What Does Song of Solomon 3:7 Mean in the King James?
Behold his bed, which is Solomon’s; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Solomon’s bed, his name carrying the shade of wholeness, is circled by Israel’s prevailing strength, making rest a protected center.
THE MEANING
Solomon’s name carries the shade of wholeness, and his bed stands at the center of a ring of valiant men. Rest appears as a place strength can guard; stillness and strength belong in the same scene.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that rest is weakness: here, the valiant gather around the bed to hold its quiet space.
THE ROOT
מִטָּתוֹ
mittato
GROWS FROM
נטה
natah
Stretch out, extend, or incline.
The word for bed is linked to the verb for stretching out or extending. The image is a space laid open for repose, with the valiant surrounding it: rest and guarding occupy the same scene.
ALSO GROWS
matteh: Staff, rod, or tribe; something extended like a branch.
מַטֶּה
This branch keeps the root’s image of extension tangible alongside the bed.
natah ohel: Spread or pitch a tent.
נָטָה אֹהֶל
Like a bed, a tent is a space stretched open for dwelling.
גִּבּוֹרִים
gibborim
GROWS FROM
גבר
gabar
Be strong, prevail, or increase.
“valiant men” in this verse is gibborim. The word for the valiant carries the force of prevailing. Their strength forms a circle around the bed, serving the space of rest rather than advancing outward.
ALSO GROWS
gabar: Be strong or prevail.
גָּבַר
This verb makes the force inside “valiant” explicit: strength that holds its ground.
gever: Man, or a strong adult man.
גֶּבֶר
The related word for man shows how the root’s strength is carried in the people around the bed.
gevurah: Might or strength.
גְּבוּרָה
This noun names the force gathered around the resting place.
שְׁלֹמֹה
Shelomoh
GROWS FROM
שלם
shalem
Be whole, complete, or intact.
Solomon’s name is linked with the root of wholeness and with shalom, well-being. The bed belongs to the whole one, while the valiant ring it with strength: repose and protection are held together.
ALSO GROWS
shalom: Wholeness, well-being, or peace.
שָׁלוֹם
This familiar branch gives Solomon’s name its shade of wholeness.
shalem: Whole or complete.
שָׁלֵם
It makes the name’s connection to intactness visible.
shillem: Make good, repay, or restore.
שִׁלֵּם
The sense of making something whole extends the root’s idea beyond a name into repair.
THE PATTERN
Rest is pictured as a protected center, with strength or presence gathered around it.
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.THE THREAD
And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.The same root נטה (natah, stretch out or extend) linked to “bed” appears in “pitched” for the tabernacle. English makes a bed and a tent seem unrelated, while the shared root lets both appear as space stretched open for dwelling.
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