Song of Solomon 3:2
in Song of Solomon 3I will arise now and go about the city, through the streets and squares. I will seek the one I love. So I sought him but did not find him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Song of Solomon 3
Commentary
15 notes on this verseWe must seek in the city, in Jerusalem, which was a type of the gospel-church. The likeliest place to find Christ is in the temple ( Luke ii. 46 ), in the streets of the gospel-church, in holy ordinances, where the children of Zion pass and repass at all hours.
This site's exposition
On my bed at night I sought the one I love
on Song of Solomon 3:1-2
"On my bed at night I sought the one I love" opens a night search, and the phrase the one I love recurs four times. "I sought him, but did not find him" sends her into the city, "through the streets and squares," a reckless course for a woman alone.
This site's exposition
through the streets and squares
Adam Clarke supposed the bridegroom usually came to her by night. On this night he failed to come, so she rose and went looking for him. Matthew Henry read the city as the church, where Christ is most likely found in its public worship.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Since the bridegroom is incomprehensible in his being even to the holy angels, and hence they did not give me an answer to my question, teaching me by their silence that he is incomprehensible even to them, the uncreated to created beings, I left them …
She says she found him and did not let him go before bringing him into her mother's house and the inner chamber of the one who conceived her. By "city" she refers to the house of God, which we call church, by "marketplaces" and "streets" …
A commentator
Cyril of AlexandriaFRAGMENTS IN THE COMMENTARY ON THE SONG OF SONGS 3:1 · Written before 444.
proposed
"In my chamber by night I sought him." This refers to the women who came at the beginning of the morning on the sabbath to the tomb of Jesus and did not find him. He is in the chamber, therefore, or away from the chamber. Or perhaps they call their chamber the Lord's tomb because we are buried together with him. But when they did not find him, they heard at once: "He is not here, for he has been raised." And they discovered guardian angels, whom they asked, "Where have you laid the Lord?" Then, when they had left the angels whom they were questioning, the Lord met them and said, "Rejoice." For this reason, it says, "When I had passed by them for a little while, I found him whom I will not let go." She grasped his feet and heard, "Don't hold me." Finally, he called the gathering of the apostles the house of the mother, to whom he announced the resurrection of Christ.
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
Robert of TombelaineCommentary on the Song of Songs, Chapter 3 · Written in the 11th century.
proposed
Because indeed it burns with the greatest desire, and whatever it holds does not suffice, until it finds the beloved, it therefore adds the constancy of its searching. What do we understand by the city in this place, if not the Church; what by the …
A commentator
Bernard of ClairvauxSermons on the Song of Songs, Sermon 75 · Written before 1153.
proposed
And I said: "I will rise and go about the city; through the lanes and streets I will seek him whom my soul loves." Observe even now that she is lying down who says: "I will rise." This is entirely fitting. Why would she not …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
Bernard of ClairvauxSermons on the Song of Songs, Sermon 76 · Written before 1153.
proposed
"Through the streets and squares I will seek him whom my soul loves" (Song 3:2). Still she understands as a little one. I think she supposed that he, having gone forth from the tomb, would have immediately gone into public, so that as usual he …
A commentator
Gregory the Dialogist40 Homilies on the Gospels, Homily 25 · Written before 604.
proposed
But whoever does not find his beloved, it remains that he arise and go about the city, that is, traverse the holy Church of the elect with mind and inquiry; let him seek him through streets and squares, that is, let him observe those walking through narrow and broad ways, so that if he can find any traces of him in them, he may search them out, because there are some, even of secular life, who have something to imitate in the practice of virtue.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The city - The city of God, the church in which Christ resides. Broadways - Not finding him in private prayer, and meditation, I sought him in the places of public assemblies and ordinances. Found not - He saw fit still to delay the discoveries of his grace.
I will rise now,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
So, the assemblies of worshippers (So 8:2, 3; She had in her first awakening shrunk from them, seeking Jesus Christ alone; but she was desired to seek the footsteps of the flock (So 1:8), so now in her second trial she goes forth to them of herself.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3485: “The Dejected Lover” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
How exquisitely pleasant is communion with our Lord Jesus Christ! And how supremely favored are those who enjoy it! Holy Scripture exhausts every earthly figure to delineate its sacred charms, its ineffable delights! Yes, Inspiration, itself, exhausts its metaphors without compassing its mystery, because it is impossible for human language to express the sweetness of His Grace, or the solace of our acquaintance with Him. In just so much as it is sweet to know that fellowship, so is it sad not to know or to experience it. But alas, how frequently is this communion unfelt and unproved! I. THE BRIDEGROOM WAS MISSED. In addressing this large assembly, I can but think a considerable number of the Lord's people are in the condition of the spouse. You do not at present enjoy access to Christ, or sweet communion with Him. It may do you good to consider the things that remain to you, though this fellowship is suspended, for let it be remembered that it is not upon communion with Christ our life depends. Our salvation stands in the knowledge of Him, not in communion with Him. We are made safe by what He has done, not by what we feel. Not our enjoyments, but His sufferings we must lay as the solid foundation of our hope! There remains to us, dear Friends (for I confess to be sometimes in the same state)—though there are no privileged token of our love to Christ, nor any palpable enjoyment of His love to us—there remains at this hour the positive conviction and the open confession that we do love Him. Four times, I think, does this benighted spouse cry, "Him whom my soul loves." She cannot see Him, but she cherishes a tender affection for Him. She does not enjoy His Presence just now, but her heart cleaves to Him and appreciates His excellence.
