They all handle the sword, and are expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh, because of fear in the night.
Parallel translations
- KJV They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.
- BSB All are skilled with the sword, experienced in warfare. Each has his sword at his side prepared for the terror of the night.
- NKJV They all hold swords, Being expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh Because of fear in the night.
- NASB “All of them are wielders of the sword, Expert in war; Each man has his sword at his side, Guarding against the terrors of the night.
- NLT They are all skilled swordsmen, experienced warriors. Each wears a sword on his thigh, ready to defend the king against an attack in the night.
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.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Ps 45:3Strap your sword on your thigh, mighty one: your splendor and your majesty.
- 1 Th 5:6–8so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober.
- Neh 4:21–22So we did the work. Half of the people held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared.
- Isa 27:3I, Yahweh, am its keeper. I will water it every moment. Lest anyone damage it, I will keep it night and day.
- Eph 6:16–18above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.
- Ps 91:5You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day;
- Ps 149:5–9Let the saints rejoice in honor. Let them sing for joy on their beds.
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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 3:8 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.