Song Of Solomon 5:3 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Song Of Solomon 5:3 kjv
I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?
Song Of Solomon 5:3 nkjv
I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?
Song Of Solomon 5:3 niv
I have taken off my robe? must I put it on again? I have washed my feet? must I soil them again?
Song Of Solomon 5:3 esv
I had put off my garment; how could I put it on? I had bathed my feet; how could I soil them?
Song Of Solomon 5:3 nlt
But I responded,
"I have taken off my robe.
Should I get dressed again?
I have washed my feet.
Should I get them soiled?"
Song Of Solomon 5 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 26:41 | "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." | Human weakness and resistance to God's call. |
| Luke 14:18-20 | "I have bought a field... I have bought five yoke of oxen... I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come." | Excuses for not responding to an invitation/call. |
| John 13:10 | "The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean..." | Daily cleansing, preparedness for rest/communion. |
| Heb 10:22 | "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." | Spiritual readiness through cleansing and faith. |
| Eph 4:22 | "to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires..." | Spiritual "undressing" from sinful practices. |
| Col 3:8 | "But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk from your mouth." | Removing sinful practices. |
| Col 3:12 | "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience..." | Spiritual "dressing" in righteousness and virtues. |
| Zech 3:3-4 | "Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments... 'Remove the filthy garments from him.'" | Removing sin's defilement, spiritual clothing. |
| Isa 61:10 | "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD... for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness..." | Divine provision of righteous garments. |
| Rev 3:18 | "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire... and white garments so that you may clothe yourself..." | Exhortation to receive righteous clothing from Christ. |
| Rom 7:18 | "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out." | Struggle between good intentions and actualization. |
| Jas 1:27 | "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." | Avoiding spiritual defilement from worldly influences. |
| 2 Cor 7:1 | "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." | Pursuing complete purity and holiness. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" | Command to holiness, avoidance of defilement. |
| Ps 26:6 | "I wash my hands in innocence and go about your altar, O LORD." | Act of purification before worship/encounter. |
| Exod 30:19-20 | "Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in it... when they come near to the altar to minister." | Priestly purification before service to God. |
| Gen 18:4 | "Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree..." | Ancient hospitality, signifies entering comfort/rest. |
| Rev 3:20 | "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." | The divine suitor calling, a direct call to respond. |
| Song 2:10 | "My beloved speaks and says to me: ‘Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.'" | The lover's tender and urgent invitation. |
| John 14:23 | "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." | Love demonstrated by obedience and responsiveness. |
| 1 John 5:3 | "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." | Link between love and obedience to divine calls. |
| Prov 24:33-34 | "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man." | Warning against complacency and inaction. |
Song Of Solomon 5 verses
Song Of Solomon 5 3 meaning
The verse depicts the Beloved's initial hesitation to respond to her lover's nocturnal summons. She cites her state of undress and cleanliness – having already removed her outer garments and washed her feet, ready for bed. Her rhetorical questions, "How can I put it on?" and "How can I defile them?" convey her reluctance to disrupt her comfortable and prepared state for rest, highlighting a universal human tendency to prioritize ease over immediate responsiveness, even to a desired call.
Song Of Solomon 5 3 Context
Song of Solomon chapter 5 begins after a brief pause (v. 1) where the Beloved and her lover are encouraged to fully enjoy their love. This verse (5:3) initiates a vivid dream sequence (vv. 2-8) from the Beloved's perspective. In her dream, her lover calls to her at night from outside, urging her to open the door. Her reply reveals her hesitation, prioritizing her comfort after having prepared for bed. She has removed her tunic and washed her feet, acts customary for preparing for sleep in ancient Israel. These actions symbolize a state of rest and cleanliness. Her rhetorical questions underscore her reluctance to disrupt this peaceful state, creating a dramatic tension between her personal comfort and her yearning for her beloved. The historical context reflects a time where foot washing was essential due to dusty roads, and simple homes featured doors that needed to be unbarred or unlocked, making late-night interactions somewhat inconvenient to her prepared state.
Song Of Solomon 5 3 Word analysis
I have put off (Heb. pāšaṭtî, פָּשַׁ֙טְתִּי֙): This verb indicates a completed action of stripping off or taking off, often suggesting readiness for a state of rest or a shift in activity. In context, it points to her being settled for the night.
my garment (Heb. kuttāntî, כֻּתָּנְתִּי): Refers to the kuttōnet, an inner tunic or undergarment worn next to the skin, which was often taken off for sleep or in the privacy of one's home. Its removal signifies a move toward intimate comfort and vulnerability within her personal space.
how can I put it on? (Heb. ʾêḵ ʾelbašénhā, אֵיךְ אֶלְבָּשֶׁ֙נָּה֙): A rhetorical question expressing reluctance, inconvenience, and the disruption of her current state of relaxation. It highlights a common human tendency to avoid reversing a comfortable situation.
I have washed my feet (Heb. rāḥaṣtî raḡlay, רָחַ֣צְתִּי רַגְלַ֗י): Another completed action of personal hygiene, essential in a dusty climate. This act signifies the end of the day's journey, preparedness for rest, and a state of ritual cleanliness. It reinforces her deep relaxation and purity for sleep.
how can I defile them? (Heb. ʾêḵāḵā ʾaṭanpé̄m, אֵיכָ֤כָה אֲטַנְּפֵם֙): An even stronger rhetorical question, using the verb ṭanēf (טנף), meaning to soil, pollute, or defile. This emphasizes her unwillingness to negate her effort towards cleanliness and comfort by re-exposing her feet to the dust and dirt outside.
"I have put off my garment; how can I put it on?": This phrase underscores the Beloved's desire for present comfort. It reflects the mental and physical inertia of moving from a state of undress and ease back to formal readiness, highlighting an initial resistance to inconvenience.
"I have washed my feet; how can I defile them?": This further strengthens her plea for ease, focusing on the established purity and cleanliness. It communicates a deeper reluctance to sacrifice her personal comfort and a sense of having "prepared" for the night, implying a perceived loss of investment or effort. Together, these two parallel statements paint a picture of inner conflict between personal ease and a beloved's urgent call.
Song Of Solomon 5 3 Bonus section
The detailed depiction of the Beloved's actions (taking off her garment, washing her feet) adds to the intimacy and realism of the scene, whether it's a dream or literal. This is not just a general reluctance, but one rooted in very specific, understandable actions that would make going outside troublesome. The literary device of "rhetorical questions" here ("how can I?") serves not just to state reluctance, but to seek empathy or justification for her comfortable inaction. From a theological perspective, some interpret this passage as the church's sometimes delayed or hesitant response to Christ's knocking (Rev 3:20), indicating moments of spiritual lethargy. The urgency and potential for loss that follows in the narrative emphasizes the value of immediate and wholehearted responsiveness to God's leading, illustrating that the comforts of our present state should not hinder our answer to divine love.
Song Of Solomon 5 3 Commentary
Song of Solomon 5:3 masterfully captures a moment of universal human hesitation: the struggle between comfort and a beloved's demanding call. The Beloved's detailed reasons—being undressed and having washed her feet—are not excuses stemming from lack of love, but genuine discomfort at disrupting her restful, prepared state. Spiritually, this passage often serves as a powerful mirror for believers. It speaks to the human propensity for spiritual inertia, a reluctance to rise from the "bed" of comfort, apathy, or complacency when the Lord, our divine Beloved, calls us to action, deeper communion, or service. Though our hearts may desire Him, the "flesh is weak" (Matt 26:41), prone to prioritize immediate ease over responsive devotion. This verse sets the stage for a critical spiritual lesson: delaying our response to God's summons can lead to missed opportunities, as the Beloved soon discovers her lover is gone, prompting a frantic search fueled by regret.
- Example 1: When called to volunteer for a church activity after a long week, and initially feeling too tired, only to regret not participating later.
- Example 2: Postponing daily devotional time for comfort or entertainment, thereby missing an opportunity for communion with God.