurrection of the dead.htm

The Water of Life;
... In it he refers to one of those ten excellent manuscripts left by him at his decease,
prepared for the press, and afterwards published by Mr. Doe. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the water of life.htm

A Book for Boys and Girls Or, Temporal Things Spritualized.
... in the same year, as A Book for Boys and Girls, or Country Rhymes for Children,
price 6d.[3] In 1692, it is included in Charles Doe's catalogue table of all Mr ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a book for boys and.htm

Doe (5 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DOE. do. ... Multi-Version Concordance Doe (5 Occurrences).
Genesis 49:21 "Naphtali is a doe set free, who bears beautiful fawns. ...
/d/doe.htm - 8k

Deer (15 Occurrences)
... ya`el by "wild goat." For ya`alah in Proverbs 5:19, the King James Version has
"roe," while the Revised Version (British and American) has "doe," which is non ...
/d/deer.htm - 17k

Fawn (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A young deer; a buck or doe of the first year.
See Buck. ... Do you watch when the doe bears fawns? (Root in WEB NIV). ...
/f/fawn.htm - 7k

Fawns (4 Occurrences)
... Fawns (4 Occurrences). Genesis 49:21 "Naphtali is a doe set free, who bears beautiful
fawns. (WEB RSV NIV). ... Do you watch when the doe bears fawns? (WEB). ...
/f/fawns.htm - 7k

Dodo (5 Occurrences)

/d/dodo.htm - 9k

Doeg (6 Occurrences)

/d/doeg.htm - 9k

Bears (62 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Genesis 49:21 "Naphtali is a doe set free, who bears beautiful fawns.
(WEB RSV NIV). ... Do you watch when the doe bears fawns? (WEB NIV). ...
/b/bears.htm - 24k

Groaning (27 Occurrences)
... Psalms 22:1 For the Chief Musician; set to "The Doe of the Morning." A
Psalm by David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? ...
/g/groaning.htm - 14k

Graceful (6 Occurrences)
... (YLT NAS). Proverbs 5:19 A loving doe and a graceful deer- let her breasts
satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love. ...
/g/graceful.htm - 8k

Infatuated (2 Occurrences)
... Proverbs 5:19 As a loving hind and a gentle doe, let her breasts ever give you rapture;
let your passion at all times be moved by her love. (See RSV). ...
/i/infatuated.htm - 7k

What is a psalm? | GotQuestions.org

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Who was Naphtali in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Doe: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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