In the Bible, fawns are often mentioned in poetic and metaphorical contexts, symbolizing beauty, grace, and love. The imagery of a fawn is used to convey tenderness and the delicate nature of certain relationships, particularly in the context of romantic love and admiration.

Symbolism and Imagery

1. Beauty and Grace: Fawns are frequently associated with beauty and grace. In the Song of Solomon, a book known for its rich poetic language and exploration of love, the imagery of a fawn is used to describe the beloved's beauty and allure. Song of Solomon 4:5 states, "Your breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle grazing among the lilies." This comparison highlights the gentle and captivating nature of the beloved, emphasizing the tender and innocent aspects of love.

2. Youth and Innocence: The fawn, as a young deer, represents youth and innocence. This symbolism is often used to evoke a sense of purity and unspoiled beauty. The imagery of a fawn can also suggest vulnerability, as young animals are often seen as needing protection and care.

3. Romantic Love: The Song of Solomon frequently uses the imagery of fawns to express romantic love and desire. In Song of Solomon 7:3 , the beloved's physical attributes are again likened to fawns: "Your breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle." This repetition underscores the theme of admiration and the celebration of physical beauty within the context of marital love.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Near Eastern culture, deer and fawns were common in the natural landscape and were well-known to the people of the Bible. Their presence in biblical poetry reflects the everyday experiences and observations of the natural world by the biblical authors. The use of such imagery would have resonated with the original audience, who were familiar with the characteristics and behavior of these animals.

Theological Reflections

From a theological perspective, the use of fawns in Scripture can be seen as a reflection of God's creation, where beauty and grace are evident in the natural world. The delicate and gentle nature of fawns serves as a reminder of the Creator's attention to detail and the inherent goodness found in creation. Additionally, the imagery of fawns in the context of love and marriage can be viewed as an affirmation of the sanctity and beauty of these relationships as ordained by God.

In summary, fawns in the Bible are rich in symbolic meaning, representing beauty, grace, youth, and romantic love. Their presence in Scripture invites readers to appreciate the delicate and tender aspects of human relationships and the natural world.6082. opher -- a young hart, stag
... Definition: young. Word Origin from an unused word Definition a young hart, stag
NASB Word Usage fawns (2), young (3). young roe hart. From ...
/hebrew/6082.htm - 6k

God's Honour in the Incarnation of his Son vindicated Marcion's ...
... course, loathe it even after it is washed, when it is dressed out in its
swaddling-clothes, graced with repeated anointing, [6992] smiled on with nurse's ...
/.../tertullian/ on the flesh of christ/chapter iv gods honour in the.htm

The Lax and Dangerous views of this Sect Respecting Good Works ...
... As for them, however, they may prove their nobility by the dissoluteness [6889]
of their life and their diligence [6890] in sin, since Achamoth fawns on them ...
/.../tertullian/against the valentinians/chapter xxx the lax and dangerous.htm

The Fifty-Fourth Chapter: the Different Motions of Nature and ...
... Nature rejoices in many friends and kinsfolk, glories in noble position and birth,
fawns on the powerful, flatters the rich, and applauds those who are like ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the fifty-fourth chapter the different.htm

The Question of the Tall Gentleman as to Whether Diamond could ...
... After the merry boy fluttering and going; The dappled fawns fawning, the
fallow-deer following,. The swallows and flies, flying and swallowing; ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 20 the question of.htm

Charity and Rebuke.
... to God there were more of this faithful, loving Charity, that dares to reprove sin,
and to rebuke its brother, instead of the false Charity that fawns on a man ...
//christianbookshelf.org/booth/godliness/chapter iv charity and rebuke.htm

Acts vii. 35
... "The devil fawns full oft as the dog, but let every man know that," etc. ... "as
the dog fawns upon the friend though beaten, so let us," etc. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xvii acts vii 35.htm

Of Removing Tithes.
... Deer are not titheable, being fer?? natur??, wild. by nature; though in parks,
&c. they pay tithe by custom. Nor fawns.2 Inst.651. ...
/.../prideaux/directions to church-wardens/8 of removing tithes.htm

Secret Sins
... I can forgive the man who riots openly, and makes no profession of being better,
but the man who fawns, and cants, and pretends, and prays, and then lives in ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/secret sins.htm

The Oration on Holy Baptism.
... For he is insatiable, he grasps at every thing. He fawns upon you with fair pretences,
but he ends in evil; this is the manner of his fighting. ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xl the oration on.htm

Exegetic.
... However, I shall certainly take something off, and give it you on better terms.'
With pretences of this kind and talk like this he fawns on the wretched victim ...
//christianbookshelf.org/basil/basil letters and select works/ii exegetic.htm

Fawns (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Fawns (4 Occurrences). Genesis 49:21 "Naphtali is a doe
set free, who bears beautiful fawns. ... Do you watch when the doe bears fawns? ...
/f/fawns.htm - 7k

Twins (9 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Song of Songs 4:5 Your two breasts are like
two fawns that are twins of a roe, which feed among the lilies. ...
/t/twins.htm - 8k

Doe (5 Occurrences)
... Doe (5 Occurrences). Genesis 49:21 "Naphtali is a doe set free, who bears beautiful
fawns. (WEB NAS NIV). ... Do you watch when the doe bears fawns? (WEB NIV). ...
/d/doe.htm - 8k

Breasts (39 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Song of Songs 4:5 Your two breasts
are like two fawns that are twins of a roe, which feed among the lilies. ...
/b/breasts.htm - 18k

Roe (21 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS YLT). Song of Songs 4:5 Your two breasts are like two fawns
that are twins of a roe, which feed among the lilies. (WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS YLT) ...
/r/roe.htm - 15k

Gazelle (12 Occurrences)
... (DBY JPS NAS RSV NIV). Song of Songs 4:5 Thy two breasts are like two fawns, twins
of a gazelle, Which feed among the lilies. (DBY JPS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/g/gazelle.htm - 13k

Deer (15 Occurrences)
... 4:5 and 7:3, we have `opharim te'ome tsebhiyah, the King James Version "young roes
that are twins," the Revised Version (British and American) "fawns that are ...
/d/deer.htm - 17k

Bears (62 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Genesis 49:21 "Naphtali is a doe set free, who bears beautiful fawns.
(WEB RSV NIV). ... Do you watch when the doe bears fawns? (WEB NIV). ...
/b/bears.htm - 24k

Lilies (15 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Song of Songs 4:5 Your two breasts are
like two fawns that are twins of a roe, which feed among the lilies. ...
/l/lilies.htm - 10k

Fawn (2 Occurrences)
... Fawn (2 Occurrences). Job 39:1 "Do you know the time when the mountain goats give
birth? Do you watch when the doe bears fawns? (Root in WEB NIV). ...
/f/fawn.htm - 7k

Who was Naphtali in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the tribe of Naphtali? | GotQuestions.org

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