Song of Songs 3:4

Song of Songs 3:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)It 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.
• New International Version (NIV)Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go till I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the room of the one who conceived me.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Scarcely had I passed 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, and into the chamber of her who conceived me.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Scarcely had I passed by them, When I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, Until I had brought him to the house of my mother, And into the chamber of her who conceived me.

Context of Song of Songs 3:4

2I thought, ‘I will get up now and I will go into the city. I will look everywhere for my lover. I will look in all the streets. I will look in all the market places.’ So I looked for him, but I did not find him. 3The city guards found me as they walked in the streets of the city. I asked them, ‘Have you seen the man that I love?’ Just then, as I left them, I found my lover! I hugged him and I would not let him go. I took him to my mother's house. I took him into my mother's bedroom. That is where my life started, inside my mother's body. 5Promise this to me, young women of Jerusalem: Do not cause our love to wake up. Do not cause it to become too strong until the time is right. The gazelles and the wild deer will know about your promise. 6Who is this who is coming from the desert? It seems that smoke is rising into the air! There is a lovely smell of myrrh and incense. It is the smell of all the spices that a trader sells.

Song of Songs 3:4 word by word

כִּמְעַט֙ שֶׁעָבַ֣רְתִּי מֵהֶ֔ם עַ֣ד שֶֽׁמָּצָ֔אתִי אֵ֥ת שֶׁאָהֲבָ֖ה נַפְשִׁ֑י אֲחַזְתִּיו֙ וְלֹ֣א אַרְפֶּ֔נּוּ עַד־שֶׁ֤הֲבֵיאתִיו֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית אִמִּ֔י וְאֶל־חֶ֖דֶר הוֹרָתִֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• but a littleמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
• that I passedעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
• from them, but I foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• him whom my soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
• lovethאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157
• I heldאָחַז'âchaz · to graspH270
• him, and would not let him goרָפָהrâphâh · to slackenH7503
• until I had broughtבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
• him into my mother’sאֵם'êm · motherH517
• houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• and into the chamberחֶ֫דֶרcheder · chamberH2315
• of her that conceivedהָרָהhârâh · to conceiveH2029

Commentaries on Song of Songs 3:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Into my mother's house - The women in the East have all separate apartments, into which no person ever attempts to enter except the husband. We find Isaac bringing Rebecca into his mother's tent, when he made her his wife, Genesis 24:67. What is here related appears to refer to the third night of the nuptials.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-5In this dramatic scene, the woman is already apart from her lover and is terrified that she will not see him soon. One night, her worries push her out of bed to search frantically for him. She finds him and takes him to meet her mother.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Jesus Christ is generally "found" near the watchmen and means of grace; but they are not Himself; the star that points to Beth-lehem is not the Sun that has risen there; she hastens past the guideposts to the goal [Moody Stuart]. Not even angels could satisfy Mary, instead of Jesus Christ (Joh 20:11-16). found him--(Is 45:19; Ho 6:1-3; Mt 13:44-46). held him, &c.--willing to be held; not willing, if not held (Ge 32:26; Mt 28:9; Lu 24:28, 29; Re 3:11)…Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 4I had just passed them shortly before their separation from me, at the end of the forty years.Read the comment

Topics related to Song of Songs 3:4

• Seekers

In the dictionaries

• Hold

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