Song of Solomon 3
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The bride mentions the absence of her spouse, her search after him, and her ultimate success, Sol 3:1-5. A description of the bridegroom, his bed, chariot, etc., Sol 3:6-11.
Open source ↗By night--literally, "By nights." Continuation of the longing for the dawn of the Messiah (Sol 2:17; Psa 130:6; Mal 4:2). The spiritual desertion here (Sol 2:17; Sol 3:5) is not due to indifference, as in Sol 5:2-8. "As nights and dews are better for flowers than a continual sun, so Christ's absence (at times) giveth sap to humility, and putteth an edge on hunger, and furnisheth a fair field to faith to put forth itself" [RUTHERFORD]. Contrast Sol 1:13; Psa 30:6-7. on . . . bed--the secret of her failure (Isa 64:7; Jer 29:13; Amo 6:1, Amo 6:4; Hos 7:14). loveth--no want of sincerity, but of diligence, which she now makes up for by leaving her bed to seek Him (Psa 22:2; Psa 63:8; Isa 26:9; Joh 20:17). Four times (Sol 3:1-4) she calls Jesus Christ, "Him whom my soul loveth," designating Him as absent; language of desire: "He loved me," would be language of present fruition (Rev 1:5). In questioning the watchmen (Sol 3:3), she does not even name Him, so full is her heart of Him. Having found Him at dawn (for throughout He is the morning), she charges the daughters not to abridge by intrusion the period of His stay. Compare as to the thoughtful seeking for Jesus Christ in the time of John the Baptist, in vain at first, but presently after successful (Luk 3:15-22; John 1:19-34). found him not--Oh, for such honest dealings with ourselves (Pro 25:14; Jde 1:12)!
Open source ↗INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 3 In this chapter an account is given of an adventure of the church, in quest of her beloved; of the time when, and places where, and the persons of whom she sought him; and of her success upon the whole; with a charge she give to the daughters of Jerusalem, Sol 3:1; by whom she is commended, Sol 3:6; and then Christ, her beloved, is described by her; by his bed, and the guard about it, Sol 3:7; by the chariot he rode in, Sol 3:9; and by the crown he wore on his coronation day, Sol 3:11.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
לַיִל (layil, H3915) — properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity מִשְׁכָּב (mishkâb, H4904) — a bed (figuratively, a bier); abstractly, sleep; by euphemism, carnal intercourse בָּקַשׁ (bâqash, H1245) — to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to… נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… אָהַב (ʼâhab, H157) — to have affection for (sexually or otherwise) מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or…
Open source ↗קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) סָבַב (çâbab, H5437) — to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… שׁוּק (shûwq, H7784) — a street (as run over) רְחֹב (rᵉchôb, H7339) — a width, i.e. (concretely) avenue or area בָּקַשׁ (bâqash, H1245) — to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to… נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… אָהַב (ʼâhab, H157) — to have affection for (sexually or otherwise) מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or…
Open source ↗שָׁמַר (shâmar, H8104) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to,… סָבַב (çâbab, H5437) — to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… אָהַב (ʼâhab, H157) — to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)
Open source ↗מְעַט (mᵉʻaṭ, H4592) — a little or few (often adverbial or compar.) עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… אָהַב (ʼâhab, H157) — to have affection for (sexually or otherwise) אָחַז (ʼâchaz, H270) — to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession) רָפָה (râphâh, H7503) — to slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אֵם (ʼêm, H517) — a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) חֶדֶר (cheder, H2315) — an apartment (usually literal) הָרָה (hârâh, H2029) — to be (or become) pregnant, conceive (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗שָׁבַע (shâbaʻ, H7650) — to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times) בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine צְבִי (tsᵉbîy, H6643) — splendor (as conspicuous); also a gazelle (as beautiful) אוֹ (ʼôw, H176) — desire (and so probably in Proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if אַיָּלָה (ʼayâlâh, H355) — a doe or female deer שָׂדֶה (sâdeh, H7704) — a field (as flat) עוּר (ʻûwr, H5782) — to wake (literally or figuratively) אַהֲבָה (ʼahăbâh, H160) — {affection (in a good or a bad sense)} חָפֵץ (châphêts, H2654) — properly, to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend; figuratively, to…
Open source ↗עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… תִּימָרָה (tîymârâh, H8490) — a column, i.e. cloud עָשָׁן (ʻâshân, H6227) — smoke, literally or figuratively (vapor, dust, anger) קָטַר (qâṭar, H6999) — to smoke, i.e. turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship) מֹר (môr, H4753) — myrrh (as distilling in drops, and also as bitter) לְבוֹנָה (lᵉbôwnâh, H3828) — frankincense (from its whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke) אֲבָקָה (ʼăbâqâh, H81) — {light particles (as volatile)} רָכַל (râkal, H7402) — to travel for trading
Open source ↗מִטָּה (miṭṭâh, H4296) — a bed (as extended) forsleeping or eating; by analogy, a sofa, litter or bier שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor שִׁשִּׁים (shishshîym, H8346) — sixty גִּבּוֹר (gibbôwr, H1368) — powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Open source ↗אָחַז (ʼâchaz, H270) — to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession) חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… לָמַד (lâmad, H3925) — properly, to goad, i.e. (by implication) to teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive) מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare) אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… יָרֵךְ (yârêk, H3409) — the thigh (from its fleshy softness); by euphemistically the generative parts;… פַּחַד (pachad, H6343) — a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by implication, the feeling) לַיִל (layil, H3915) — properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application אַפִּרְיוֹן (ʼappiryôwn, H668) — a palanquin עֵץ (ʻêts, H6086) — a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks) לְבָנוֹן (Lᵉbânôwn, H3844) — Lebanon, a mountain range in Palestine
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application עַמּוּד (ʻammûwd, H5982) — a column (as standing); also a stand, i.e. platform כֶּסֶף (keçeph, H3701) — silver (from its pale color); by implication, money רְפִידָה (rᵉphîydâh, H7507) — a railing (as spread along) זָהָב (zâhâb, H2091) — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky מֶרְכָּב (merkâb, H4817) — a chariot; also a seat (in a vehicle) אַרְגָּמָן (ʼargâmân, H713) — purple (the color or the dyed stuff) תָּוֶךְ (tâvek, H8432) — a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre רָצַף (râtsaph, H7528) — to tessellate, i.e. embroider (as if with bright stones) אַהֲבָה (ʼahăbâh, H160) — {affection (in a good or a bad sense)} בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
Open source ↗יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… צִיּוֹן (Tsîyôwn, H6726) — Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor עֲטָרָה (ʻăṭârâh, H5850) — a crown אֵם (ʼêm, H517) — a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively… עָטַר (ʻâṭar, H5849) — to encircle (for attack or protection); especially to crown (literally or figuratively) יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… חֲתֻנָּה (chăthunnâh, H2861) — a wedding שִׂמְחָה (simchâh, H8057) — blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival) לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
Tell me, O one I love, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest them at midday? Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your companions?
I opened for my beloved, but he had turned and gone. My heart sank at his departure. I sought him, but did not find him. I called, but he did not answer.
My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
I cry out by day, O my God, but You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest.
O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you, if you find my beloved, tell him I am sick with love.
I am weary from groaning; all night I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.
Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
Be angry, yet do not sin; on your bed, search your heart and be still. Selah