The bride's nocturnal search uniquely combines "love" and "loneliness" themes, appearing in only two biblical passages, highlighting love's paradoxical capacity to intensify solitude.
Song of Solomon 3
The Bride's Night Search
1By night on my bed, I sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn’t find him.
2I will get up now, and go about the city; in the streets and in the squares I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn’t find him.
3The watchmen who go about the city found me; “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”
4I had scarcely passed from them, when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, into the room of her who conceived me.
5I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that you not stir up nor awaken love, until it so desires.
Solomon's Wedding Procession
6Who is this who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spices of the merchant?
7Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage! Sixty mighty men are around it, of the mighty men of Israel.
8They all handle the sword, and are expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh, because of fear in the night.
9King Solomon made himself a carriage of the wood of Lebanon.
10He made its pillars of silver, its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, the middle of it being paved with love, from the daughters of Jerusalem.
11Go out, you daughters of Zion, and see King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother has crowned him, in the day of his weddings, in the day of the gladness of his heart.
Font Size 17pt
Line Spacing
Theme
Song of Solomon 3 presents two contrasting scenes that capture the emotional journey of love. The chapter opens with the bride's anxious nighttime search through the city for her beloved, expressing the longing and temporary separation that can characterize intimate relationships. This anguished quest gives way to a magnificent description of Solomon's wedding procession, complete with armed guards and luxurious furnishings, celebrating the joy and public recognition of their union.
Context
This chapter bridges the intimate dialogues of chapters 1-2 with the wedding celebration, moving from private longing to public ceremony.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-5 The Bride's Night Search The woman searches desperately through the city for her beloved, finding him and bringing him to her mother's house before warning against premature love.
- 6-11 Solomon's Wedding Procession A grand procession approaches from the wilderness featuring Solomon's ornate carriage, sixty armed guards, and an invitation for all to witness the king's wedding day.
The Bride's Night Search
3:1–3:5 poetry narration anguished
The bride searches desperately through the city at night for her beloved, asking watchmen for help. She finally finds him and brings him to her mother's house, again warning against awakening love prematurely.
theme_rarity
The bride's nocturnal search uniquely combines "love" and "loneliness" themes, appearing in only two biblical passages, highlighting love's paradoxical capacity to intensify solitude.
Solomon's Wedding Procession
3:6–3:11 poetry song celebratory
A poetic description of Solomon's magnificent wedding procession, featuring his ornate carriage, armed guards, and the celebration of his wedding day. The passage emphasizes the grandeur and joy of the royal wedding ceremony.
person_contrast
Solomon, typically portrayed as the wise judge and temple builder, appears here uniquely as a joyful bridegroom surrounded by celebration rather than supplicants seeking wisdom.
Insights
Solomon, typically portrayed as the wise judge and temple builder, appears here uniquely as a joyful bridegroom surrounded by celebration rather than supplicants seeking wisdom.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Song of Solomon 3:2 1 reference
Song of Solomon 3:5 2 references
Song of Solomon 3:6 2 references
Lexicals 2
Song of Solomon 3:8 3 references
Lexicals 3
Micah 4:3 Lexical
and he will judge between many peoples, and will decide concerning strong nations afar off. They will beat their swords…
1 Chronicles 5:18 Lexical
The sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, abl…
Isaiah 2:4 Lexical
He will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares…
Song of Solomon 3:10 4 references
Lexicals 4
Esther 1:6 Lexical
There were hangings of white and blue material, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble…
Jeremiah 10:9 Lexical
There is silver beaten into plates, which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the engraver and of…
Exodus 39:3 Lexical
They beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in with the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and th…
Exodus 28:33 Lexical
On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, all around its hem; with bells of gold be…
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
v. 1
v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
v. 10
v. 11
Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
Loading map...