הַיֹּושֶׁ֣בֶת בַּגַּנִּ֗ים חֲבֵרִ֛ים מַקְשִׁיבִ֥ים לְקֹולֵ֖ךְ הַשְׁמִיעִֽינִי׃
(Song of Songs 8:13)
The one dwelling in the gardens, companions are listening to your voice, let me hear it.
Opening Scene
This verse, part of the closing dialogue of the Song of Songs, blends description and direct address. The speaker portrays the addressee as dwelling in gardens while others eagerly listen. The request that follows shifts from description to command, creating a warm yet urgent tone.
Grammatical Focus: Participles as Verbal Adjectives
The verse opens with הַיֹּושֶׁ֣בֶת (“the one dwelling”), a Qal participle fs from the root י־שׁ־ב. In Biblical Hebrew, participles can function adjectivally, substantively, or verbally. Here, the participle acts substantively, identifying the subject without a separate noun—“she who dwells.”
The Participial Frame
- הַיֹּושֶׁ֣בֶת – definite article + Qal participle fs; refers to the woman addressed.
- בַּגַּנִּ֗ים – locative phrase, “in the gardens,” using the definite plural construct of גַּן.
The participle anchors the scene, while the prepositional phrase situates the imagery in a place of cultivated beauty.
Shift to the Companions
The middle clause, חֲבֵרִ֛ים מַקְשִׁיבִ֥ים לְקֹולֵ֖ךְ, introduces a plural subject, “companions,” followed by another participle, מַקְשִׁיבִים (Hifil participle mp from ק־שׁ־ב), meaning “listening attentively.” This construction describes an ongoing action rather than a one-time event.
Semantic Nuance
The participle’s aspect emphasizes continuous, engaged attention. This is not passive hearing but active, intentional listening—a nuance strengthened by the Hifil stem.
Imperative for Intimacy
The final word, הַשְׁמִיעִֽינִי, is a Hifil imperative ms with a 1cs suffix, meaning “cause me to hear” or “let me hear.” This imperative shifts the focus from third-person observation to first-person request, drawing the addressee into direct engagement.
Grammatical Structure and Function
| Hebrew Term | Morphology | Function |
|---|---|---|
| הַיֹּושֶׁ֣בֶת | Definite article + Qal participle fs | Substantive participle describing the female subject |
| בַּגַּנִּ֗ים | Preposition + definite plural noun | Locative phrase describing the setting |
| חֲבֵרִ֛ים | Plural noun | New subject for the middle clause |
| מַקְשִׁיבִ֥ים | Hifil participle mp | Ongoing attentive action |
| לְקֹולֵ֖ךְ | Preposition + noun + 2fs suffix | Marks the object of the listening |
| הַשְׁמִיעִֽינִי | Hifil imperative ms + 1cs suffix | Direct request to the addressee |
When Grammar Becomes Poetry
The artistry of this verse lies in its grammatical layering—participles frame the scene with ongoing actions, while the imperative pierces the distance to invite personal response. The listener in the gardens becomes the speaker’s intimate partner in dialogue, bridging public admiration and private affection through the precision of Biblical Hebrew grammar.