Song of Solomon 2:17 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The beloved asks her lover to return by daybreak, when darkness and shadows vanish, comparing his swift return to a graceful animal crossing mountains.
The Context of Song of Solomon 2:17
The beloved's closing request reveals the temporal limits and hidden nature of their encounters.
What Does Song of Solomon 2:17 Mean?
The night is ending; shadows flee as light comes. The beloved is asking for the lover's return before the night is over—perhaps indicating the secretive or constrained nature of their meetings. The request to 'turn' and come back as a swift hart suggests urgency and grace; he should return as quickly and beautifully as a young deer bounds across mountains.
Bether (or Bethar) may be a place name or may suggest a place of separation. By the time daylight fully breaks, she wants him returned to her. This closing verse reveals both the sweetness and the constraint of their relationship—they meet in shadows and must part by dawn.
Frequently Asked Questions About Song of Solomon 2:17
What does Song of Solomon 2:17 mean?
The beloved asks her lover to return by daybreak, when darkness and shadows vanish, comparing his swift return to a graceful animal crossing mountains.
What is the context of Song of Solomon 2:17?
The beloved's closing request reveals the temporal limits and hidden nature of their encounters.