Song of Solomon 5:3
New International Version
I have taken off my robe— must I put it on again? I have washed my feet— must I soil them again?

New Living Translation
But I responded, “I have taken off my robe. Should I get dressed again? I have washed my feet. Should I get them soiled?”

English Standard Version
I had put off my garment; how could I put it on? I had bathed my feet; how could I soil them?

Berean Standard Bible
I have taken off my robe—must I put it back on? I have washed my feet—must I soil them again?

King James Bible
I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

New King James Version
I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?

New American Standard Bible
“I have taken off my dress, How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet, How can I dirty them again?

NASB 1995
“I have taken off my dress, How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet, How can I dirty them again?

NASB 1977
“I have taken off my dress, How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet, How can I dirty them again?

Legacy Standard Bible
I have taken off my long-sleeved garment, How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet, How can I dirty them again?

Amplified Bible
“I had taken off my dress, How can I put it on again? I had washed my feet, How could I get them dirty again?

Christian Standard Bible
I have taken off my clothing. How can I put it back on? I have washed my feet. How can I get them dirty?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I have taken off my clothing. How can I put it back on? I have washed my feet. How can I get them dirty?

American Standard Version
I have put off my garment; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

Contemporary English Version
But I had already undressed and bathed my feet. Should I dress again and get my feet dirty?

English Revised Version
I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I have taken off my clothes! Why should I put them on [again]? I have washed my feet! Why should I get them dirty [again]?

Good News Translation
I have already undressed; why should I get dressed again? I have washed my feet; why should I get them dirty again?

International Standard Version
"I've taken off my clothes — am I supposed to put them on again? I've washed my feet— am I supposed to get them dirty again?"

Majority Standard Bible
I have taken off my robe?must I put it back on? I have washed my feet?must I soil them again?

NET Bible
"I have already taken off my robe--must I put it on again? I have already washed my feet--must I soil them again?"

New Heart English Bible
I have taken off my robe. Indeed, must I put it on? I have washed my feet. Indeed, must I soil them?

Webster's Bible Translation
I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

World English Bible
I have taken off my robe. Indeed, must I put it on? I have washed my feet. Indeed, must I soil them?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I have put off my coat, how do I put it on? I have washed my feet, how do I defile them?

Young's Literal Translation
I have put off my coat, how do I put it on? I have washed my feet, how do I defile them?

Smith's Literal Translation
I put off my tunic, and how shall I put it on? I washed my feet; how shall I defile them?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I have put off my garment, how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Bride: I have taken off my tunic; how shall I be clothed in it? I have washed my feet; how shall I spoil them?

New American Bible
I have taken off my robe, am I then to put it on? I have bathed my feet, am I then to soil them?

New Revised Standard Version
I had put off my garment; how could I put it on again? I had bathed my feet; how could I soil them?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I took off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I get them dirty?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I have put off my coat; How shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; How shall I defile them?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Bride and Her Beloved
2I sleep, but my heart is awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.” 3I have taken off my robe— must I put it back on? I have washed my feet— must I soil them again? 4My beloved put his hand to the latch; my heart pounded for him.…

Cross References
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

Matthew 25:10-12
But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. / Later the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’ / But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’

Luke 11:7
And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’

James 4:8
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Isaiah 55:6
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.

Proverbs 1:24-28
Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand, / because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction, / in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you, ...

Matthew 25:1-13
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. / Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. / The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. ...

Luke 13:25
After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’

Isaiah 50:5
The Lord GOD has opened My ears, and I have not been rebellious, nor have I turned back.

2 Corinthians 6:17
“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

John 13:8
“Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”

Psalm 73:13
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.

Isaiah 64:6
Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

Ezekiel 36:25
I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.


Treasury of Scripture

I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

have put

Proverbs 3:28
Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

Proverbs 13:4
The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Proverbs 22:13
The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

I have washed

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Song of Solomon 5
1. Christ awakes the church with his calling
2. The church having a taste of Christ's love is sick of love
9. A description of Christ by his graces














I have taken off my robe
The Hebrew word for "robe" here is "kuttōnet," which refers to a garment or tunic. In the context of ancient Israel, the robe was a significant piece of clothing, often symbolizing one's status or role. Spiritually, the act of taking off the robe can symbolize vulnerability and intimacy. In the context of the Song of Solomon, which is a poetic dialogue of love, this phrase suggests a state of readiness for rest or intimacy, having shed the outer layers that one presents to the world. It reflects a moment of personal vulnerability and openness, which is essential in a loving relationship.

must I put it back on?
This rhetorical question highlights a reluctance to return to a previous state of preparedness or formality. In the Hebrew culture, putting on a robe again after having removed it for rest or intimacy would be seen as an interruption. Spiritually, this can be interpreted as a reluctance to return to a state of spiritual or emotional distance after having experienced closeness. It speaks to the desire for uninterrupted communion and the reluctance to re-adopt barriers once they have been lowered.

I have washed my feet
Washing feet in ancient times was a common practice before entering a home or resting, symbolizing cleanliness and preparation. The Hebrew word "rāḥaṣ" means to wash or bathe. In a spiritual sense, washing feet can symbolize purification and readiness to enter into a holy or intimate space. In the context of the Song of Solomon, it suggests a readiness for rest and intimacy, having cleansed oneself of the day's impurities. This act of washing is a metaphor for spiritual cleansing and preparation for a deeper relationship.

must I soil them again?
This phrase expresses a reluctance to undo the state of cleanliness and readiness that has been achieved. The Hebrew word "ṭāmē'" means to defile or make unclean. In a spiritual context, this can be seen as a desire to maintain purity and not return to a state of impurity or distraction. It reflects the tension between the desire for uninterrupted intimacy and the demands of the outside world. This rhetorical question underscores the longing for sustained closeness and the avoidance of anything that might disrupt that state.

(3) Coat.--Heb. cutoneth=cetoneth; Gr. ?????, tunic.

Verse 3. - I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? Evidently the meaning is, "I have retired to rest; do not disturb me." She is lying in bed. The cuttoneth, or χτιών, was the linen garment worn next the body - from cathan, "linen." The Arabic kutun is "cotton;" hence the French coton, "calico, or cotton" shift. Shulamith represents herself as failing in love, not meeting the condescension and affection of her lover as she should. Sloth, reluctance, ease, keep her back. "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion!" The scene is, of course, only ideally true; it is not meant to be a description of an actual occurrence. Fancy in dreams stirs up the real nature, though it also disturbs it. Shulamith has forsaken her first love. She relates it with sorrow, but not with despondency. She comes to herself again, and her repentance and restoration are the occasion for pouring out the fulness of her affection, which had never really changed, though it has been checked and restrained by self-indulgence. How true a picture both of the individual soul and of the Church in its decline! "Leave me to myself; let me lie at ease in my luxury and my smooth, conventional ways and self-flattering deceit."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I have taken off
פָּשַׁ֙טְתִּי֙ (pā·šaṭ·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6584: To strip off, make a dash, raid

my robe—
כֻּתָּנְתִּ֔י (kut·tā·nə·tî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3801: A shirt

must I
אֵיכָ֖כָה (’ê·ḵā·ḵāh)
Interjection
Strong's 349: How?, how!, where

put it back on?
אֶלְבָּשֶׁ֑נָּה (’el·bā·šen·nāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3847: Wrap around, to put on a, garment, clothe

I have washed
רָחַ֥צְתִּי (rā·ḥaṣ·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7364: To wash, wash off or away, bathe

my feet—
רַגְלַ֖י (raḡ·lay)
Noun - fdc | first person common singular
Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda

must I
אֵיכָ֥כָה (’ê·ḵā·ḵāh)
Interjection
Strong's 349: How?, how!, where

soil them again?
אֲטַנְּפֵֽם׃ (’ă·ṭan·nə·p̄êm)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2936: To soil, defile


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OT Poetry: Song of Solomon 5:3 I have taken off my robe (Song Songs SS So Can)
Song of Solomon 5:2
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