Song of Solomon 3:8
"They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

They all hold swords,.... Or a "sword" (r); the word is singular, which designs the word of God, called the sword of the Spirit, and said to be sharper than a twoedged sword, Eph 6:17 , Heb 4:12 ; which everyone of the ministers of the Gospel hold in their hands; and which denotes not only their apprehension, but their retention of it, and firm adherence to it; it cleaves to them, and they to that; they and their sword cannot be parted, as Gussetius (s) observes the word signifies; these

ministers could not be prevailed upon to drop it, or part with it, but retained it to the last; which shows them to be valiant men; being expert in war; in military straits, in the spiritual war against sin, Satan, and the world, in common with other Christians; and in fighting the good fight of faith, against all opposers of the doctrines of the Gospel; knowing how to use to the best advantage the spiritual sword, the Scriptures of truth, to defend the Gospel, and refute error; every man hath his sword upon his thigh; as a preparation for war, and an indication of readiness to engage in it, Psa 45:3 ; for, being on the thigh, it is near, easy to come at, at once upon occasion, and so always in a posture of defence; all which expresses the familiar acquaintance ministers have with the word of God, its nearness, so that they can easily come at it, and furnish themselves with a sufficient proof of truth, and with proper arguments for the refutation of error. And this is done because of fear in the night: when there is most danger; hence Cyrus considering that men are most easily taken when eating and drinking, and in the bath, and in bed, and in sleep, looked out for the most faithful men to be his bodyguard (t). By "night" or "nights" (u) may be meant the nights of desertion, temptation, affliction, and persecution; when saints are in fear of their spiritual enemies, and of being overcome and destroyed by them: now Christ has provided a guard for his people, to prevent or remove these fears, and defend them from such as would make inroads upon their faith and comfort; namely, his ministers, that by their ministerings they may be a means of securing their peace and comfort, and of freeing them from all terrible apprehensions of things; which, as it shows the safety and security of the saints, so the tender care and concern of Christ for them. (r) Sept. "gladium", Pagninus, Junius & Tremellius, Cocceius. (s) Ebr. Comment. p. 23. (t) Xenophon. Cyropaedia, l. 6. c. 29. (u) "in noctibus", Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator, Marckius, Michaelis.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (11 words)

H3605 כֹּל
Definition:

8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA 8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA

H0270 אָחַז
Definition:

14+;אָֽחֲזָהJob 23:11;Isaiah 33:14; suffixאֲחָזַנִי2 Samuel 1:9; 1singular suffixאֲחַזְתִּיוSongs 3:4,etc.;ImperfectיאֹחֵזJob 17:9+;וַיּ֫אֹחֶז2 Samuel 6:6; 3feminine singularתּאֹחֵזDeuteronomy 32:41;ו 14+;אָֽחֲזָהJob 23:11;Isaiah 33:14; suffixאֲחָזַנִי2 Samuel 1:9; 1singular suffixאֲחַזְתִּיוSongs 3:4,etc.;ImperfectיאֹחֵזJob 17:9+;וַיּ֫אֹחֶז2 Samuel 6:6; 3feminine singularתּאֹחֵזDeuteronomy 32:41;ו

Possible Meanings:
  • he has grasped (semantic_range)
H2719 חֶרֶב
Definition:

15sword(as weapon; Aramaicחַרְבָּא,, Zinjirliחרב; Arabicdart, javelin) — absoluteחֶ֫רֶבGenesis 3:24+;חָ֑רֶבExodus 17:13+; constructחֶ֫רֶבDeuteronomy 33:29+; suffixחַרְבִּיExodus 15:913t.;חַרְבְּךָGene 15sword(as weapon; Aramaicחַרְבָּא,, Zinjirliחרב; Arabicdart, javelin) — absoluteחֶ֫רֶבGenesis 3:24+;חָ֑רֶבExodus 17:13+; constructחֶ֫רֶבDeuteronomy 33:29+; suffixחַרְבִּיExodus 15:913t.;חַרְבְּךָGene

Possible Meanings:
  • be waste (semantic_range)
H3925 לָמַד
Definition:

(un-) accustomed, X diligently, expert, instruct, learn, skilful, teach(-er, - ing).NAS Exhaustive ConcordanceWord Origina prim. rootDefinitionto exercise in, learnNASB Translationaccept (1), expert ( (un-) accustomed, X diligently, expert, instruct, learn, skilful, teach(-er, - ing).NAS Exhaustive ConcordanceWord Origina prim. rootDefinitionto exercise in, learnNASB Translationaccept (1), expert (

Possible Meanings:
  • taught (semantic_range)
  • taught (semantic_range)
  • accustomed to (semantic_range)
H4421 מִלְחָמָה
Definition:

