Song of Songs 3:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

At night, I sought Him on my bed (Song of Songs 3:1). This reflects the women who arrived very early on the first day of the week to visit Jesus’ tomb (Luke 24:1) but did not find Him there. The mention of bed could also imply either a departure from comfort or signify the Lord’s grave, as we are buried alongside Him (see Romans 6:4). When she discovered the absence of the Lord, having learned of His resurrection (Matthew 28:6), she encountered her angelic guardians and inquired, "Where have you laid the Lord?" (John 20:15). Once they departed, she met Jesus, who greeted them with “Rejoice!” (Matthew 28:9). Thus, she states, “I had hardly left them when I found Him, and I would not let Him go” (Song of Songs 3:4). She embraced His feet, to which He replied, “Do not touch Me” (John 20:17). The reference to her mother’s house (Song 3:4) symbolizes the Church of the apostles, where she proclaimed the resurrection of Christ.

As a result, He rises once more and contemplates the spiritual and supreme essence, which He refers to as ‘the hail’. “Look,” she proclaims, “at the Begotten, the Lordships, and the Thrones established for the Lordships, this ‘festival’ of heaven (Heb. 12:23), which she designates as ‘the marketplace,’ this vast multitude represented by the term ‘stogne’; is there not among them one beloved?”

The heart is undoubtedly akin to the chertoge, which expands to accommodate the Divine presence when it reverts to the state it originally held at its creation in the womb (Song 3:4). Indeed, anyone who perceives the term mother (Song 3:4) as referring to the primary cause of our existence will not be mistaken.

Do not seek the bridegroom in the mountains or around the city's edges. If you declare, “I will rise and look for him in the city, in the marketplaces, and in the hills, for my soul yearns for him” (Song 3:2), and inquire, “Have you seen him whom my soul cherishes?”—then, no one will be able to provide a suitable answer. The bridegroom cannot be discovered amid the stacks. The path is narrow, leading to the depths (Matt. 8:14).

No celebration, no evening, and no moment throughout the day should be absent from devout worship, and if one does not find at once, persistence in seeking is essential. Thus, the soul declares, I will rise and search within the city, in its squares and streets. Perhaps until now it has not been discovered because it sought in the square, a place of disputes, and in the streets, where commerce thrives, for Christ cannot be purchased with earthly wealth. I will elevate my efforts, focusing my pursuit, and I will venture into the city. This is the soul that asserts, I am a fortified city, I am a city under siege (Isaiah 27:3). This city is secured by Christ; it represents the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb. 12:22; Rev. 3:12; Rev.

Since the divine essence of the Bridegroom is beyond the comprehension of even the holy angels, they remained silent in response to my inquiry, demonstrating that understanding the Uncreated One is beyond the capacity of all created beings. Leaving them behind, I set out to seek my Beloved. No sooner had I departed than I encountered Him whom my heart cherishes. I embraced Him and refused to let Him go (Song 3:4). Shortly thereafter, using only made things, I transcended both the intellect and the angelic realm to reach the incorporeal Beloved of my soul, for He is my benefactor.

What does this imagery of a bed or the nights represent in which the Church seeks her Beloved, if not the bed of her heart, the dwelling place of wisdom, where she diligently pursues her Lord and Redeemer? If this inner bed symbolizes the heart, what do the nights signify during which she searches for the Lord but is unable to locate Him? It suggests that the God of light is absent from the shadows of night.

In moments of stillness during our earthly existence, we yearn for our Beloved. In the shadows of night, we search for our Savior, for while our minds may be alert to Him, our eyes remain in darkness. For those who do not discover their Beloved, the journey continues; they must rise and traverse the city, symbolizing the holy Church, diligently seeking the chosen ones. We must explore the streets and squares, which signifies attentiveness to those who walk both the narrow and broad paths, hoping to uncover signs of Him. Even in the secular realm, there are individuals whose virtuous deeds are worthy of emulation.

At times, there are moments of divine silence, and those who earnestly seek Him may not find Him. As it is expressed: ‘I will arise... and search, ...and seek him whom my soul loveth: I will seek him, and find him not; I will call upon him, and hearken not unto me’ (Song 3:2). Yet, do not lose heart, O daughter of His grace. Instead, remain attentive, ‘hear,’ and consistently watch for the signs of His presence; ‘and thou shalt see’ - look for Him in all His ways, ‘that thou mayest seek Him when He is found, and call upon Him when He is near’ (Isaiah 55:6).

The beloved, upon hearing her beloved’s voice, extols his quickness, recounting how he arrived at her home. As he describes the beauty of spring in Palestine, he invites her to the mountain ravines and the vineyards, urging her to relish his presence and words. In response, she invites him to her, sharing her experiences of searching for him in the city's streets at night, questioning the city guards about his whereabouts, and ultimately finding him to bring him to her mother’s home. The beloved once again implores the friends of the bride not to disrupt her tranquility.