It 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.
Parallel translations
- WEB I had scarcely passed from them, when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, into the room of her who conceived me.
- BSB I had just passed them when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let go until I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the chamber of the one who conceived me.
- NKJV Scarcely had I passed by them, When I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, Until I had brought him to the house of my mother, And into the chamber of her who conceived me.
- NASB “Hardly had I left them When I found him whom my soul loves; I held on to him and would not let him go Until I had brought him to my mother’s house, And into the room of her who conceived me.”
- NLT Then scarcely had I left them when I found my love! I caught and held him tightly, then I brought him to my mother’s house, into my mother’s bed, where I had been conceived.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Soon after, she finds her beloved and holds him fast, bringing him home. It expresses the joy of reunion and the resolve not to lose him again.
Overview
Just past the watchmen she finds the one her soul loves, clings to him, and leads him to her mother's house. The relief and tenacity of reunion are vivid. Believers have applied this to the joy of finding the Lord after seeking and the resolve to hold fast to Him and not let go (Phil. 3:12; Heb. 10:23).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Prov 8:17I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
- Song 8:2I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother’s house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.
- Matt 7:7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
- Song 6:12Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib.
- Prov 4:13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
- Jer 29:13And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
- Isa 45:19I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
- Isa 55:6–7Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
- Lam 3:25The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
- Rev 3:11–12Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
- Isa 49:14–18But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
- Hos 12:3–4He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
- Isa 54:1–3Sing, 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 the LORD.
- John 20:16–17Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
- Matt 28:9And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
- Gen 32:26And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
- Gal 4:26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
- Song 7:5Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries.
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The poetry of covenant love between bride and bridegroom pictures, at its highest, the love of Christ for his church — the Bridegroom who gave himself for his bride.
How Song of Songs 3:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.