Song of Solomon 2:15

Catch for us the foxes—the little foxes that ruin the vineyards—for our vineyards are in bloom.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The woman speaks to her beloved during the spring harvest season, issuing a direct command as the agricultural cycle reaches its peak.

The words — The text commands the pursuit of שׁוּעָלִים (shuʿālîm), literally foxes, specifically those described as מְחַבְּלִים (meḥabblîm), which means ruining or destroying.

The thread — This animal reference reappears in Luke 13:32 where Jesus applies the title to a political opponent, while the agricultural imagery aligns with the vineyard inspection in Song 7:12.

Why it lands — It demands immediate intervention against small, corrosive threats before they can destroy a newly formed or flourishing commitment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

אֶֽחֱזוּ־'e.che.zu-seizeלָ֙נוּ֙la./nufor <the>/ usשֽׁוּעָלִ֔יםshu.'a.Limfoxes שֽׁוּעָלִ֥יםshu.'a.Limfoxes קְטַנִּ֖יםke.ta.Nimsmall מְחַבְּלִ֣יםme.cha.be.Lim[which] ruin כְּרָמִ֑יםke.ra.Mimvineyards וּכְרָמֵ֖ינוּu./khe.ra.Mei./nuand/ vineyards/ our סְמָדַֽר׃se.ma.Dar[are] blossom

King James Version

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

Cross-references

Luke 13:32 But Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’
2 Peter 2:1 Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
Song of Solomon 7:12 Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vine has budded, if the blossom has opened, if the pomegranates are in bloom—there I will give you my love.
Psalms 80:13 The boar from the forest ravages it, and the creatures of the field feed upon it.
Ezekiel 13:4 Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins.
Song of Solomon 2:13 The fig tree ripens its figs; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come away, my darling; come away with me, my beautiful one.”
Revelation 2:2 I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles.