Song of Solomon 3:8
6 Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from all the spices of the merchant?
7 Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty of the mightiest men of Israel.
All are skilled with the sword, experienced in warfare. Each has his sword at his side prepared for the terror of the night.
9 King Solomon has made his carriage out of the timber of Lebanon.
10 He has made its posts of silver, its base of gold, its seat of purple fabric. Its interior is inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- All are skilled with the sword, experienced in warfare. Each has his sword at his side prepared for the terror of the night.
- KJV
- They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.
- WEB
- They all handle the sword, and are expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh, because of fear in the night.
- ASV
- They all handle the sword, [and] are expert in war: Every man hath his sword upon his thigh, Because of fear in the night.
- DARBY
- They all hold the sword, Experts in war; Each hath his sword upon his thigh Because of alarm in the nights.
- BLB
- All of them are grasping a sword, studied in warfare; each man [has] his sword upon his thigh, against the dread in the nights.
- ÅB
- alle væbnet med sverd, oppøvet i krig, hver med sverdet ved lend til vern mot nattens farer.
- OTB
- Alle er de sverdbevæpnede, Eksperter i krig; Hver har sitt sverd ved sin side, Vakt mot nattens redsler.
- B1930
- alle væbnet med sverd, opøvet i krig, hver med sverdet ved lend til vern mot nattens farer.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 45:3
Strap your sword at your side, O mighty warrior; appear in your majesty and splendor.
Read in contextEphesians 6:16–18
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Read in contextPsalms 149:5–9
Let the saints exult in glory; let them shout for joy upon their beds.
Read in contextIsaiah 27:3
I, the LORD, am its keeper; I water it continually. I guard it night and day so no one can disturb it;
Read in contextNehemiah 4:21–22
So we continued the work, while half of the men held spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out.
Read in context1 Thessalonians 5:6–8
So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.
Read in contextPsalms 91:5
You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
Read in context