# Song of Songs 3

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Third chapter of the Song of Songs

For other uses of the abbreviation, see [Song 3](/source/Song_3).

Song of Songs 3 ← chapter 2 chapter 4 → Four thousand years of Jewish history come to life in Arthur Szyk's Visual History of Israel, completed in 1948, depicting, among others, King Solomon (top right), shown holding a copy of 'Song of Songs'. Book Song of Songs Category Ketuvim Christian Bible part Old Testament Order in the Christian part 22

**Song of Songs 3** (abbreviated [*[where?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Naming_conventions_(geographic_names))*] as **Song 3**) is the third chapter of the [Song of Songs](/source/Song_of_Songs) in the [Hebrew Bible](/source/Hebrew_Bible) or the [Old Testament](/source/Old_Testament) of the [Christian](/source/Christianity) [Bible](/source/Bible).[1][2] This book is one of the [Five Megillot](/source/Five_Megillot), a collection of short books, together with [Ruth](/source/Book_of_Ruth), [Lamentations](/source/Book_of_Lamentations), [Ecclesiastes](/source/Ecclesiastes) and [Esther](/source/Book_of_Esther), within the [Ketuvim](/source/Ketuvim), the third and the last part of the Hebrew Bible.[3] [Jewish tradition](/source/Jewish_tradition) views [Solomon](/source/Solomon) as the author of this book (although this is now largely disputed), and this attribution influences the acceptance of this book as a canonical text.[3] This chapter contains a female song about her search for her lover at night and the poem describing King Solomon's procession.[4]

## Text

The original text is written in [Hebrew language](/source/Biblical_Hebrew). [This chapter is divided into](/source/Chapters_and_verses_of_the_Bible) 11 verses.

### Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in [Hebrew](/source/Biblical_Hebrew) are of the [Masoretic Text](/source/Masoretic_Text), which includes the [Aleppo Codex](/source/Aleppo_Codex) (10th century),[a] and [Codex Leningradensis](/source/Leningrad_Codex) (1008).[6] Some fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the [Dead Sea Scrolls](/source/Dead_Sea_Scrolls): [4Q106 (4QCanta)](/source/4Q106); 30 BCE-30 CE; extant verses 3–5, 7–11), [4Q107 (4QCantb)](/source/4Q107); 30 BCE-30 CE; extant verses 1–2, 5, 9–11), and [4Q108 (4QCantc)](/source/4Q108); 30 BCE-30 CE; extant verses 7–8).[7][8][9]

There is also a translation into [Koine Greek](/source/Koine_Greek) known as the [Septuagint](/source/Septuagint), made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include [Codex Vaticanus](/source/Codex_Vaticanus) (**B**; G {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}} B; 4th century), [Codex Sinaiticus](/source/Codex_Sinaiticus) (**S**; [BHK](/source/Biblia_Hebraica_(Kittel)): G {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}} S; 4th century), and [Codex Alexandrinus](/source/Codex_Alexandrinus) (**A**; G {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}} A; 5th century).[10]

## Structure

[New King James Version (NKJV)](/source/New_King_James_Version) groups this chapter into:

- [Song 3:1–5](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song+of+Solomon+3:1–5&version=nkjv) = A Troubled Night

- [Song 3:6–11](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song+of+Solomon+3:6–11&version=nkjv) = The Coming of Solomon

## Female: Search and seizure (3:1-5)

The first part of this chapter is "a tightly constructed song" of the female protagonist, describing how she looks for her lover at night (or in a dream) in the city streets, until she finds him and brings him into her mother's house.[11] The setting of this poem progresses from the woman's bed (verse 1) to the public areas of the city (verses 2-4b) and finally to the privacy of her mother's bedroom (verses 4c-5).[12] It closes with the second appeal to the 'daughters of Jerusalem'.[11]

### Verse 1

- *On my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves;* - *I sought him, but found him not.*[13]

"By night" ([Hebrew](/source/Hebrew_language): בלילות, *ba-[lê-lō-wṯ](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H3915)*[14]) can be read as "nightly" or "night after night":[15][16] the word "refers to more nights than one".[17] The woman had expected her lover to return "before dawn";[18] [Hudson Taylor](/source/Hudson_Taylor) notes that she might have regretted "lightly dismiss[ing] Him, with the thought: A little later I may enjoy His love ... Poor foolish bride!"[19]

### Verse 5

- *I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,*

- *By the gazelles or by the does of the field,*

- *Do not stir up nor awaken love*

- *Until it pleases.*[20]

- Cross references: [Song of Songs 2:7](/source/Song_of_Songs_2%3A7); [8:4](/source/Song_8%3A4)[15]

