Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead. Song of Solomon 4:1 BEHOLD, THOU (ART) FAIR. Contrast with the bride's state by nature () her state by grace (Song of Solomon 4:1), 'perfe... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them. THY TEETH (ARE) LIKE A FLOCK ... SHORN. The Hebrew [ qªtsuwbowt (H7094)] implies 'cut' or "shorn," so as to be like one another. Cf the same Hebrew... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks. THREAD - like a delicate fillet. Not thick and white as the leper's lips (type of sin), which were therefore to be 'covered' as "unclean." SCARLET - the blood of Jes... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men. NECK - stately: in beautiful contrast to the blushing temples (); not 'staff' (), as that of unbroken nature; nor "stitched forth" wantonly (), nor burdened with unforgi... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies. THY TWO BREASTS - an image of the nutritive virtue in the Church. The bust is left open in Eastern dress. The breastplate of the high priest was made of "two" pieces, folded one on the other, in which were the U... [ Continue Reading ]
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. THE MOUNTAIN OF MYRRH ... THE HILL OF FRANKINCENSE. Historically, the hill of frankincense is Calvary, where, 'through the eternal Spirit He offered Himself;' the mountain of m... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee. Assurance that He is going from her in love, not in displeasure (John 16:6). ALL FAIR - still stronger than ; . NO SPOT - our privilege (); our duty ().... [ Continue Reading ]
Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards. COME WITH ME FROM LEBANON - invitation to her to leave the border mountains (the highest worldly elevation) between... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. SISTER ... SPOUSE - this title is here first used, as he is soon about to institute the Supper, the pledge of the nuptial union. By the term "sister," carnal ideas a... [ Continue Reading ]
How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices! LOVE - Hebrew, loves; manifold tokens of thy love. MUCH BETTER - answering to her "better than wine" (), but with increased force. An Amoebean pastoral character... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon. DROP - always ready to fell, being full of honey, though not always actually dropping (; ). HONEY-COMB - (.) HONEY AND MILK (ARE) UNDER THY TONGUE - n... [ Continue Reading ]
A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. A GARDEN ENCLOSED. Here she is distinct from the garden (), yet identified with it (), as being one with Him in His sufferings. Historically, the Paradise into which the soul of Jesus Christ entered at death; and the... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, ORCHARD - Hebrew ( Pardeec (H6508)), a paradise - i:e., a pleasure-ground and orchard. POMEGRANATES - not only flowers, but fruit tress (John 15:8). CAMPHIRE - not camphor (Song of Solomon 1:14); henna... [ Continue Reading ]
Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: CALAMUS - `sweet cane,' an ingredient in the "holy anointing oil" for the high priest (; ). MYRRH AND ALOES - so . Ointments are associated with His death, as well as with f... [ Continue Reading ]
A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon. A FOUNTAIN OF GARDENS, A WELL OF LIVING WATERS - "of." This pleasure-ground is not dependent on mere reservoirs; it has a fountain sufficient to water many "gardens," (plur.) LIVING - (; ; John 4:13.) STREAMS FROM LEBAN... [ Continue Reading ]
Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. AWAKE - Arise. All beside is ready: one thing alone is wanted-the breath of God. This fellows rightly after His death, (; .) It i... [ Continue Reading ]