Song of Solomon 3:1

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 3:1-5

2:8-6:3 MEMORIES AND DREAMSSpringtime and night-time (2:8-3:5)A fresh poem begins with the girl’s recalling the coming of her shepherd-lover across the hills to visit her at her house (8-9). She remembers his words as he invited her to go with him to visit the fields and vineyards, where the dreariness of winter had passed and the new life of spring was bursting out (10-15). But now she is alone again and he is in the fields looking after his sheep. She longs for the day when he will return to... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Song of Solomon 3:1

THE SHULAMITE'S DREAMSong of Solomon 3:1-5"By night on my bedI sought him whom my soul lovethI sought him, but I found him not.I said, I will arise 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.The watchmen that go about the city found me:To whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?It was but a little that I passed from them,When I found him whom my soul loveth:I held him, and would not let him go,Until I... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Song of Solomon 3:1

1. By night—literally, "By nights." Continuation of the longing for the dawn of the Messiah (Song of Solomon 2:17; Psalms 130:6; Malachi 4:2). The spiritual desertion here (Song of Solomon 2:17; Song of Solomon 3:5) is not due to indifference, as in Song of Solomon 3:5- :. "As nights and dews are better for flowers than a continual sun, so Christ's absence (at times) giveth sap to humility, and putteth an edge on hunger, and furnisheth a fair field to faith to put forth itself" [RUTHERFORD].... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Song of Solomon 3:1-11

Night Thoughts and an Interlude1-4. There is a charming lightness of touch and quickness of movement in the story she tells, and it is all the more interesting for our having to supply the prosaic connecting links. ’The Unrest of Love’ is an apt title. We can only understand it as a maiden’s dream.2. The broad ways are what we should call the squares; wide, open spaces by the city gates and elsewhere. 4. The ’mother’s house’ is the women’s apartments, into which a strange man dare not... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Song of Solomon 3:1

III.(1) A reminiscence (elaborated in Song of Solomon 5:2 seq.) of the intensity of their love before their union, put by the poet into his lady’s mouth. She “arises from dreams” of him, and goes to find him. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Song of Solomon 3:1-11

Seeking the Beloved Song of Solomon 3:1 We so often ask and do not receive: we so often seek and do not find. And yet our Lord, the Eternal Truth and the Eternal Wisdom says, 'Every one that asketh, receiveth, and he that seeketh, findeth'. How can these things be? I. The very words of the Bride here will help us. When did she seek? 'By night:' that is, in the time of affliction. 'By night:' that is, not before the night. When everything then went well and; smoothly, she did not seek: when... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 3:1-11

TRUE LOVE TESTEDSong of Solomon 1:1-17; Song of Solomon 2:1-17; Song of Solomon 3:1-11; Song of Solomon 4:1-16; Song of Solomon 5:1THE poem opens with a scene in Solomon’s palace. A country maiden has just been introduced to the royal harem. The situation is painful enough in itself, for the poor, shy girl is experiencing the miserable loneliness of finding herself in an unsympathetic crowd. But that is not all. She is at once the object of general observation; every eye is turned towards her;... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Song of Solomon 3:1-11

CHAPTER 3 The scene changes. The bride is now alone and in the darkness of the night. She is seeking her Beloved and is unable to find Him. Her heart is filled with the same love she exhibits in the previous chapter, but the joy and comfort she lacks. We see her walking through the streets and in the broadways, looking for Him whom her soul loveth; she sought Him but found Him not; Then the watchmen of the night which pass through the street came across the seeking one and she eagerly... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Song of Solomon 3:1

3:1 By {a} night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.(a) The Church by night, that is, in troubles, seeks Christ, but is not incontinently heard. read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 3:1-11

Acts 2:0 , SCENE 1 This scene embraces the first four verses of chapter 2, and is a soliloquy of the bride in the nature of a troubled dream troubled because of anxiety for her lover’s safety in the chase. It is emblematical of the temporary interruption experienced in the fellowship of Christ’s people with their Lord. Acts 3:0 , SCENE 1 We are here dealing with the events of Song of Solomon 3:5-11 of this same chapter, and which are supposed to have occurred on the third morning. The royal... read more