- "Charge" or "adjure"[21]

The names of God are apparently substituted with similar sounding phrases depicting 'female gazelles' (צְבָא֔וֹת, *[tseḇā’ōṯ](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H6643)*) for [God of] hosts (צבאות *[tseḇā’ōṯ](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H6635)*), and 'does of the field'/'wild does/female deer' (אילות השדה, *[’ay-lōṯ](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H355) ha-[śā-ḏeh](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H7704)*) for God Almighty (אל שדי, *[’êl](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H410) [shaddai](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H7706)*).[22]

## Male: Marriage scene (3:6-11)

This section starts a poetic exposition of love and marriage which form the core of the book (Song 3:6-5:1).[23] Hess applies these six verses to the man,[24] whereas Fox prefers the daughter of Jerusalem as the speakers,[25] and the [New King James Version](/source/New_King_James_Version) assigns them to "the Shulamite" (= the woman).[26]

[Solomon](/source/Solomon) is the focus of this section, as his name is mentioned three times (verses 7, 9 and 11), and the suffix 'his' (*-o*) refers to him once in verse 7, another in verse 9 and four times in the second part of verse 11.[24] The last word of this part is 'his heart' (*libbo*), referring directly to the essential aspect of King Solomon and the most relevant to the whole love poem.[24] The mention of Solomon's mother in verse 11 is in line with the focus on mothers in the book, both the woman's ([1:6](/source/Song_of_Songs_1%3A6); [3:4](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)/Song_of_Solomon#3:4); [6:9](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)/Song_of_Solomon#6:9); [8:1, 2](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)/Song_of_Solomon#8:1)) and the man's ([8:5](/source/Song_8%3A5)).[27]

## See also

- [Jerusalem](/source/Jerusalem)

- [Zion](/source/Zion)

- Related [Bible](/source/Bible) parts: [Song of Songs 2](/source/Song_of_Songs_2)

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Since 1947 the current text of [Aleppo Codex](/source/Aleppo_Codex) is missing Song of Songs 3:11, after the word ציון ("Zion"), to the end.[5]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHalley1965278_1-0)** [Halley 1965](#CITEREFHalley1965), p. 278.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Holman_2-0)** Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrenner2007429_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrenner2007429_3-1) [Brenner 2007](#CITEREFBrenner2007), p. 429.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrenner2007430–431_4-0)** [Brenner 2007](#CITEREFBrenner2007), pp. 430–431.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** P. W. Skehan (2003), "BIBLE (TEXTS)", *[New Catholic Encyclopedia](/source/New_Catholic_Encyclopedia)*, vol. 2 (2nd ed.), Gale, pp. 355–362

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWürthwein199536–37_7-0)** [Würthwein 1995](#CITEREFWürthwein1995), pp. 36–37.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Ulrich, Eugene](/source/Eugene_Ulrich), ed. (2010). [*The Biblical Qumran Scrolls: Transcriptions and Textual Variants*](https://archive.org/details/TheBiblicalQumranScrolls). Brill. pp. 740–742. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9789004181830](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9789004181830). Retrieved May 15, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-generalinfo_9-0)** [Dead sea scrolls - Song of Songs](https://thewaytoyahuweh.com/dead-sea-scrolls/general-info/#song_of_songs).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-fitzmyer_10-0)** [Fitzmyer, Joseph A.](/source/Joseph_Fitzmyer) (2008). [*A Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature*](https://books.google.com/books?id=TILXeWJ2eNAC). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 42. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780802862419](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780802862419). Retrieved February 15, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWürthwein199573–74_11-0)** [Würthwein 1995](#CITEREFWürthwein1995), pp. 73–74.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrenner2007430_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrenner2007430_12-1) [Brenner 2007](#CITEREFBrenner2007), p. 430.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELongman2001127_13-0)** [Longman 2001](#CITEREFLongman2001), p. 127.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [Song 3:1](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song+of+Solomon+3:1&version=mev) [MEV](/source/Modern_English_Version)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Song3_1h_15-0)** [Hebrew Text Analysis: Song of Solomon 3:1](https://biblehub.com/text/songs/3-1.htm). Biblehub

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECoogan2007962_Hebrew_Bible_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECoogan2007962_Hebrew_Bible_16-1) [Coogan 2007](#CITEREFCoogan2007), p. 962 Hebrew Bible.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [Song of Songs 3:1](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song+of+Solomon+3:1&version=ncb): New Catholic Bible

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Harper, A. (1902), [Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges](http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/songs/2.htm) on Song of Solomon 3, accessed 12 January 2023

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** [Song 2:17](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song+of+Solomon+2:17&version=tlb): Living Bible