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3485: “The Dejected Lover” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
How exquisitely pleasant is communion with our Lord Jesus Christ! And how supremely favored are those who enjoy it! Holy Scripture exhausts every earthly figure to delineate its sacred charms, its ineffable delights! Yes, Inspiration, itself, exhausts its metaphors without compassing its mystery, because it is impossible for human language to express the sweetness of His Grace, or the solace of our acquaintance with Him. In just so much as it is sweet to know that fellowship, so is it sad not to know or to experience it. But alas, how frequently is this communion unfelt and unproved! I.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
On my bed at night. In my distress, when I lived in the darkness. The Bnei Yisroel were left in darkness after the Clouds of Glory had withdrawn from them and the holy crown that had been given to them at Mt. Sinai was taken away.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
The watchmen found me. Moshe and Aharon. 7 They guarded the Bnei Yisroel from sin during the Egyptian exile. Also in reference to Ezra and Nechemyah who watched over the Bnei Yisroel during the exile of Bavel. (Alshich)
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אָק֨וּמָה | ʾakumah | I will arise | H6965 → | 628 times |
| נָּ֜א | na' | please | H4994 → | |
| וַאֲסוֹבְבָ֣ה | vaasovah | and I will go around | H5437 → | 161 times |
| בָעִ֗יר | vair | in the city | H5892 → | 1090 times |
| בַּשְּׁוָקִים֙ | bashevakim | in the streets | H7784 → | |
| וּבָ֣רְחֹב֔וֹת | uvarechovot | and in the open places | H7339 → | |
| אֲבַקְשָׁ֕ה | ʾavakshah | I will seek | H1245 → | 225 times |
| אֵ֥ת | ʾet | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| שֶׁאָהֲבָ֖ה | sheahavah | whom it loves | H157 → | 211 times |
| נַפְשִׁ֑י | nafshi | self my | H5315 → | 754 times |
| בִּקַּשְׁתִּ֖יו | bikashtiv | I sought him | H1245 → | 225 times |
| וְלֹ֥א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| מְצָאתִֽיו׃ | metzativ | I found him | H4672 → | 455 times |
אָק֨וּמָהI will arise
ʾakumahH6965 →628 times
נָּ֜אplease
na'H4994 →
וַאֲסוֹבְבָ֣הand I will go around
vaasovahH5437 →161 times
בָעִ֗ירin the city
vairH5892 →1090 times
בַּשְּׁוָקִים֙in the streets
bashevakimH7784 →
וּבָ֣רְחֹב֔וֹתand in the open places
uvarechovotH7339 →
אֲבַקְשָׁ֕הI will seek
ʾavakshahH1245 →225 times
אֵ֥ת<obj.>
ʾetH853 →10935 times
שֶׁאָהֲבָ֖הwhom it loves
sheahavahH157 →211 times
נַפְשִׁ֑יself my
nafshiH5315 →754 times
בִּקַּשְׁתִּ֖יוI sought him
bikashtivH1245 →225 times
וְלֹ֥אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
מְצָאתִֽיו׃I found him
metzativH4672 →455 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ephesians 5:14So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
it leads to
- Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
- Romans 13:11–12
And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
- Isaiah 26:19
Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her…
- 1 Thessalonians 5:6
So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.
- Isaiah 52:1
Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.
- Isaiah 60:1
Through
Romans 13:11And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5–8
For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
- 1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.
- Ephesians 5:14
So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5–8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Song of Solomon
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of Songs, Sermon 75; Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of Songs, Sermon 76; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3485: “The Dejected Lover” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Cyril of Alexandria, FRAGMENTS IN THE COMMENTARY ON THE SONG OF SONGS 3:1; Gregory the Dialogist, 40 Homilies on the Gospels, Homily 25; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Robert of Tombelaine, Commentary on the Song of Songs, Chapter 3 and Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE SONG OF SONGS 3.