Song of Songs 5:3

Song of Songs 5:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?
• New International Version (NIV)I have taken off my robe— must I put it on again? I have washed my feet— must I soil them again?
• English Standard Version (ESV)I had put off my garment; how could I put it on? I had bathed my feet; how could I soil them?
• New King James Version (NKJV)I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?

Context of Song of Songs 5:3

1I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride. I have taken my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey. I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, friends, and drink, you who love each other! Drink until you can drink no more! 2I slept but my mind was awake. Listen! My lover is knocking on my door! He said, ‘Open the door for me, my dear friend. You are my sister, the perfect one that I love. To me you are like a beautiful dove. Dew from the night air covers my head. My hair is very wet.’ I said, ‘I have taken off my day clothes. I do not want to dress myself again. I have washed my feet. I do not want them to get dirty again.’ 4My lover pushed his hand through the hole in the door. My heart began to beat faster because he was near. 5I got up to open the door for my lover. My hands were wet with myrrh. Myrrh dropped from my fingers onto the handle of the door.

Song of Songs 5:3 word by word

פָּשַׁ֙טְתִּי֙ אֶת־כֻּתָּנְתִּ֔י אֵיכָ֖כָה אֶלְבָּשֶׁ֑נָּה רָחַ֥צְתִּי אֶת־רַגְלַ֖י אֵיכָ֥כָה אֲטַנְּפֵֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I have put offפָּשַׁטpâshaţ · to stripH6584
• my coatכֻּתֹּ֫נֶתkethôneth kûttôneth · tunicH3801
• howאֵיכָ֫כָה'êyk 'êykâh 'êykâkâh · how?H349
• shall I put it onלָבֵשׁlâbash lâbêsh · to clotheH3847
• I have washedרָחַץrâchats · to wash: washH7364
• my feetרֶ֫גֶלregel · footH7272
• shall I defileטָנַףţânaph · to soilH2936

Commentaries on Song of Songs 5:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3I have put off my coat - The bride must have been in a dream or in much disorder of mind to have made the frivolous excuses here mentioned. The words relate to the case of a person who had gone to take rest on his bed. As they wore nothing but sandals, they were obliged to wash their feet previously to their lying down. I have washed my feet, taken off my clothes, and am gone to bed: I cannot therefore be disturbed. A Hindoo always washes his feet before…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 2-8Verses 2-8 Churches and believers, by carelessness and security, provoke Christ to withdraw. We ought to notice our spiritual slumbers and distempers. Christ knocks to awaken us, knocks by his word and Spirit, knocks by afflictions and by our consciences; thus, Rev. 3:20. When we are unmindful of Christ, still he thinks of us. Christ's love to us should engage ours to him, even in the most self-denying instances; and we only can be gainers by it. Careless…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-16One verse earlier, the couple fully enjoys their intimate union. Now the woman feels the pain of separation. In the dramatic interpretation, the woman has been separated from the man twice before and has searched for him (Song of Solomon 1:4–7; 3:1–4). This last time, the separation occurs in her dreams—it is only a nightmare. Her dream seems to continue to Song of Solomon 6:3, given the natural flow of questions and answers between the woman and the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. Trivial excuses (Lu 14:18). coat--rather, the inmost vest, next the skin, taken off before going to bed. washed ... feet--before going to rest, for they had been soiled, from the Eastern custom of wearing sandals, not shoes. Sloth (Lu 11:7) and despondency (De 7:17-19).Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 3I have taken off my tunic i.e., I have already accustomed myself to other ways; I can no longer return to You, as it is stated (Jer. 44:18): “But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven, etc.,” for these ways were proper in their eyes, and the expression, “I have taken off my tunic...I have bathed my feet,” is the language of an adulterous wife, who does not wish to open the door for her husband. And since Scripture commenced with the…Read the comment

Topics related to Song of Songs 5:3

• Ablution

In the dictionaries

• Answer
• Bath; Bathing
• Defile; Defilement
• Dress
• Washing of Feet

Commentaries on Song of Songs 5

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary