Song of Solomon 5 · Verse 7

Song of Solomon 5:7

The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
Song of Solomon 5:7, King James Version

Song of Solomon 5:7 in other translations

BSBI encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city. They beat me and bruised me; they took away my cloak, those guardians of the walls.
WEBThe watchmen who go about the city found me. They beat me. They bruised me. The keepers of the walls took my cloak away from me.
ASVThe watchmen that go about the city found me, They smote me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls took away my mantle from me.
YLTThe watchmen who go round about the city, Found me, smote me, wounded me, Keepers of the walls lifted up my veil from off me.
DARBYThe watchmen that went about the city found me; They smote me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
BBEThe keepers who go about the town overtook me; they gave me blows and wounds; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
WebsterThe watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my vail from me.

What does Song of Solomon 5:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. watchmen--historically, the Jewish priests, &c. (see on So 5:2); spiritually, ministers (Is 62:6; He 13:17), faithful in "smiting" (Psalm 141. 5), but (as she leaves them, {v.} 8) too harsh; or, perhaps, unfaithful; disliking her zeal wherewith she sought Jesus Christ, first, with spiritual prayer, "opening" her heart to Him, and then in charitable works "about the city"; miscalling it fanaticism (Is 66:5), and taking away her veil (the greatest indignity to an Eastern lady), as though she were positively immodest. She had before sought Him by night in the streets, under strong affection (So 3:2-4), and so without rebuff from "the watchmen," found Him immediately; but now after sinful neglect, she encounters pain and delay. God forgives believers, but it is a serious thing to draw on His forgiveness; so the growing reserve of God towards Israel observable in Judges, as His people repeat their demands on His grace.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 Took away my veil - They tore it off rudely, to discover who she was. See on Sol 5:2 (note). To tear the veil signifies, in Eastern phrase, to deflower or dishonor a woman.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Song of Solomon 5:2-8

Churches and believers, by carelessness and security, provoke Christ to withdraw. We ought to notice our spiritual slumbers and distempers. Christ knocks to awaken us, knocks by his word and Spirit, knocks by afflictions and by our consciences; thus, Rev. 3:20. When we are unmindful of Christ, still he thinks of us. Christ's love to us should engage ours to him, even in the most self-denying instances; and we only…

Read the full comment on Song of Solomon 5:2-8 →

Song of Solomon 5:7 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מְצָאֻ֧נִיme.tza.'U.nithey found meH4672
הַשֹּׁמְרִ֛יםha.sho.me.Rimthe watchmenH8104
הַסֹּבְבִ֥יםha.soe.Vimwho go aroundH5437
בָּעִ֖ירba.'Irin the cityH5892
הִכּ֣וּנִיhi.Ku.nithey struck meH5221
פְצָע֑וּנִיfe.tza.'U.nithey bruised meH6481
נָשְׂא֤וּna.se.'Uthey liftedH5375
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
רְדִידִי֙re.di.Digarment myH7289
מֵֽעָלַ֔יme.'a.Laifrom on <the> meH5921
שֹׁמְרֵ֖יsho.me.Rei[the] watchmen ofH8104
הַחֹמֽוֹת\׃ha.cho.Motthe wallsH2346

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Song of Solomon 5:7

  • Song of Solomon 3:3

    The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?

  • Matthew 23:2

    Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:

  • Hosea 6:5

    Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.

  • Psalms 141:5

    Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

  • John 16:2

    They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

  • Philippians 3:6

    Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

  • Acts 20:29-30

    For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

  • Hosea 9:7-8

    The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred. The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.

  • Hebrews 12:2

    Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

  • Song of Solomon 8:11

    Solomon had a vineyard at Baal–hamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.

  • Isaiah 6:10-11

    Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,

  • Acts 26:9-10

    I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
watchmen.
3:3; Isa 6:10,11; Ho 9:7,8; Ac 20:29,30; 2Co 11:13
they smote.
Ps 141:5; Ho 6:5; Joh 16:2; Ac 26:9,10; Php 3:6; Re 17:5,6
the keepers.
8:11; Isa 62:6; Mt 21:33-41; 23:2,29-36
took.
Lu 6:22; Ac 5:40,41; 1Co 4:10-13; Heb 11:36,37; 12:2; 1Pe 4:14-16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Song of Solomon 5:6

    I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

  • Song of Solomon 5:7

    The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

  • Song of Solomon 5:8

    I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.

Read all of Song of Solomon 5

Song of Solomon 5:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Halláronme los guardas que rondan la ciudad: hiriéronme, llagáronme, quitáronme mi manto de encima los guardas de los muros.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Les gardes qui font la ronde par la ville me trouvèrent; ils me frappèrent, ils m’ont blessée; les gardes des murailles m’ont ôté mon voile de dessus moi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es fanden mich die Wächter, die in der Stadt umhergehen: sie schlugen mich, verwundeten mich; die Wächter der Mauern nahmen mir meinen Schleier weg.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Invenerunt me custodes qui circumeunt civitatem; percusserunt me, et vulneraverunt me. Tulerunt pallium meum mihi custodes murorum.