1. Cantique des Cantiques 5:4 (NEG79)
  2. Explication du texte

Why is the young woman’s heart thrilled?

Cantique des Cantiques 5:4 (NEG79)

4 Mon bien-aimé a passé la main par la fenêtre, Et mes entrailles se sont émues pour lui.

The Hebrew word translated heart is the word me’eh and refers to the inward parts. Used in this verse with the verb hamah, translated as thrilled, describes the woman’s growing sexual arousal.1

The young man’s efforts to enter may be unsuccessful, but they do have an effect on the woman. The Hebrew literally says, My insides were in an uproar. The most likely understanding here is that the woman finds herself in a state of internal emotional upheaval, which almost certainly includes sexual arousal. Her previous mood of tired indifference has been suddenly jolted into life.2