The Song of Songs 2:14

The Dove in the Clefts of En-Gedi

The Lover to His Beloved:

2:14 O my dove, ¹  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.

Jude 1:6

1:6 You also know that ²  the angels who did not keep within their proper domain ³  but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept ⁴  in eternal chains ⁵  in utter ⁶  darkness, locked up ⁷  for the judgment of the great Day.

Matthew 17:2

17:2 And he was transfigured before them. ⁸  His ⁹  face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

Matthew 28:3

28:3 His ¹⁰  appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

Acts 2:28

2:28 You have made known to me the paths of life;

you will make me full of joy with your presence.’ ¹¹ 

Revelation 1:16

1:16 He held ¹²  seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. His ¹³  face shone like the sun shining at full strength.

[2:14]  ¹ sn The dove was a common figure for romantic love in ancient Near Eastern love literature. This emphasis seems to be suggested by his use of the term “my dove.” Just as the young man heard the voice of the turtledove in 2:12, so now he wants to hear her voice. Doves were often associated with timidity in the ancient world. Being virtually defenseless, they would often take refuge in crevices and cliffs for safety (Jer 48:28). The emphasis on timidity and the need for security is undoubtedly the emphasis here because of the explicit description of this “dove” hiding in the “clefts of the rock” and in “the hiding places of the mountain crevice.” Fortresses were sometimes built in the clefts of the rocks on mountainsides because they were inaccessible and therefore, in a secure place of safety (Jer 49:16; Obad 3). Perhaps he realized it might be intimidating for her to join him and communicate with him freely. She would need to feel secure in his love to do this. It would be easy for her to hide from such emotionally exposing experiences.

[1:6]  ² tn Grk “and.” Verse 6 is a continuation of the same sentence begun in v. 5. Due to the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

[1:6]  ³ tn Grk “who did not keep their own domain.”

[1:6]  ⁴ sn There is an interesting play on words used in this verse. Because the angels did not keep their proper place, Jesus has kept them chained up in another place. The same verb keep is used in v. 1 to describe believers’ status before God and Christ.

[1:6]  ⁵ sn In 2 Pet 2:4 a less common word for chains is used.

[1:6]  ⁶ tn The word ζόφος (zofos, “utter, deepest darkness”) is used only five times in the NT: two in 2 Peter, two in Jude, and one in Hebrews. Jude 6 parallels 2 Pet 2:4; Jude 13 parallels 2 Pet 2:17.

[1:6]  ⁷ tn The words “locked up” are not in Greek, but is expressed in English as a resumptive point after the double prepositional phrase (“in eternal chains in utter darkness”).

[17:2]  ⁸ sn In 1st century Judaism and in the NT, there was the belief that the righteous get new, glorified bodies in order to enter heaven (1 Cor 15:42-49; 2 Cor 5:1-10). This transformation means the righteous will share the glory of God. One recalls the way Moses shared the Lord’s glory after his visit to the mountain in Exod 34. So the disciples saw Jesus transfigured, and they were getting a sneak preview of the great glory that Jesus would have (only his glory is more inherent to him as one who shares in the rule of the kingdom).

[17:2]  ⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[28:3]  ¹⁰ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[2:28]  ¹¹ sn A quotation from Ps 16:8-11.

[1:16]  ¹² tn Grk “and having.” In the Greek text this is a continuation of the previous sentence, but because contemporary English style employs much shorter sentences, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the pronoun “he.”

[1:16]  ¹³ tn This is a continuation of the previous sentence in the Greek text, but a new sentence was started here in the translation.