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Song of Solomon 3

BSB·11 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Onעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → my bedמִשְׁכָּבִי֙miš·kā·ḇî — bed, sleeping place, or couchH4904 — Full Word Study → at nightבַּלֵּיל֔וֹתbal·lê·lō·wṯ — Night, darkness, the period of darknessH3915 — Full Word Study → I soughtבִּקַּ֕שְׁתִּיbiq·qaš·tî — To seek, search for, or request earnestlyH1245 — Full Word Study → the oneאֵ֥ת’êṯ — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study → Iנַפְשִׁ֑יnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → loveשֶׁאָהֲבָ֖הše·’ā·hă·ḇāh — To love; affection, attachment, or preferenceH157 — Full Word Study →; I sought himבִּקַּשְׁתִּ֖יוbiq·qaš·tîw — To seek, search for, or request earnestlyH1245 — Full Word Study →, but did notוְלֹ֥אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → find himמְצָאתִֽיו׃mə·ṣā·ṯîw — to find, discover, obtainH4672 — Full Word Study →. 2I will ariseאָק֨וּמָה’ā·qū·māh — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study → nowנָּ֜אnā — Please, I beseech, I prayH4994 — Full Word Study → and go aboutוַאֲסוֹבְבָ֣הwa·’ă·sō·wḇ·ḇāh — to turn, surround, go aroundH5437 — Full Word Study → the cityבָעִ֗ירḇā·‘îr — City; fortified settlement or townH5892 — Full Word Study →, through the streetsבַּשְּׁוָקִים֙baš·šə·wā·qîm — Street, public square, marketplaceH7784 — Full Word Study → and squaresוּבָ֣רְחֹב֔וֹתū·ḇā·rə·ḥō·ḇō·wṯ — public square, street, plazaH7339 — Full Word Study →. I will seekאֲבַקְשָׁ֕ה’ă·ḇaq·šāh — To seek, search for, or request earnestlyH1245 — Full Word Study → the oneאֵ֥ת’êṯ — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study → Iנַפְשִׁ֑יnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → loveשֶׁאָהֲבָ֖הše·’ā·hă·ḇāh — To love; affection, attachment, or preferenceH157 — Full Word Study →. So I sought himבִּקַּשְׁתִּ֖יוbiq·qaš·tîw — To seek, search for, or request earnestlyH1245 — Full Word Study → but did notוְלֹ֥אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → find himמְצָאתִֽיו׃mə·ṣā·ṯîw — to find, discover, obtainH4672 — Full Word Study →. 3I encounteredמְצָא֙וּנִי֙mə·ṣā·’ū·nî — to find, discover, obtainH4672 — Full Word Study → the watchmenהַשֹּׁ֣מְרִ֔יםhaš·šō·mə·rîm — To guard, keep, observe, preserveH8104 — Full Word Study → on their roundsהַסֹּבְבִ֖יםhas·sō·ḇə·ḇîm — to turn, surround, go aroundH5437 — Full Word Study → of the cityבָּעִ֑ירbā·‘îr — City; fortified settlement or townH5892 — Full Word Study →: “Have you seen the one Iנַפְשִׁ֖יnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → loveשֶׁאָהֲבָ֥הše·’ā·hă·ḇāh — To love; affection, attachment, or preferenceH157 — Full Word Study →?” 4I had justכִּמְעַט֙kim·‘aṭ — A small amount; little; fewH4592 — Full Word Study → passedשֶׁעָבַ֣רְתִּיše·‘ā·ḇar·tî — to cross over; to pass through or beyondH5674 — Full Word Study → them whenעַ֣ד‘aḏ — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → I foundשֶֽׁמָּצָ֔אתִיšem·mā·ṣā·ṯî — to find, discover, obtainH4672 — Full Word Study → the oneאֵ֥ת’êṯ — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study → Iנַפְשִׁ֑יnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → loveשֶׁאָהֲבָ֖הše·’ā·hă·ḇāh — To love; affection, attachment, or preferenceH157 — Full Word Study →. I held himאֲחַזְתִּיו֙’ă·ḥaz·tîw — to grasp, seize, or take hold ofH270 — Full Word Study → and would notוְלֹ֣אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → let goאַרְפֶּ֔נּוּ’ar·pen·nū — to slacken, weaken, or grow feebleH7503 — Full Word Study → untilעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → I had brought himשֶׁ֤הֲבֵיאתִיו֙še·hă·ḇê·ṯîw — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → my mother’sאִמִּ֔י’im·mî — mother; female parentH517 — Full Word Study → houseבֵּ֣יתbêṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study →, toוְאֶל־wə·’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the chamberחֶ֖דֶרḥe·ḏer — Inner room, private chamber, bedroomH2315 — Full Word Study → of the one who conceived meהוֹרָתִֽי׃hō·w·rā·ṯî — to conceive, become pregnantH2029 — Full Word Study →. 