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Taylor, H. (1893), [Union and Communion, or Thoughts on the Song of Solomon](https://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Text.Only/pdfs/Union_And_Communion_Text.pdf), 1997 edition retyped by Kathy Sewell, page 15, accessed 12 January 2023

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** [Song 3:5](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song+of+Solomon+3:5&version=nkjv) [NKJV](/source/New_King_James_Version)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Note [a] on Song 3:5 in NKJV

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBergant200126_23-0)** [Bergant 2001](#CITEREFBergant2001), p. 26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHess200536_24-0)** [Hess 2005](#CITEREFHess2005), p. 36.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHess2005116_25-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHess2005116_25-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHess2005116_25-2) [Hess 2005](#CITEREFHess2005), p. 116.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Fox, *Song*, p. 119,*apud* Hess 2005, p.116

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** [Song 3:6](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song+of+Solomon+3:6&version=nkjv) NKJV

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEExum2005141_28-0)** [Exum 2005](#CITEREFExum2005), p. 141.

## Sources

- [Bergant, Dianne](/source/Dianne_Bergant) (2001). Cotter, David W.; Walsh, Jerome T.; Franke, Chris (eds.). [*The Songs of Songs*](https://books.google.com/books?id=xkwtwLQ_QCQC). Berit Olam (The Everlasting Covenant): Studies In Hebrew Narrative And Poetry. Liturgical Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780814650691](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780814650691).

- Brenner, Athalya (2007). "21. The Song of Solomon". In Barton, John; Muddiman, John (eds.). [*The Oxford Bible Commentary*](https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ) (first (paperback) ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 429–433. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0199277186](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0199277186). Retrieved February 6, 2019.

- [Coogan, Michael David](/source/Michael_D._Coogan) (2007). Coogan, Michael David; Brettler, Marc Zvi; Newsom, Carol Ann; Perkins, Pheme (eds.). [*The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48*](https://books.google.com/books?id=HmpMPgAACAAJ) (Augmented 3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780195288810](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780195288810).

- Exum, J. Cheryl (2005). [*Songs of Songs: A Commentary*](https://books.google.com/books?id=mLKBcC5ND30C). Old Testament library (reprint ed.). Westminster John Knox Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780664221904](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780664221904).

- [Halley, Henry H.](/source/Henry_Hampton_Halley) (1965). [*Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary*](https://archive.org/details/halleysbiblehand00henr) (24th (revised) ed.). Zondervan Publishing House. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-310-25720-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-310-25720-4).

- Hess, Richard S. (2005). [*Songs of Songs*](https://books.google.com/books?id=AWoEZ2bWauAC). Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Series. Baker Academic. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780801027123](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780801027123).

- Longman, Tremper (2001). [*Songs of Songs*](https://books.google.com/books?id=PDnMuOcIUjEC). The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Vol. 26. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780802825438](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780802825438).

- [Würthwein, Ernst](/source/Ernst_W%C3%BCrthwein) (1995). [*The Text of the Old Testament*](https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC). Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8028-0788-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8028-0788-7). Retrieved January 26, 2019.

## External links

- [Jewish](/source/Judaism) translations: - [Shir Hashirim - Song of Songs - Chapter 3 (Judaica Press)](https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16447) translation [with [Rashi](/source/Rashi)'s commentary] at Chabad.org

- [Christian](/source/Christianity) translations: - [*Online Bible* at GospelHall.org](http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Song+3) (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)

- [Song of Solomon Chapter 3 King James Version](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=26&chapter=3&version=9)

- [*Song of Solomon*](https://librivox.org/search?title=Song+of+Solomon&author=&reader=&keywords=&genre_id=0&status=all&project_type=either&recorded_language=&sort_order=catalog_date&search_page=1&search_form=advanced) public domain audiobook at [LibriVox](/source/LibriVox) Various versions

v t e Song of Songs Bible chapters Song of Songs 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Places Carmel Damascus En-gedi Gilead Heshbon Jerusalem Jezreel Kedar Lebanon Mount Hermon Sharon Tirzah Zion People Amminadib David Shulamite Solomon Queen of Sheba Phrases Ivory tower Lily of the valley Rose of Sharon Veniat dilectus meus Analysis Shir HaShirim Rabbah Shir ha-Shirim Zutta Israelian Hebrew Five Megillot Poetic Books In art The Song of Songs (1853 painting) The Beloved (Rossetti) Sponsa de Libano Song of Songs (Tschirch) Manuscripts 4Q106 4Q107 4Q108 6Q6 4Q240 (pesher) Sources Hebrew Bible Septuagint Wycliffe Version King James Version American Standard Version World English Version

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