Song of Solomon 5:2 (KJV)

What does Song of Solomon 5:2 mean?

Song of Solomon 5:2 describes a woman who is asleep yet aware of her beloved calling to her. He asks her to let him in, using tender names and describing the damp night outside. The verse presents a moment of longing between the two lovers.

The words “I sleep, but my heart waketh” give the scene a dreamlike quality. The woman tells what she hears, and the verse then gives the man’s words directly. His wet head and hair make the nighttime setting vivid and lend urgency to his request.

The Hebrew behind Song of Solomon 5:2

• “heart” — לֵב (lev): This word can refer to a person’s inner life, including thought and awareness. Here it helps express how the woman can be asleep while still sensing her beloved’s voice.
• “sister” — אָחוֹת (achot): This word means sister, but it can also be a term of affection between lovers. Here the man places it alongside “my love” and “my dove.”
• “undefiled” — תָּם (tam): This word can mean complete or without blemish. As a term of affection, it expresses the man’s admiration for his beloved.

Why Song of Solomon 5:2 matters

• The repeated names show the man’s tenderness toward the woman. “My love,” “my dove,” and “my undefiled” make his request personal rather than merely practical.
• The scene also begins a movement from closeness to separation. After the woman rises to open the door in verses 5–6, she finds that her beloved has gone.