5O daughtersבְּנ֤וֹתbə·nō·wṯ — daughter; female child or descendantH1323 — Full Word Study → of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙yə·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study →, I adjureהִשְׁבַּ֨עְתִּיhiš·ba‘·tî — To swear an oath; to bind oneself by solemn promiseH7650 — Full Word Study → youאֶתְכֶ֜ם’eṯ·ḵem — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study → by the gazellesבִּצְבָא֔וֹתbiṣ·ḇā·’ō·wṯ — Splendor, beauty, or gazelleH6643 — Full Word Study → andא֖וֹ’ōw — or, whether; also expressing desire or preferenceH176 — Full Word Study → doesבְּאַיְל֣וֹתbə·’ay·lō·wṯ — female deer; hindH355 — Full Word Study → of the fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֑הhaś·śā·ḏeh — A field; cultivated or open landH7704 — Full Word Study →: Do notאִם־’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → arouseתָּעִ֧ירוּ׀tā·‘î·rū — To wake up, rouse, stir up, awakenH5782 — Full Word Study → orוְֽאִם־wə·’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → awakenתְּעֽוֹרְר֛וּtə·‘ō·wr·rū — To wake up, rouse, stir up, awakenH5782 — Full Word Study → loveהָאַהֲבָ֖הhā·’a·hă·ḇāh — Love, affection, devotionH160 — Full Word Study → untilעַ֥ד‘aḏ — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → the time is rightשֶׁתֶּחְפָּֽץ׃סšet·teḥ·pāṣ — to delight in; to desire; to take pleasureH2654 — Full Word Study →. 6Whoמִ֣יmî — who? what person?H4310 — Full Word Study → is thisזֹ֗אתzōṯ — This, that; demonstrative pronounH2063 — Full Word Study → coming upעֹלָה֙‘ō·lāh — to ascend, rise up, go upH5927 — Full Word Study → fromמִן־min- — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study → the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּ֔רham·miḏ·bār — Desert; wilderness; pasture; speechH4057 — Full Word Study → like a columnכְּתִֽימֲר֖וֹתkə·ṯî·mă·rō·wṯ — Column, pillar, or palm tree trunkH8490 — Full Word Study → of smokeעָשָׁ֑ן‘ā·šān — Smoke; vapor rising from fireH6227 — Full Word Study →, scentedמְקֻטֶּ֤רֶתmə·quṭ·ṭe·reṯ — to burn incense; to offer fragrant smoke in worshipH6999 — Full Word Study → with myrrhמוֹר֙mō·wr — Myrrh, an aromatic resin used for anointing and embalmingH4753 — Full Word Study → and frankincenseוּלְבוֹנָ֔הū·lə·ḇō·w·nāh — Frankincense; aromatic resin used in worshipH3828 — Full Word Study → from allמִכֹּ֖לmik·kōl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the spicesאַבְקַ֥ת’aḇ·qaṯ — Perfumed powder or aromatic dustH81 — Full Word Study → of the merchantרוֹכֵֽל׃rō·w·ḵêl — to trade; to deal in merchandise; merchant activityH7402 — Full Word Study →? 7Beholdהִנֵּ֗הhin·nêh — Look! Behold! Pay attention!H2009 — Full Word Study →, it is Solomon’sשֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹ֔הšel·liš·lō·mōh — His peaceH8010 — Full Word Study → carriageמִטָּתוֹ֙miṭ·ṭā·ṯōw — bed; sleeping place; bierH4296 — Full Word Study →, escortedסָבִ֣יבsā·ḇîḇ — around, on all sides, encirclingH5439 — Full Word Study → by sixtyשִׁשִּׁ֥יםšiš·šîm — The number sixty; three scoreH8346 — Full Word Study → of the mightiest menגִּבֹּרִ֖יםgib·bō·rîm — mighty man, warrior, strong heroH1368 — Full Word Study → of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃yiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study →. 