2,8;Exodus 1:10+; constructמִלְהֶ֫מֶת1 Samuel 13:22(מִכְמָשׁ׳מᵐ5Th We Bu HPS Ew§ 188 cKöii. 182 > absoluteThes and others); suffixמִלְחַמְתִּי2Chronicles 35:21;מִלְחַמְתְּךָ2 Samuel 11:25;מִלְחַמְתֶּ֑ 2,8;Exodus 1:10+; constructמִלְהֶ֫מֶת1 Samuel 13:22(מִכְמָשׁ׳מᵐ5Th We Bu HPS Ew§ 188 cKöii. 182 > absoluteThes and others); suffixמִלְחַמְתִּי2Chronicles 35:21;מִלְחַמְתְּךָ2 Samuel 11:25;מִלְחַמְתֶּ֑

Possible Meanings:
  • battle (semantic_range)
  • war (semantic_range)
H0376 אִישׁ
Definition:

23+; constructGenesis 25:27+; suffixאִישִׁיGenesis 29:32+, etc.; pluralאִישִׁיםPsalm 141:42t. (Phoenicianאשם); usuallyאֲנָשִׁיםGenesis 12:20+, from √אנשׁq. v.; constructאַנְשֵׁיJudges 6:27+; suffixאֲנ 23+; constructGenesis 25:27+; suffixאִישִׁיGenesis 29:32+, etc.; pluralאִישִׁיםPsalm 141:42t. (Phoenicianאשם); usuallyאֲנָשִׁיםGenesis 12:20+, from √אנשׁq. v.; constructאַנְשֵׁיJudges 6:27+; suffixאֲנ

Possible Meanings:
  • man (semantic_range)
H2719 חֶרֶב
Definition:

15sword(as weapon; Aramaicחַרְבָּא,, Zinjirliחרב; Arabicdart, javelin) — absoluteחֶ֫רֶבGenesis 3:24+;חָ֑רֶבExodus 17:13+; constructחֶ֫רֶבDeuteronomy 33:29+; suffixחַרְבִּיExodus 15:913t.;חַרְבְּךָGene 15sword(as weapon; Aramaicחַרְבָּא,, Zinjirliחרב; Arabicdart, javelin) — absoluteחֶ֫רֶבGenesis 3:24+;חָ֑רֶבExodus 17:13+; constructחֶ֫רֶבDeuteronomy 33:29+; suffixחַרְבִּיExodus 15:913t.;חַרְבְּךָGene

Possible Meanings:
  • be waste (semantic_range)
H5921 עַל
Definition:

“The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the “The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the

Possible Meanings:
  • upon (semantic_range)
  • on account of (semantic_range)
  • to (semantic_range)
H3409 יָרֵךְ
Definition:

27thigh, loin, side, base(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיַרְכָּא; Zinjirliירךloin; Assyrianarku, arkâtu,back,rear,hereafterDlHWB 242; Arabichip) — absoluteיָרֵךְJudges 15:86t.; constructיֶ֫רֶךְGenesis 24:911 27thigh, loin, side, base(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיַרְכָּא; Zinjirliירךloin; Assyrianarku, arkâtu,back,rear,hereafterDlHWB 242; Arabichip) — absoluteיָרֵךְJudges 15:86t.; constructיֶ֫רֶךְGenesis 24:911

H6343 פַחַד
Definition:

7dread; —׳פabsoluteGenesis 31:42+, construct1 Samuel 11:7+, suffixמַּחְדְּךָDeuteronomy 2:25;Psalm 119:120,מַּחְדּוֺJob 13:11;1 Chronicles 14:17, etc.; pluralמְּחָדִיםJob 15:21: —1dread,׳י׳פ, i.e. bef 7dread; —׳פabsoluteGenesis 31:42+, construct1 Samuel 11:7+, suffixמַּחְדְּךָDeuteronomy 2:25;Psalm 119:120,מַּחְדּוֺJob 13:11;1 Chronicles 14:17, etc.; pluralמְּחָדִיםJob 15:21: —1dread,׳י׳פ, i.e. bef

Possible Meanings:
  • thigh (semantic_range)
H3915 לַיִל
Definition:

5night(Late Hebrewid.; MI15(ב)ללה; Aramaicלֵילָא,,; Arabic,; Ethiopicall =night; Assyrianlîlâtu,eveningDlHWB; meaning of √ dubious; form probablyלילי, and endingהָ֯radical, and notהlocative, NöM 127Dl 5night(Late Hebrewid.; MI15(ב)ללה; Aramaicלֵילָא,,; Arabic,; Ethiopicall =night; Assyrianlîlâtu,eveningDlHWB; meaning of √ dubious; form probablyלילי, and endingהָ֯radical, and notהlocative, NöM 127Dl

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