Song of Solomon — Chapter 3

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1By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

2I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

3The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?

4It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.

5I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

6Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

7Behold his bed, which is Solomon’s; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.

8They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.

9King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.

10He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.

11Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

1By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

2[I said], I will rise now, and go about the city; In the streets and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

3The watchmen that go about the city found me; [To whom I said], Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?

4It was but a little that I passed from them, When I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, Until I had brought him into my mother`s house, And into the chamber of her that conceived me.

5I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes, or by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake [my] love, Until he please.

6Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all powders of the merchant?

7Behold, it is the litter of Solomon; Threescore mighty men are about it, Of the mighty men of Israel.

8They all handle the sword, [and] are expert in war: Every man hath his sword upon his thigh, Because of fear in the night.

9King Solomon made himself a palanquin Of the wood of Lebanon.

10He made the pillars thereof of silver, The bottom thereof of gold, the seat of it of purple, The midst thereof being paved with love, From the daughters of Jerusalem.

11Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon, With the crown wherewith his mother hath crowned him In the day of his espousals, And in the day of the gladness of his heart.

1The Beloved about Her Lover: All night long on my bed I longed for my lover. I longed for him, but he never appeared.

2“I will arise and look all around throughout the town, and throughout the streets and squares; I will search for my beloved.” I searched for him, but I did not find him.

3The night watchmen found me—the ones who guard the city walls. “Have you seen my beloved?”

4Scarcely had I passed them by when I found my beloved! I held onto him tightly and would not let him go until I brought him to my mother’s house, to the bedroom chamber of the one who conceived me.

5The Beloved to the Maidens: I admonish you, O maidens of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and by the young does of the open fields: “Do not awaken or arouse love until it pleases!”

6The Speaker: Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, like a fragrant billow of myrrh and frankincense, every kind of fragrant powder of the traveling merchants?

7Look! It is Solomon’s portable couch! It is surrounded by sixty warriors, some of Israel’s mightiest warriors.

8All of them are skilled with a sword, well trained in the art of warfare. Each has his sword at his side, to guard against the terrors of the night.

9King Solomon made a sedan chair for himself of wood imported from Lebanon.

10Its posts were made of silver; its back was made of gold. Its seat was upholstered with purple wool; its interior was inlaid with leather by the maidens of Jerusalem.

11Come out, O maidens of Zion, and gaze upon King Solomon! He is wearing the crown with which his mother crowned him on his wedding day, on the most joyous day of his life!

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.

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.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

The Bride's nighttime search and the wedding procession — she seeks her beloved through the city streets, finds him and will not let go; then Solomon's royal wedding procession approaches in splendor.

Authorship & Background

Author: Solomon (1:1). Also called 'Canticles' or 'Song of Songs' (the greatest song). A love poem celebrating marital love — the only extended treatment of romantic/sexual love in Scripture. Interpreted on multiple levels: (1) literal — celebrating human love within marriage; (2) allegorical — picturing God's love for Israel or Christ's love for the Church (Ephesians 5:25-32). Key themes: the beauty and dignity of marital love, desire and fulfillment, the beloved's pursuit, and love 'strong as death' (8:6).
Historical Context: Chapter 3 divides into two distinct sections: the Bride's nighttime search (vv.1-5) and Solomon's royal wedding procession (vv.6-11). In the first section, the Bride seeks her beloved at night — on her bed, through city streets, past the watchmen — until she finds him and brings him home. This may be a dream sequence (note "by night on my bed") depicting the anxiety of separation. In the second section, the scene shifts dramatically to a public spectacle: Solomon's wedding day procession emerging from the wilderness with military escort, royal splendor, and communal celebration. The contrast between private longing (vv.1-5) and public celebration (vv.6-11) mirrors the dual nature of love: intensely personal yet also publicly covenanted. Allegorically, the Bride's search pictures the believer's dark night of the soul — seeking Christ when His presence feels absent — while the royal procession pictures Christ's triumphal coming for His Bride.
Speakers:
  • The Bride (Shulamite): vv.1-5 (nighttime search narrative)
  • Narrator/Poet: vv.6-11 (description of the procession)
  • Daughters of Jerusalem: addressed in v.5, called in v.11

Map & Geography

  • Jerusalem (v.5, v.10): Capital of Judah; the holy city where the Temple stood.
  • Lebanon (v.9): Region north of Israel known for its cedar forests.
  • Zion (v.11): The hill on which Jerusalem/the Temple stood; often used poetically for God's dwelling.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes the Bride's dream-search reveals that genuine love cannot tolerate distance. Her seeking is active, risky (she goes into the streets at night), and persistent. She does not wait for him to return — she pursues. Guzik emphasizes that the wedding procession (vv.6-11) represents the public, covenanted nature of marriage — love is not merely private feeling but public commitment with communal witness and celebration.
  • Charles Spurgeon: "She sought Him, but found Him not. Beloved, there are seasons when Christ withdraws the sense of His presence — not His presence itself, but the felt enjoyment of it. He does this to make us seek Him more earnestly, to prove that our love is not dependent upon comfortable feelings, and to teach us that His absence is more painful than any other loss. When you cannot find Him on your bed, rise and seek Him in the streets — in prayer, in Scripture, in fellowship. He is never truly far, but He would have you pursue Him with all your heart."

Reflection

  • 1. Seek Him when He seems absent (vv.1-3). The Bride does not passively accept distance — she rises, goes out, searches actively. In marriage: when you feel disconnected from your spouse, don't wait for them to fix it — pursue them. Spiritually: seasons of dryness are not permission to stop seeking. Rise from your bed of comfort and pursue Christ through prayer, Scripture, and worship until you find Him again.
  • 2. When you find Him, hold fast (v.4). "I held him, and would not let him go." In marriage: when connection is restored after distance, cherish it — don't take it for granted or casually drift away again. Spiritually: when God restores the sense of His presence, cling to Him. Guard those moments. Don't let the busyness of life pull you away from what you desperately sought.
  • 3. Love is both private and public (vv.1-5 vs. 6-11). The private longing (bedroom search) and the public procession (wedding day) are both essential. In marriage: love needs both private intimacy and public commitment. Neither alone is sufficient. Spiritually: your relationship with Christ is personal AND communal — private devotion AND public worship, inner experience AND outward witness.
  • 4. He comes with protection (vv.7-8). Sixty warriors guard the procession. The Bridegroom does not come undefended — His Bride is protected. In marriage: the husband's role includes protection (physical, emotional, spiritual). Spiritually: Christ does not leave His Bride vulnerable. He surrounds you with His power, His angels, His promises. You are guarded.
  • 5. The wedding day is HIS gladness (v.11). It is "the day of the gladness of HIS heart." In marriage: remember that your spouse CHOSE you with joy — your union is their delight. Spiritually: the staggering truth — Christ REJOICES over you. The marriage of the Lamb is described as His joy (Revelation 19:7). You are not a burden He bears but a Bride He celebrates.