8Allכֻּלָּם֙kul·lām — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → are skilledאֲחֻ֣זֵי’ă·ḥu·zê — to grasp, seize, or take hold ofH270 — Full Word Study → with the swordחֶ֔רֶבḥe·reḇ — sword; blade weaponH2719 — Full Word Study →, experiencedמְלֻמְּדֵ֖יmə·lum·mə·ḏê — To learn; to teach; to become accustomedH3925 — Full Word Study → in warfareמִלְחָמָ֑הmil·ḥā·māh — Battle, warfare, combat, military conflictH4421 — Full Word Study →. Eachאִ֤ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → has his swordחַרְבּוֹ֙ḥar·bōw — sword; blade weaponH2719 — Full Word Study → atעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → his sideיְרֵכ֔וֹyə·rê·ḵōw — Thigh; hip; body; loinsH3409 — Full Word Study → prepared for the terrorמִפַּ֖חַדmip·pa·ḥaḏ — dread, terror, overwhelming fearH6343 — Full Word Study → of the nightבַּלֵּילּֽוֹת׃סbal·lēl·lōṯ — Night, darkness, the period of darknessH3915 — Full Word Study →. 9Kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְham·me·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → Solomonשְׁלֹמֹ֔הšə·lō·mōh — His peaceH8010 — Full Word Study → has madeעָ֤שָׂה‘ā·śāh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → his carriageאַפִּרְי֗וֹן’ap·pir·yō·wn — A royal carriage or ceremonial palanquinH668 — Full Word Study → out of the timberמֵעֲצֵ֖יmê·‘ă·ṣê — Tree; wood; timberH6086 — Full Word Study → of Lebanonהַלְּבָנֽוֹן׃hal·lə·ḇā·nō·wn — White mountainH3844 — Full Word Study →. 10He has madeעָ֣שָׂה‘ā·śāh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → its postsעַמּוּדָיו֙‘am·mū·ḏāw — pillar, column, support structureH5982 — Full Word Study → of silverכֶ֔סֶףḵe·sep̄ — Silver; money; price; valueH3701 — Full Word Study →, its baseרְפִידָת֣וֹrə·p̄î·ḏā·ṯōw — foundation, base, bottom supportH7507 — Full Word Study → of goldזָהָ֔בzā·hāḇ — Gold; precious metal; wealth and valueH2091 — Full Word Study →, its seatמֶרְכָּב֖וֹmer·kā·ḇōw — chariot; riding seat or saddleH4817 — Full Word Study → of purple fabric. Its interiorתּוֹכוֹ֙tō·w·ḵōw — midst, among, between, throughH8432 — Full Word Study → is inlaidרָצ֣וּףrā·ṣūp̄ — to pave, fit together, or arrange in orderH7528 — Full Word Study → with loveאַהֲבָ֔ה’a·hă·ḇāh — Love, affection, devotionH160 — Full Word Study → by the daughtersמִבְּנ֖וֹתmib·bə·nō·wṯ — daughter; female child or descendantH1323 — Full Word Study → of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃yə·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study →. 11Come outצְאֶ֧ינָה׀ṣə·’e·nāh — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study →, O daughtersבְּנ֥וֹתbə·nō·wṯ — daughter; female child or descendantH1323 — Full Word Study → of Zionצִיּ֖וֹןṣî·yō·wn — The Lord's MountainH6726 — Full Word Study →, and gazeוּֽרְאֶ֛ינָהū·rə·’e·nāh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → at Kingבַּמֶּ֣לֶךְbam·me·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → Solomonשְׁלֹמֹ֑הšə·lō·mōh — His peaceH8010 — Full Word Study →, wearing the crown his motherאִמּוֹ֙’im·mōw — mother; female parentH517 — Full Word Study → bestowed on the dayבְּי֣וֹםbə·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → of his weddingחֲתֻנָּת֔וֹḥă·ṯun·nā·ṯōw — marriage, wedding covenantH2861 — Full Word Study →the dayוּבְי֖וֹםū·ḇə·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → of his heart’sלִבּֽוֹ׃סlib·bōw — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study → rejoicingשִׂמְחַ֥תśim·ḥaṯ — Joy, gladness, rejoicingH8057 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Song of Solomon 3
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Song of Solomon chapter 3 depicts the beloved's urgent search for her lover, her joyful reunion with him, and a magnificent royal procession. This chapter moves from separation and longing, through active seeking and discovery, to celebration and union. Whether read literally as an expression of human romantic love or (as many evangelical interpreters understand it) as an allegory of the church's relationship with Christ, the passage powerfully illustrates the themes of desire, commitment, and the beauty of devoted love.

