Song Of Solomon 3 2

Song Of Solomon 3:2 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.

Song Of Solomon 3:2 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.

Song Of Solomon 3:2 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.

Song Of Solomon 3:2 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.

Song Of Solomon 3:2 nlt

So I said to myself, "I will get up and roam the city,
searching in all its streets and squares.
I will search for the one I love."
So I searched everywhere but did not find him.

Song Of Solomon 3 verses

Song Of Solomon 3 2 meaning

This verse captures the intense longing and active pursuit of the Shulamite for her beloved during a night vision or dream. Awakening with an urgent sense of his absence, she resolves to immediately embark on a determined search throughout the city's public spaces. Her profound affection, stated as "whom my soul loveth," drives her persistent quest. However, her initial attempts prove futile, highlighting the anxiety and emotional distress caused by his temporary elusiveness. It expresses a passionate, unrestrained yearning and the initial disappointment of an unfulfilled search.

Song Of Solomon 3 2 Context

Song of Solomon 3:2 is part of a dream sequence (3:1-5) where the Shulamite recounts her nocturnal search for her beloved. This vision occurs after a previous encounter (2:8-17) and depicts a period of separation, perhaps indicating a lover's quarrel, a test of affection, or simply the anxiety of absence within a deep relationship. The "city," "streets," and "broad ways" were common public gathering places in ancient Israelite culture. For a woman to venture out alone at night in such places was unconventional and risked her reputation, underscoring the extreme distress and urgency of her quest. The context is intensely personal and emotional, reflecting the depths of human yearning for companionship and intimate presence. Historically, the setting aligns with typical Levantine cities of the ancient world. The lack of finding in this verse amplifies the desperation leading to her subsequent plea to the watchmen in the following verses.

Song Of Solomon 3 2 Word analysis

• I will arise now (אָקוּמָה נָּא - aqumah na):

  • אָקוּמָה (aqumah): "I will arise," a volitional perfect, indicating a firm, immediate decision and intention. It conveys an energetic and decisive action, not merely a thought. It is often used for beginning an important task or journey (e.g., Gen 22:3).
  • נָּא (na): A particle often translated "please," "now," or "indeed." It adds urgency, emphasis, and a sense of immediacy or entreaty to the preceding verb, signifying a swift and determined resolution to act without delay.
  • Significance: Her internal resolve is strong and immediate, highlighting the intensity of her concern.

• and go about (וַאֲסוֹבְבָה - va'asov'vehvah):

  • "And I will go around" or "I will circulate." It implies an active, pervasive, and diligent search rather than a passive waiting. It suggests a thorough movement through different areas.
  • Significance: Demonstrates active pursuit and persistence in her quest, leaving no stone unturned.

• the city (בָּעִיר - ba'iyr):

  • בָּ (ba): "In the."
  • עִיר ('iyr): "City," "town." The city symbolizes a populated, public sphere, but in this dream context, it becomes a canvas for her internal desperation.
  • Significance: Her search is not private but public, suggesting extreme anxiety that overrides cultural norms of female conduct at night. Spiritually, "the city" can represent the organized or institutional church, or even the world at large, where one might seek God.

• in the streets (בַּשְּׁוָקִים - bash'vaqim):

  • בַּ (ba): "In the."
  • שְּׁוָקִים (sh'vaqim): Plural of shuq, meaning "street," particularly a "market-place" or any public thoroughfare. These were typically narrow and bustling.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the public nature of her fervent search, reaching into every common and accessible area.

• and in the broad ways (וּבָרְחֹבוֹת - u'varekhovot):

  • וּבָ (u'va): "And in the."
  • רְחֹבוֹת (rekhovot): Plural of rechov, "broad way," "public square," "plaza." These were wider public spaces, assembly points, and more open areas.
  • Significance: Reinforces the exhaustive nature of her search, covering all types of public thoroughfares from narrow streets to wide plazas. This totality expresses the intensity of her dedication to finding her beloved.

• I will seek him (אֲבַקְשָׁה - avaqshah):

  • From baqash, "to seek," "to search for." This is a strong verb, often indicating a fervent and determined quest, sometimes even with prayer (e.g., seeking God).
  • Significance: Underscores the earnestness and deep intention behind her actions.

