Song of Solomon 5:3 Meaning and Explanation
“I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The beloved hesitates to rise, using domestic comfort as excuse for delay.
The Context of Song of Solomon 5:3
The beloved considers whether to answer the call.
What Does Song of Solomon 5:3 Mean?
She speaks the practical obstacles: she has undressed for sleep and washed her feet—the evening preparations are complete. Rising requires undoing that comfort, a small death of ease and readiness, which she resists.
Yet beneath practicality lies reluctance or test: she is making the beloved wait, perhaps to prove his commitment or to examine her own feelings. This moment captures the internal conflict of desire meeting hesitation.
Song of Solomon 5:3 in the Original Language
defile (טמא, tama) — literally to make unclean, ritually or physically; here she means disrupting the cleanliness she has just established.
Frequently Asked Questions About Song of Solomon 5:3
What does Song of Solomon 5:3 mean?
The beloved hesitates to rise, using domestic comfort as excuse for delay.
What is the context of Song of Solomon 5:3?
The beloved considers whether to answer the call.