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.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
- 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 those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
- Song 8:2I would lead you, bringing you into my mother’s house, who would instruct me. I would have you drink spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate.
- Matt 7:7“Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.
- Song 6:12Without realizing it, my desire set me with my royal people’s chariots.
- Prov 4:13Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
- Jer 29:13You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.
- Isa 45:19I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I didn’t say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, Yahweh, speak righteousness. I declare things that are right.
- Isa 55:6–7Seek Yahweh while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.
- Lam 3:25Yahweh is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
- Rev 3:11–12I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown.
- Isa 49:14–18But Zion said, “Yahweh has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me.”
- Hos 12:3–4In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he contended with God.
- Isa 54:1–3“Sing, barren, you who didn’t give birth; break out into singing, and cry aloud, you who did not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife,” says Yahweh.
- John 20:16–17Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Teacher!”
- Matt 28:9As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
- Gen 32:26The man said, “Let me go, for the day breaks.” Jacob said, “I won’t let you go, unless you bless me.”
- Gal 4:26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
- Song 7:5Your head on you is like Carmel. The hair of your head like purple. The king is held captive in its tresses.
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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.