Song of Solomon 3:4
What does Song of Solomon 3:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Song of Solomon 3:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Song of Solomon 3:4 means
Soon after passing the watchmen, she finds the one her soul loves. Relief erupts into resolve: she seizes him and will not let him go until she has brought him into her mother’s house, even the chamber of the one who conceived her. This is not a furtive or reckless passion; it moves toward family space and the honor of proper union. The mother’s house symbolizes nurture, counsel, and approval. Love’s grip here is steadfast, not possessive in fear but determined in commitment. What began as night anguish ends in embraced presence and the intention of established relationship within the bonds of household and heritage.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000It 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 had brought him into my mother’s house, And into the chamber of her that conceived me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611It 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901It 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 had brought him into my mother’s house, And into the chamber of her that conceived me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I was but a little way from them, when I came face to face with him who is the love of my soul. I took him by the hands, and did not let him go, till I had taken him into my mother's house, and into the room of her who gave me birth.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862But a little I passed on from them, Till I found him whom my soul hath loved! I seized him, and let him not go, Till I brought him in unto the house of my mother--And the chamber of her that conceived me.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752When I had a little passed by them, I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him: and I will not let him go, till I bring him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that bore me.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890— Scarcely had I passed from them, When 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.
Context
This verse resolves the tension built through verses 1–3. After longing, searching, and asking, she finds him “a little” beyond the watchmen—suggesting that perseverance was nearly complete. The decisive holding and movement toward the mother’s house imply the right ordering of love within family life, a fitting culmination to the private scene. Immediately after, in verse 5, she will adjure the daughters of Jerusalem not to awaken love prematurely. That refrain both celebrates the attained union and warns that such love must arise in its proper time, preparing the reader for the shift to a grand public procession in verse 6.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Proverbs 4:13
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life.
- Isaiah 45:19
I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness; I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I, Jehovah, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
- Lamentations 3:25
Jehovah is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
- Genesis 32:26
And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
- Song of Solomon 6:12
Before I was aware, my soul set me Amongthe chariots of my princely people.
- Isaiah 54:1
Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith Jehovah.
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