Bible Strands
Song of Solomon 6:13
Come back, come back, O Shulammite! Come back, come back, that we may gaze upon you. Why do you look at the Shulammite, as on the dance of Mahanaim?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The speaker addresses the Shulammite woman, urging her to return so the company may look at her. This occurs immediately after the speaker notes her desire unexpectedly placed her among royal chariots.
The words — The Hebrew שׁוּבִי (shuvi) repeats four times, literally commanding "return" or "come back." The phrase מַה תֶּחֱזוּ (mah techezu) asks "why will you look," framing the gaze as an object of curiosity.
The thread — The location Mahanaim appears in Genesis 32:2 as the place Jacob named after seeing God’s camp, while the dance reference echoes the daughters of Shiloh in Judges 21:21. These connections anchor the imagery in Israel’s wilderness and tribal history.
Why it lands — The verse demands the reader recognize the tension between public spectacle and personal presence. It asks the reader to consider why a community fixates on an observable display rather than engaging the person directly.
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
King James Version
Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.
Cross-references
- Genesis 32:2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
- Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.
- Judges 21:21 and watch. When you see the daughters of Shiloh come out to perform their dances, each of you is to come out of the vineyards, catch for himself a wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.
- 2 Samuel 17:24 Then David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.
- Psalms 76:2 His tent is in Salem, His dwelling place in Zion.
- Song of Solomon 1:6 Do not stare because I am dark, for the sun has gazed upon me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me a keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have neglected.
- Song of Solomon 2:14 O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely.
- Isaiah 8:6 “Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoiced in Rezin and the son of Remaliah,
- Jeremiah 3:12 Go, proclaim this message toward the north: ‘Return, O faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will no longer look on you with anger, for I am merciful,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will not be angry forever.
- Jeremiah 3:22 “Return, O faithless children, and I will heal your faithlessness.” “Here we are. We come to You, for You are the LORD our God.