• whom my soul loveth (אֵת שֶׁאָהֲבָה נַפְשִׁי - et she'ahavah nafshi):

  • אָהֲבָה (ahavah): "Loved," "adored." Expresses deep affection.
  • נַפְשִׁי (nafshi): "My soul," "my being." In Hebrew thought, the nefesh represents the totality of the person's inner being, seat of emotions, will, and desires.
  • Significance: This phrase profoundly articulates the deep, inherent love she has. It's not just a superficial attachment but a love that permeates her very essence, making his absence agonizing.

• I sought him (בִּקַּשְׁתִּיו - biqashtiv):

  • Same root baqash as "I will seek," but in the past tense. This shows that her seeking had already begun and indicates that her prior active search, mentioned volitionally earlier in the verse, has already yielded no results. The suffix 'יו (tiv) denotes "him."
  • Significance: Highlights the persistence, showing the previous declaration of intent to seek has been carried out. It also introduces the crucial element of failure.

• but I found him not. (וְלֹא מְצָאתִיו - v'lo m'tzatviv):

  • וְלֹא (v'lo): "And not," "but not."
  • מְצָאתִיו (m'tzatviv): From matsa, "to find." Past tense, with 'יו (tiv) suffix "him."
  • Significance: This climactic phrase marks the initial disappointment and frustration of her fervent efforts. The "not" intensifies the sense of loss and unresolved yearning. It sets up the continued search.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "I will arise now, and go about the city": This phrase signals immediate, determined, and public action. It speaks of a desperate need that compels the Shulamite to forsake the comfort of her bed and typical feminine modesty in an urgent pursuit.
• "in the streets and in the broad ways": These signify the exhaustive and thorough nature of her search. No corner of the public sphere is left unexplored. It symbolizes leaving no stone unturned in the spiritual quest.
• "I will seek him whom my soul loveth": This declaration reveals the driving motivation: a profound, all-encompassing love residing at the very core of her being. This deep affection makes the beloved's absence intolerable and his presence absolutely essential.
• "I sought him, but I found him not.": This shift to the past tense and the stark conclusion "found him not" conveys a sense of disappointment and momentary defeat, emphasizing the real emotional struggle and the challenge inherent in the pursuit, especially in a spiritual sense where God may feel absent at times.

Song Of Solomon 3 2 Bonus section

The Shulamite's search in public places, traditionally not ideal for an unaccompanied woman, serves a crucial literary function in emphasizing her emotional extremity. This active "seeking" (root baqash) contrasts with passive waiting, signifying her deep love is not content with mere expectation but demands proactive engagement. The city, which earlier represented natural vitality and joy in the Song, now becomes a symbol of challenge and an indifferent stage for her personal quest. The absence of the beloved (often seen allegorically as Christ for the church) intensifies spiritual desire, echoing a common theme in devotional literature where a temporary withdrawal can be a test of faith or a means to deepen one's appreciation and earnestness for God's presence.

Song Of Solomon 3 2 Commentary

Song of Solomon 3:2 provides a poignant glimpse into the passionate, yet troubled, love of the Shulamite. This dream sequence externalizes her deepest anxieties regarding her beloved's absence. Her immediate decision to "arise now" signifies a compelling, inescapable urgency driven by a profound affection "whom my soul loveth." The comprehensive nature of her public search through "the city in the streets and in the broad ways" illustrates a love so intense that it transcends conventional boundaries and personal modesty, demonstrating an almost desperate vulnerability. The urban setting for her frantic search highlights its pervasiveness and public declaration, moving beyond the private chambers typically associated with love in that era. The abrupt conclusion, "I sought him, but I found him not," creates a tension that is central to the verse's power. It conveys the emotional distress and temporary failure despite sincere and diligent effort. The spiritual application of this verse often resonates with the seeker's journey for God or Christ—periods of earnest seeking, intense longing, and even moments of perceived divine absence or silence, which paradoxically deepen the yearning and drive further spiritual pursuit. It underscores that spiritual seeking is often an active, sometimes arduous, process before profound encounter or understanding.