I have taken off my robe—must I put it back on? I have washed my feet—must I soil them again?
Parallel translations
- WEB I have taken off my robe. Indeed, must I put it on? I have washed my feet. Indeed, must I soil them?
- KJV I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?
- NKJV I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?
- NASB “I have taken off my dress, How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet, How can I dirty them again?
- 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?”
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
She hesitates, reluctant to rise and answer because of minor inconvenience. It pictures sluggishness that misses the moment.
Overview
Having undressed and washed, she makes excuses rather than rise to open the door. The small reluctance reveals how complacency can dull love's eagerness. The verse cautions believers against spiritual sloth that delays answering the Lord's call and so loses the blessing of His nearness (Prov. 19:15; Heb. 3:7-8).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Luke 11:7And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’
- Prov 3:28Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”—when you already have the means.
- Prov 13:4The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
- Prov 22:13The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
- Rom 7:22–23For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.
- Matt 25:5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
- Matt 26:38–43Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”
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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 5:3 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.