Song of Solomon 3
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All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves; I looked for him but did not find him.
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I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but did not find him.
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The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. “Have you seen the one my heart loves?”
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Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go till I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the room of the one who conceived me.
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Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.
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Who is this coming up from the desert like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and incense made from all the spices of the merchant?
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Look! It is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty warriors, the noblest of Israel,
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all of them wearing the sword, all experienced in battle, each with his sword at his side, prepared for the terrors of the night.
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King Solomon made for himself the carriage; he made it of wood from Lebanon.
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Its posts he made of silver, its base of gold. Its seat was upholstered with purple, its interior lovingly inlaid by the daughters of Jerusalem.
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Come out, you daughters of Zion, and look at King Solomon wearing the crown, the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, the day his heart rejoiced.
Summary of Song of Solomon 3
- Popularity of “Song of Solomon 3”: “Song of Solomon 3” is the 3rd chapter in the book of Song of Solomon from the Old Testament, also known as Song of Songs. It is a lyrical poem attributed to King Solomon, which depicts the intense love and longing between a man and a woman. In this chapter, the woman searches for her beloved and ultimately finds him, leading to a celebration of their love. The popularity of “Song of Solomon 3” lies in its rich imagery and vivid descriptions of the passion and desire between two people. It has been interpreted in many ways, with some seeing it as an allegory for love between God and his people, while others see it as a celebration of physical love and the beauty of human relationships. Its enduring popularity is evidenced by its inclusion in religious and secular literature, as well as its influence on art and music throughout the centuries.
- “Song of Solomon 3” As a Representative of Memories: “Song of Solomon 3” is a representative of the biblical book of Song of Solomon, also known as Song of Songs. This chapter, like the book, is a powerful expression of the physical and emotional dimensions of love between a man and a woman. The song has been interpreted in various ways throughout history, with some seeing it as a metaphor for the love between God and his people, while others view it as an affirmation of human love and sexuality. “Song of Solomon 3” reflects this theme through its beautiful and evocative imagery, which portrays the deep longing and desire between two lovers. It emphasizes the importance of cherishing and valuing one’s partner, and celebrates the beauty of human relationships. As such, it has been a source of inspiration for countless artists and writers throughout the ages and continues to resonate with readers today.
- Major Themes in “Song of Solomon 3”: “Song of Solomon 3” is a rich song with several major themes that run throughout the text. The central themes are love, longing, and desire, as well as the search for identity and self-discovery. These themes are woven into the song, depicting a woman searching for her beloved and ultimately finding him. The theme of love is particularly prominent, as the poem is a celebration of the intense passion and devotion that exists between the two lovers. The woman expresses her love in vivid and passionate language, describing her longing for her beloved in terms of the beauty of the natural world, “I will search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but did not find him.” (3:2).
The theme of longing is also prominent, as the woman is consumed with desire for her lover and is busy in her relentless pursuit for him. Also, the theme of self-discovery is reflected in the woman’s search for her lover – a journey of self-discovery as she comes to understand the depths of her own feelings and desires. To put it concisely, “Song of Solomon 3” is a testament to the power of love and the beauty of human relationships, as well as the importance of self-discovery and the search for identity.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “Song of Solomon 3”
“Song of Solomon 3” displays various literary devices used to enhance the intended impact of this biblical song. Some of the major literary devices used in this song are as follows.
- Alliteration: It is the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of several words in close successions, such as the sound of /s/ in “streets and squares” (3:2).
- Apostrophe: It is a figure of speech in which the speaker addresses someone or something that is absent or unable to respond, such as “Daughters of Jerusalem” (3:5), where the speaker addresses the absent daughters of Jerusalem.
- Assonance: It is the repetition of vowel sounds, such as “I will get up now and go about the city” (3:2) shows th use of /o/ and /i/ sounds.
- Consonance: It is the repetition of consonant sounds in words occurring close to each other such as the line “Who is this coming up from the desert like a column of smoke” (3:6) shows the sound of /s/ and /k/.
- Imagery: It is the descriptive language that creates a vivid sensory experience for the reader, such as “I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field” (3:5), where the speaker uses the imagery of fields.
- Metaphor: It is a figure of speech that describes one thing in terms of another, such as “prepared for the terrors of night” (3:8) shows night compared to a battle.
- Personification: It is a figure of speech that gives human qualities to non-human things, such as “his heart rejoiced” (3: 12), where the speaker personifies the heart as if it has emotions.
- Simile: It is a figure of speech that compares two things using “like” or “as,” such as “Who is this coming up from the desert like a column of smoke” (3: 6), where the speaker uses a simile to describe the arrival of a person like that of smoke.
- Symbolism: It is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, such as the use of smoke, warriors, and carriage to show the situation of King Solomon.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Song of Solomon 3
Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is an analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.
- Diction: Diction refers to the author’s choice and use of words in the text. In “Song of Solomon 3,” the diction is rich and poetic, with elevated and grand phrases.
- End Rhyme: End rhyme is the repetition of the sound at the end of the lines of poetry. In “Song of Solomon 3,” there is no consistent end rhyme scheme.
- Meter: The meter is the rhythm of a poem, determined by the stressed and unstressed syllables in each line. “Song of Solomon 3” has no consistent meter.
- Tone: Tone refers to the author’s attitude or feeling toward the subject matter. In “Song of Solomon 3,” the tone is one of longing and desire as the speaker searches for her beloved.
Quotes to be Used
This quote can be used in a conversation with someone who is considering entering into a romantic relationship or pursuing a romantic interest. It can also be used as advice to someone who is struggling with unrequited love or feeling pressure to enter into a relationship.
Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. (3:5)
