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Song of Songs 3:4-6
New Catholic Bible
Song of Songs 3:4-6
New Catholic Bible
4 I had hardly gone past them
when I found the one my heart loves.
I held him and would not let him go
until I had brought him to my mother’s house,[a]
to the very room where she had conceived me.
Bridegroom:
5 I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem,
by the gazelles and the wild does:
Do not stir up or awaken love
before its time has come.[b]
Solomon on the Day of His Wedding[c]
Companions:
6 What is this coming up from the desert
like a column of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and frankincense
and with all the fragrant spices of the merchant?
Footnotes
- Song of Songs 3:4 Mother’s house: mothers are referred to frequently in this Book, though fathers are completely ignored.
- Song of Songs 3:5 See note on Song 2:7.
- Song of Songs 3:6 A dream gives various forms to desire. Like a fairy tale, a love song takes delight in images of splendor. The bride sees the bridegroom come to her in the sumptuous garb of the most pompous of kings accompanied by heroes of his guard; he takes possession of his throne on the day of his espousals! For those in love, the betrothal surpasses all the splendors of the world.
Solomon, whose name signifies “peace,” is one of the figures of the Messiah. Thus, this scene may evoke also the triumphal appearance of a savior before the People of God to effect a definitive restoration for them. The Book of Revelation abounds with sumptuous images to announce the meeting of God and those who love him in the heavenly Jerusalem, that is to say, at the supreme fulfillment of all hopes.
