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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Song of Solomon 3:3 I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city: "Have you seen the one I love?"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/songs/3-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/22_Sng_03_03.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Song of Solomon 3:3 - The Bride's Dream" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city: Have you seen the one I love?" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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<i>I said,</i> “Have you seen the one I love?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/songs/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, <i>And I said,</i> ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/songs/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, And I said, &#8216Have you seen him whom my soul loves?&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/songs/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, <i>And I said,</i> ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/songs/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />The watchmen who go about the city found me, <i>And I said</i>, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/songs/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“The watchmen who go around the city found me, <i>And I said</i>, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/songs/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The guards who go about the city found me. I asked them, “Have you seen the one I love? ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/songs/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The guards who go about the city found me. I asked them, &#8220Have you seen the one I love?&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/songs/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />The watchmen that go about the city found me; To whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/songs/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />I even asked the guards patrolling the town, "Have you seen the one I love so much?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/songs/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/songs/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The watchmen making their rounds in the city found me. [I asked,] "Have you seen the one I love?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/songs/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The sentries patrolling the city saw me. I asked them, "Have you found my lover?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/songs/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The watchmen who go all around the city found me. I asked, "Have you seen the one I love?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/songs/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city: ?Have you seen the one I love??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/songs/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The night watchmen found me--the ones who guard the city walls. "Have you seen my beloved?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/songs/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The watchmen who go about the city found me; "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/songs/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/songs/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The watchmen who go about the city found me; “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/songs/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />The watchmen have found me "" (Who are going around the city), "" “Have you seen him whom my soul has loved?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/songs/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> The watchmen have found me, (Who are going round about the city), 'Him whom my soul have loved saw ye?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/songs/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />They watching going about in the city, found me: Saw ye him that my soul loved?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/songs/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />The watchmen who keep the city, found me: Have you seen him, whom my soul loveth? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/songs/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><font color=#0000CC>The watchers who guard the city found me: “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”</font><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/songs/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The watchmen found me, as they made their rounds in the city: “Him whom my soul loves—have you seen him?” <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/songs/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The sentinels found me, as they went about in the city. “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/songs/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />The watchmen that go about the city found me; I asked them, Have you seen him whom my soul loves?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/songs/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The guards found me who walk around in the city: "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?"<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/songs/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />The watchmen that go about the city found me: 'Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/songs/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />The watchmen who go their rounds in the city found me. <i>I said</i>, Have ye seen him whom my soul loves?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/songs/3-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9D_QEk8ZdxU?start=355" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/songs/3.htm">The Bride's Dream</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">2</span>I will arise now and go about the city, through the streets and squares. I will seek the one I love. So I sought him but did not find him. <span class="reftext">3</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4672.htm" title="4672: mə·ṣā·’ū·nî (V-Qal-Perf-3cp:: 1cs) -- To attain to, find. ">I encountered</a> <a href="/hebrew/8104.htm" title="8104: haš·šō·mə·rîm (Art:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To keep, watch, preserve. A primitive root; properly, to hedge about, i.e. Guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.">the watchmen</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’êṯ (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5437.htm" title="5437: has·sō·ḇə·ḇîm (Art:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- A primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively.">on their rounds</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: bā·‘îr (Prep-b, Art:: N-fs) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">of the city:</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: rə·’î·ṯem (V-Qal-Perf-2mp) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">“Have you seen the one</a> <a href="/hebrew/5315.htm" title="5315: nap̄·šî (N-fsc:: 1cs) -- From naphash; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. Animal of vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense.">I</a> <a href="/hebrew/157.htm" title="157: še·’ā·hă·ḇāh (Pro-r:: V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- To love. Or raheb; a primitive root; to have affection for.">love?”</a> </span><span class="reftext">4</span>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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/62-6.htm">Isaiah 62:6</a></span><br />On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD shall take no rest for yourselves,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/127-1.htm">Psalm 127:1</a></span><br />A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/21-11.htm">Isaiah 21:11-12</a></span><br />This is the burden against Dumah: One calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?” / The watchman replies, “Morning has come, but also the night. If you would inquire, then inquire. Come back yet again.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/3-17.htm">Ezekiel 3:17</a></span><br />“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/6-17.htm">Jeremiah 6:17</a></span><br />I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’ But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/52-8.htm">Isaiah 52:8</a></span><br />Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, together they shout for joy. For every eye will see when the LORD returns to Zion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_thessalonians/5-6.htm">1 Thessalonians 5:6</a></span><br />So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/13-17.htm">Hebrews 13:17</a></span><br />Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/20-28.htm">Acts 20:28</a></span><br />Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/5-2.htm">1 Peter 5:2-3</a></span><br />Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; / not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-42.htm">Matthew 24:42-43</a></span><br />Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. / But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/13-34.htm">Mark 13:34-37</a></span><br />It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch. / Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. / Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/12-35.htm">Luke 12:35-38</a></span><br />Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning. / Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. / Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/10-3.htm">John 10:3-4</a></span><br />The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. / When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/10-27.htm">John 10:27</a></span><br />My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw you him whom my soul loves?</p><p class="hdg">watchmen</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/songs/5-7.htm">Song of Solomon 5:7</a></b></br> The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/21-6.htm">Isaiah 21:6-8,11,12</a></b></br> For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/56-10.htm">Isaiah 56:10</a></b></br> His watchmen <i>are</i> blind: they are all ignorant, they <i>are</i> all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.</p><p class="hdg">saw</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/20-15.htm">John 20:15</a></b></br> Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/songs/3-2.htm">City</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/12-5.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/songs/3-2.htm">Found</a> <a href="/songs/3-2.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/proverbs/6-25.htm">Heart's</a> <a href="/songs/3-2.htm">Loved</a> <a href="/songs/3-2.htm">Loves</a> <a href="/songs/3-2.htm">Round</a> <a href="/songs/5-7.htm">Rounds</a> <a href="/songs/3-2.htm">Soul</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/12-3.htm">Watchmen</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/songs/5-7.htm">City</a> <a href="/songs/6-12.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/songs/3-4.htm">Found</a> <a href="/songs/3-4.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/jeremiah/12-3.htm">Heart's</a> <a href="/songs/5-4.htm">Loved</a> <a href="/songs/3-4.htm">Loves</a> <a href="/songs/4-4.htm">Round</a> <a href="/songs/5-7.htm">Rounds</a> <a href="/songs/3-4.htm">Soul</a> <a href="/songs/5-7.htm">Watchmen</a><div class="vheading2">Song of Solomon 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/songs/3-1.htm">the church's fight and victory in temptation</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/songs/3-6.htm">The church glories in Christ</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/songs/3.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/songs/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/songs/3.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city:</b><br>In ancient cities, watchmen were responsible for maintaining order and security, often patrolling the city walls and streets. This imagery reflects a sense of vigilance and protection. The presence of watchmen suggests a setting within a walled city, likely Jerusalem, which was known for its fortified walls. Theologically, watchmen can symbolize spiritual leaders or prophets who are tasked with guiding and protecting the people (<a href="/ezekiel/3-17.htm">Ezekiel 3:17</a>). The encounter with the watchmen may also represent a search for guidance or wisdom, as the watchmen are figures of authority and knowledge.<p><b>“Have you seen the one I love?”</b><br>This phrase expresses a deep longing and desire for the beloved, a central theme in the Song of Solomon. The search for the beloved can be seen as a metaphor for the soul's search for God or Christ, reflecting the intimate relationship between the divine and the believer. The question posed to the watchmen indicates a sense of urgency and desperation, highlighting the intensity of the speaker's love. In a broader biblical context, this longing can be compared to the yearning for God seen in Psalms, such as <a href="/psalms/42.htm">Psalm 42:1</a>, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God." The beloved in this context can also be seen as a type of Christ, the ultimate object of love and devotion for the believer.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_watchmen.htm">The Watchmen</a></b><br>These are the guards or sentinels who patrol the city, ensuring its safety. In the context of the Song of Solomon, they represent authority and order within the city.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_city.htm">The City</a></b><br>This is the setting where the search takes place. It symbolizes a place of community and structure, possibly representing the world or society in which the search for love and meaning occurs.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_beloved.htm">The Beloved</a></b><br>The one whom the speaker's soul loves. This person is the object of the speaker's deep affection and longing, symbolizing the ultimate fulfillment of love and desire.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_community_in_our_search_for_love.htm">The Role of Community in Our Search for Love</a></b><br>The presence of the watchmen suggests that our search for love and fulfillment often occurs within the context of community. We are not alone in our journey, and others can provide guidance and support.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_deep_longing_of_the_soul.htm">The Deep Longing of the Soul</a></b><br>The phrase "the one my soul loves" indicates a profound, soul-deep longing that goes beyond superficial desires. This reflects our innate desire for deep, meaningful relationships, ultimately pointing to our longing for God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/persistence_in_seeking.htm">Persistence in Seeking</a></b><br>The speaker's active search and inquiry demonstrate the importance of persistence in seeking what is truly valuable. This can be applied to our spiritual lives as we seek a deeper relationship with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_asking_for_guidance.htm">The Importance of Asking for Guidance</a></b><br>The speaker's question to the watchmen highlights the importance of seeking guidance and wisdom from others, especially those who are in positions of authority or have experience.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_song_of_solomon_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Song of Solomon 3</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_no_historical_proof_of_solomon's_role.htm">If the author truly was King Solomon, why is there no explicit historical record or external verification of these events beyond the text (Song of Solomon 3)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_song_4_fit_solomon's_many_wives.htm">If historically attributed to King Solomon, how does Song of Solomon 4 mesh with the accounts of his many wives and concubines in other biblical texts (e.g., 1 Kings 11:3)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_60_queens_fit_solomon's_700_wives.htm">(Song of Solomon 6:8) How can sixty queens and eighty concubines align with Solomon's reputed 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_song_7_3_align_with_biblical_modesty.htm">Song of Solomon 7:3 - How does comparing breasts to young deer align with or contradict other biblical teachings on modesty and propriety?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/songs/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) <span class= "bld">The watchmen that go about the city</span>.--"Henceforward until morning the streets are deserted and silent, with only here and there a company returning from a visit, with a servant bearing a lantern before them. The city-guard creeps softly about in utter darkness, and apprehends all found walking in the streets without a light" (Thomson, <span class= "ital">Land and Book, </span>p. 32--in description of Beir-t).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/songs/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The watchmen that go about the city found me:</span> (to whom I said) <span class="cmt_word">Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?</span> The simplicity of these words is very striking. They confirm the view that the bride is recalling what occurred in her country life. The watchmen make no reply, and do not treat her ill, as in the dream related in <a href="/songs/5-7.htm">Song of Solomon 5:7</a>, where they are keepers of the walls, and smite her and wound her. In a small country town she might have been recognized, or known to be really in trouble. But such incidents must not be pressed too much in a poem. The allegorical view finds considerable support in the fact that it is difficult on any hypothesis exactly to explain the language as descriptive of real occurrences. In such instances as <a href="/psalms/127-1.htm">Psalm 127:1</a> and <a href="/isaiah/52-8.htm">Isaiah 52:8</a> the reference to watchmen in the city shows that such a metaphor would be familiarly understood. Whether adopted from Solomon's Song or not, the figure of a city watched and guarded, and the people of God as watching for the glory of Zion, was common in the prophetic writings. The soul seeking for its object and for the restoration of its peace calls in the aid of the faithful guardians of the holy city, the friends alike of the Saviour and of those who desire to be his. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/songs/3-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">I encountered</span><br /><span class="heb">מְצָא֙וּנִי֙</span> <span class="translit">(mə·ṣā·’ū·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4672.htm">Strong's 4672: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the watchmen</span><br /><span class="heb">הַשֹּׁ֣מְרִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(haš·šō·mə·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8104.htm">Strong's 8104: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on their rounds</span><br /><span class="heb">הַסֹּבְבִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(has·sō·ḇə·ḇîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5437.htm">Strong's 5437: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn about, go around, surround</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the city:</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּעִ֑יר</span> <span class="translit">(bā·‘îr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> </span><span class="str2">Excitement</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Have you seen [the one]</span><br /><span class="heb">רְאִיתֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(rə·’î·ṯem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I</span><br /><span class="heb">נַפְשִׁ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(nap̄·šî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5315.htm">Strong's 5315: </a> </span><span class="str2">A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion </span><br /><br /><span class="word">love?”</span><br /><span class="heb">שֶׁאָהֲבָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(še·’ā·hă·ḇāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_157.htm">Strong's 157: </a> </span><span class="str2">To have affection f</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/songs/3-3.htm">Song of Solomon 3:3 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/songs/3-3.htm">Song of Solomon 3:3 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/songs/3-3.htm">Song of Solomon 3:3 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/songs/3-3.htm">Song of Solomon 3:3 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/songs/3-3.htm">Song of Solomon 3:3 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/songs/3-3.htm">Song of Solomon 3:3 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/songs/3-3.htm">Song of Solomon 3:3 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/songs/3-3.htm">Song of Solomon 3:3 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/songs/3-3.htm">Song of Solomon 3:3 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/songs/3-3.htm">Song of Solomon 3:3 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/songs/3-3.htm">OT Poetry: Song of Solomon 3:3 The watchmen who go about the city (Song Songs SS So Can)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/songs/3-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Song of Solomon 3:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Song of Solomon 3:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/songs/3-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Song of Solomon 3:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Song of Solomon 3:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>