Verses 1–5: The Search and the Discovery

The beloved lies awake at night, troubled by the absence of her lover (v. 1). Rather than remain passive, she rises and goes searching through the city streets and broad ways (v. 2). This active seeking reflects a love that will not accept separation. When the city watchmen encounter her, she urgently questions them about her beloved's whereabouts (v. 3). Her persistence is rewarded: shortly after parting from the watchmen, she finds him (v. 4). In a touching moment of union, she holds him and brings him into her mother's house—a place of safety, intimacy, and family blessing.

Verse 5 then contains an important refrain: the beloved charges the "daughters of Jerusalem" not to disturb or awaken love until it is ready. This speaks to the sacred, God-ordained timing of love and intimacy. Love should not be forced or rushed; it must come in its proper season. For believers, this teaches us that our deepest longings for intimacy with God—and with our spouses—are worth protecting and waiting for.

Application: Do we pursue intimacy with Christ with the same urgency and devotion shown here? When we sense distance from Him, do we seek Him actively through prayer, Scripture, and worship?

Verses 6–11: The Royal Procession

The scene shifts dramatically. A mysterious procession approaches from the wilderness (v. 6), described in lavish, sensory detail—perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, adorned with the merchant's finest powders. The language evokes royalty and majesty. Verse 6 asks, "Who is this?"—drawing attention and wonder.

The answer becomes clear: this is King Solomon's grand entourage. His bed is surrounded by sixty valiant men of Israel, all armed with swords, ready to protect him in the night (vv. 7–8). Solomon's chariot, crafted from Lebanon cedar, is adorned with silver pillars, a gold base, and purple covering (vv. 9–10). Most remarkably, verse 10 notes that the chariot's interior is "paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem"—suggesting that love is not merely an ornament but the very foundation of the king's dwelling and affection.

The chapter concludes with an invitation to the daughters of Zion to behold King Solomon, crowned by his mother on his wedding day, radiant with the gladness of his heart (v. 11). This vision emphasizes the honor, protection, and joy that surround a love crowned and blessed.

Application: Christ is our true King, infinitely more glorious than Solomon. He is surrounded not by sixty warriors but by the very armies of heaven. His kingdom is built on love—demonstrated most fully in His sacrificial death for the church.

Application for Today

Song of Solomon 3 invites us to examine the intensity and purity of our devotion—both in human relationships and in our relationship with Christ. It teaches us that genuine love is active, not passive; that it is worth seeking even when obstacles arise; and that it deserves protection from distraction and profanation. For married couples, it models the joy and mutual commitment that honors God. For all believers, it points to the matchless majesty and love of King Jesus, whose kingdom is built on love and whose return we await with eager hearts. May we seek Him as the beloved sought her lover, hold fast to Him, and allow His love to be the foundation of all we do.

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