Song of Songs 3:2

Song of Songs 3:2 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but did not find him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I will rise 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 found him not.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“I will rise now,” I said, “And go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love.” I sought him, but I did not find him.

Context of Song of Songs 3:2

1“On my bed night after night [I dreamed that] I sought the one Whom my soul loves; I sought him but did not find him. I said ‘So I must arise now and go out into the city; Into the streets and into the squares [places I do not know] I must seek him whom my soul loves.’ I sought him but I did not find him. 3The watchmen who go around the city found me, And I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’ 4Scarcely had I passed them When I found him whom my soul loves. I held on to him and would not let him go Until I had brought him to my mother’s house, And into the chamber of her who conceived me.”

Song of Songs 3:2 word by word

אָק֨וּמָה נָּ֜א וַאֲסוֹבְבָ֣ה בָעִ֗יר בַּשְּׁוָקִים֙ וּבָ֣רְחֹב֔וֹת אֲבַקְשָׁ֕ה אֵ֥ת שֶׁאָהֲבָ֖ה נַפְשִׁ֑י בִּקַּשְׁתִּ֖יו וְלֹ֥א מְצָאתִֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I will riseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• now, and go aboutסָבַבsâbab · to turn: surroundH5437
• the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• in the streetsשׁוּקshûq · streetH7784
• and in the broad waysרְחוֹבrechôb rechôb · street/plazaH7339
• I will seekבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• him whom my soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
• lovethאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157
• him, but I foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672

Commentaries on Song of Songs 3:2

• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2The poem partly describes a lover's determination to overcome all obstacles to be with their beloved. Since the women of Jerusalem are mentioned often (Song of Solomon 3:5), the city is likely Jerusalem. Searching all its streets and squares was a bold effort. The king of Israel would probably not be outside in the city at night. If he had his sixty-man entourage with him (Song of Solomon 3:7–8), she would find him easily. Instead, the woman seems to be…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Wholly awake for God (Lu 14:18-20; Ep 5:14). "An honest resolution is often to (the doing of) duty, like a needle that draws the thread after it" [Durham]. Not a mere wish, that counts not the cost--to leave her easy bed, and wander in the dark night seeking Him (Pr 13:4; Mt 21:30; Lu 14:27-33). the city--Jerusalem, literally (Mt 3:5; Joh 1:19), and spiritually the Church here (He 12:22), in glory (Re 21:2). broad ways--open spaces at the gates of…Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 2I will arise now, etc., I will seek (Exod. 32:11): “And Moses prayed”; (ibid. verse 30): “I will go up to the Lord.”Read the comment

Topics related to Song of Songs 3:2

• Seekers

In the dictionaries

• Hold
• Broad
• Purity

Commentaries on Song of Songs 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary