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Song of Solomon 8:3

Old Testament Poetry/Wisdom ASV (1901)

What does Song of Solomon 8:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “His left hand [should be] under my head, And his right hand should embrace me.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

His left hand [should be] under my head, And his right hand should embrace me.
Song of Solomon 8:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Song of Solomon 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Oh that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breasts of my mother! [When] I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; Yea, and none would despise me.
2I would lead thee, [and] bring thee into my mother`s house, Who would instruct me; I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate.
3His left hand [should be] under my head, And his right hand should embrace me.
4I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, That ye stir not up, nor awake [my] love, Until he please.
5Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple-tree I awakened thee: There thy mother was in travail with thee, There was she in travail that brought thee forth.
6Set me as a seal upon thy heart, As a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as Sheol; The flashes thereof are flashes of fire, A very flame of Jehovah.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“His left hand [should be] under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.] That is, when she should have the presence of Christ in her mother’s house. Or the words are a petition that so it might be, “let his left hand”, etc.f490; or a declaration of what she did enjoy, “his left hand is under my head”, etc.f491, (see Gill on “<220206>Song of Solomon 2:6”).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The bride now turns to and addresses the chorus as before (marginal reference). return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Sol 2:6; Deu 33:27; Isa 62:4, Isa 62:5; Co2 12:9 Song of Solomon (Canticles) 8:4”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Resigning herself now dreamily to the idea that Solomon is her brother, whom she may freely and openly kiss, and her teacher besides, with whom she may sit in confidential intercourse under her mother's eye, she feels herself as if closely embraced by him, and calls from a distance to the daughters of Jerusalem not to disturb this her happy enjoyment: 3 His left hand is under my head, And his right doth embrace me: 4 I adjure you, ye daughters of Jerusalem, That ye awake not and disturb not love Till she please! Instead of תּהת ל, "underneath," there is here, as usual, תּהת (cf. Sol 8:5). Instead of אם ... ואם in the adjuration, there is here the equivalent מה ... ומה; the interrogative מה,…”
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Related study paths

Read Song of Solomon 8 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification