9 Thou hast ravished my heart, H3823 my sister, H269 my spouse; H3618 thou hast ravished my heart H3823 with one H259 of thine eyes, H5869 with one H259 chain H6060 of thy neck. H6677
I am come H935 into my garden, H1588 my sister, H269 my spouse: H3618 I have gathered H717 my myrrh H4753 with my spice; H1313 I have eaten H398 my honeycomb H3293 with my honey; H1706 I have drunk H8354 my wine H3196 with my milk: H2461 eat, H398 O friends; H7453 drink, H8354 yea, drink abundantly, H7937 O beloved. H1730 I sleep, H3463 but my heart H3820 waketh: H5782 it is the voice H6963 of my beloved H1730 that knocketh, H1849 saying, Open H6605 to me, my sister, H269 my love, H7474 my dove, H3123 my undefiled: H8535 for my head H7218 is filled H4390 with dew, H2919 and my locks H6977 with the drops H7447 of the night. H3915
Now when I passed H5674 by thee, and looked H7200 upon thee, behold, thy time H6256 was the time H6256 of love; H1730 and I spread H6566 my skirt H3671 over thee, and covered H3680 thy nakedness: H6172 yea, I sware H7650 unto thee, and entered H935 into a covenant H1285 with thee, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 and thou becamest mine.
And G2532 there came G2064 unto G4314 me G3165 one of G1520 the seven G2033 angels G32 which G3588 had G2192 the seven G2033 vials G5357 full G1073 of the seven G2033 last G2078 plagues, G4127 and G2532 talked G2980 with G3326 me, G1700 saying, G3004 Come hither, G1204 I will shew G1166 thee G4671 the bride, G3565 the Lamb's G721 wife. G1135 And G2532 he carried G667 me G3165 away G667 in G1722 the spirit G4151 to G1909 a great G3173 and G2532 high G5308 mountain, G3735 and G2532 shewed G1166 me G3427 that great G3173 city, G4172 the holy G40 Jerusalem, G2419 descending G2597 out of G1537 heaven G3772 from G575 God, G2316
Let us be glad G5463 and G2532 rejoice, G21 and G2532 give G1325 honour G1391 to him: G846 for G3754 the marriage G1062 of the Lamb G721 is come, G2064 and G2532 his G846 wife G1135 hath made G2090 herself G1438 ready. G2090 And G2532 to her G846 was granted G1325 that G2443 she should be arrayed G4016 in fine linen, G1039 clean G2513 and G2532 white: G2986 for G1063 the fine linen G1039 is G2076 the righteousness G1345 of saints. G40
For G1063 both G5037 he that sanctifieth G37 and G2532 they who are sanctified G37 are all G3956 of G1537 one: G1520 for G1223 which G3739 cause G156 he is G1870 not G3756 ashamed G1870 to call G2564 them G846 brethren, G80 Saying, G3004 I will declare G518 thy G4675 name G3686 unto my G3450 brethren, G80 in G1722 the midst G3319 of the church G1577 will I sing praise G5214 unto thee. G4571 And G2532 again, G3825 I G1473 will G2071 put my trust G3982 in G1909 him. G846 And G2532 again, G3825 Behold G2400 I G1473 and G2532 the children G3813 which G3739 God G2316 hath given G1325 me. G3427 Forasmuch G1893 then G3767 as the children G3813 are partakers G2841 of flesh G4561 and G2532 blood, G129 he G3348 also G2532 himself G846 likewise G3898 took part G3348 of the same; G846 that G2443 through G1223 death G2288 he might destroy G2673 him that had G2192 the power G2904 of death, G2288 that is, G5123 the devil; G1228
Have we G2192 not G3378 power G1849 to lead about G4013 a sister, G79 a wife, G1135 as well as G5613 G2532 other G3062 apostles, G652 and G2532 as the brethren G80 of the Lord, G2962 and G2532 Cephas? G2786
He that hath G2192 the bride G3565 is G2076 the bridegroom: G3566 but G1161 the friend G5384 of the bridegroom, G3566 which G3588 standeth G2476 and G2532 heareth G191 him, G846 rejoiceth G5463 greatly G5479 because G1223 of the bridegroom's G3566 voice: G5456 this G3778 my G1699 joy G5479 therefore G3767 is fulfilled. G4137
The LORD H3068 thy God H430 in the midst H7130 of thee is mighty; H1368 he will save, H3467 he will rejoice H7797 over thee with joy; H8057 he will rest H2790 in his love, H160 he will joy H1523 over thee with singing. H7440
And I will betroth H781 thee unto me for ever; H5769 yea, I will betroth H781 thee unto me in righteousness, H6664 and in judgment, H4941 and in lovingkindness, H2617 and in mercies. H7356 I will even betroth H781 thee unto me in faithfulness: H530 and thou shalt know H3045 the LORD. H3068
For as a young man H970 marrieth H1166 a virgin, H1330 so shall thy sons H1121 marry H1166 thee: and as the bridegroom H2860 rejoiceth H4885 over the bride, H3618 so shall thy God H430 rejoice H7797 over thee.
Thine head H7218 upon thee is like Carmel, H3760 and the hair H1803 of thine head H7218 like purple; H713 the king H4428 is held H631 in the galleries. H7298 How fair H3302 and how pleasant H5276 art thou, O love, H160 for delights! H8588
Go forth, H3318 O ye daughters H1323 of Zion, H6726 and behold H7200 king H4428 Solomon H8010 with the crown H5850 wherewith his mother H517 crowned H5849 him in the day H3117 of his espousals, H2861 and in the day H3117 of the gladness H8057 of his heart. H3820
Let her be as the loving H158 hind H365 and pleasant H2580 roe; H3280 let her breasts H1717 satisfy H7301 thee at all times; H6256 and be thou ravished H7686 always H8548 with her love. H160 And why wilt thou, my son, H1121 be ravished H7686 with a strange woman, H2114 and embrace H2263 the bosom H2436 of a stranger? H5237
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Song Of Solomon 4
Commentary on Song Of Solomon 4 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 4
So 4:1-16.
1. Contrast with the bride's state by nature (Isa 1:6) her state by grace (So 4:1-7), "perfect through His comeliness put upon her" (Eze 16:14; Joh 15:3). The praise of Jesus Christ, unlike that of the world, hurts not, but edifies; as His, not ours, is the glory (Joh 5:44; Re 4:10, 11). Seven features of beauty are specified (So 4:1-5) ("lips" and "speech" are but one feature, So 4:3), the number for perfection. To each of these is attached a comparison from nature: the resemblances consist not so much in outward likeness, as in the combined sensations of delight produced by contemplating these natural objects.
doves'—the large melting eye of the Syrian dove appears especially beautiful amid the foliage of its native groves: so the bride's "eyes within her locks" (Lu 7:44). Maurer for "locks," has "veil"; but locks suit the connection better: so the Hebrew is translated (Isa 47:2). The dove was the only bird counted "clean" for sacrifice. Once the heart was "the cage of every unclean and hateful bird." Grace makes the change.
eyes—(Mt 6:22; Eph 1:18; contrast Mt 5:28; Eph 4:18; 1Jo 2:16). Chaste and guileless ("harmless," Mt 10:16, Margin; Joh 1:47). John the Baptist, historically, was the "turtledove" (So 2:12), with eye directed to the coming Bridegroom: his Nazarite unshorn hair answers to "locks" (Joh 1:29, 36).
hair … goats—The hair of goats in the East is fine like silk. As long hair is her glory, and marks her subjection to man (1Co 11:6-15), so the Nazarite's hair marked his subjection and separation unto God. (Compare Jud 16:17, with 2Co 6:17; Tit 2:14; 1Pe 2:9). Jesus Christ cares for the minutest concerns of His saints (Mt 10:30).
appear from—literally, "that lie down from"; lying along the hillside, they seem to hang from it: a picture of the bride's hanging tresses.
Gilead—beyond Jordan: there stood "the heap of witness" (Ge 31:48).
2. even shorn—the Hebrew is translated (1Ki 6:25), "of one size"; so the point of comparison to teeth is their symmetry of form; as in "came up from the washing," the spotless whiteness; and in "twins," the exact correspondence of the upper and lower teeth: and in "none barren," none wanting, none without its fellow. Faith is the tooth with which we eat the living bread (Joh 6:35, 54). Contrast the teeth of sinners (Ps 57:4; Pr 30:14); also their end (Ps 3:7; Mt 25:30). Faith leads the flock to the washing (Zec 13:1; 1Co 6:11; Tit 3:5).
none … barren—(2Pe 1:8). He who is begotten of God begets instrumentally other sons of God.
3. 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" (Le 13:45).
scarlet—The blood of Jesus Christ (Isa 6:5-9) cleanses the leprosy, and unseals the lips (Isa 57:19; Ho 14:2; Heb 13:15). Rahab's scarlet thread was a type of it (Jos 2:18).
speech—not a separate feature from the lips (Zep 3:9; Col 4:6). Contrast "uncircumcised lips" (Ex 6:12). Maurer and Burrowes translate, "thy mouth."
temples—rather, the upper part of the cheek next the temples: the seat of shamefacedness; so, "within thy locks," no display (1Co 11:5, 6, 15). Mark of true penitence (Ezr 9:6; Eze 16:63). Contrast Jer 3:3; Eze 3:7.
pomegranate—When cut, it displays in rows seeds pellucid, like crystal, tinged with red. Her modesty is not on the surface, but within, which Jesus Christ can see into.
4. neck—stately: in beautiful contrast to the blushing temples (So 4:3); not "stiff" (Isa 48:4; Ac 7:51), as that of unbroken nature; nor "stretched forth" wantonly (Isa 3:16); nor burdened with the legal yoke (La 1:14; Ac 15:10); but erect in gospel freedom (Isa 52:2).
tower of David—probably on Zion. He was a man of war, preparatory to the reign of Solomon, the king of peace. So warfare in the case of Jesus Christ and His saints precedes the coming rest. Each soul won from Satan by Him is a trophy gracing the bride (Lu 11:22); (each hangs on Him, Isa 22:23, 24); also each victory of her faith. As shields adorn a temple's walls (Eze 27:11), so necklaces hang on the bride's neck (Jud 5:30; 1Ki 10:16).
5. breasts—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 Urim and Thummim (lights and perfection). "Faith and love" are the double breastplate (1Th 5:8), answering to "hearing the word" and "keeping it," in a similar connection with breasts (Lu 12:27, 28).
roes—He reciprocates her praise (So 2:9). Emblem of love and satisfaction (Pr 5:19).
feed—(Ps 23:2).
among the lilies—shrinking from thorns of strife, worldliness, and ungodliness (2Sa 23:6; Mt 13:7). Roes feed among, not on the lilies: where these grow, there is moisture producing green pasturage. The lilies represent her white dress (Ps 45:14; Re 19:8).
6. Historically, the hill of frankincense is Calvary, where, "through the eternal Spirit He offered Himself"; the mountain of myrrh is His embalmment (Joh 19:39) till the resurrection "daybreak." The third Canticle occupies the one cloudless day of His presence on earth, beginning from the night (So 2:17) and ending with the night of His departure (So 4:6). His promise is almost exactly in the words of her prayer (So 2:17), (the same Holy Ghost breathing in Jesus Christ and His praying people), with the difference that she then looked for His visible coming. He now tells her that when He shall have gone from sight, He still is to be met with spiritually in prayer (Ps 68:16; Mt 28:20), until the everlasting day break, when we shall see face to face (1Co 13:10, 12).
7. Assurance that He is going from her in love, not in displeasure (Joh 16:6, 7).
all fair—still stronger than So 1:15; So 4:1.
no spot—our privilege (Eph 5:27; Col 2:10); our duty (2Co 6:17; Jude 23; Jas 1:27).
8. Invitation to her to leave the border mountains (the highest worldly elevation) between the hostile lands north of Palestine and the Promised Land (Ps 45:10; Php 3:13).
Amana—south of Anti-Libanus; the river Abana, or Amana, was near Damascus (2Ki 5:12).
Shenir—The whole mountain was called Hermon; the part held by the Sidonians was called Sirion; the part held by the Amorites, Shenir (De 3:9). Infested by the devouring lion and the stealthy and swift leopard (Ps 76:4; Eph 6:11; 1Pe 5:8). Contrasted with the mountain of myrrh, &c. (So 4:6; Isa 2:2); the good land (Isa 35:9).
with me—twice repeated emphatically. The presence of Jesus Christ makes up for the absence of all besides (Lu 18:29, 30; 2Co 6:10). Moses was permitted to see Canaan from Pisgah; Peter, James, and John had a foretaste of glory on the mount of transfiguration.
9. 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 are excluded; the ardor of a spouse's love is combined with the purity of a sister's (Isa 54:5; compare Mr 3:35).
one—Even one look is enough to secure His love (Zec 12:10; Lu 23:40-43). Not merely the Church collectively, but each one member of it (Mt 18:10, 14; Lu 15:7, 24, 32).
chain—necklace (Isa 62:3; Mal 3:17), answering to the "shields" hanging in the tower of David (So 4:4). Compare the "ornament" (1Pe 3:4); "chains" (Pr 1:9; 3:22).
10. love—Hebrew, "loves"; manifold tokens of thy love.
much better—answering to her "better" (So 1:2), but with increased force. An Amoebean pastoral character pervades the Song, like the classic Amoebean idylls and eclogues.
wine—The love of His saints is a more reviving cordial to Him than wine; for example, at the feast in Simon's house (Lu 7:36, 47; Joh 4:32; compare Zec 10:7).
smell of … ointments than all spices—answering to her praise (So 1:3) with increased force. Fragrant, as being fruits of His Spirit in us (Ga 5:22).
11. drop—always ready to fall, being full of honey, though not always (Pr 10:19) actually dropping (So 5:13; De 32:2; Mt 12:34).
honeycomb—(Pr 5:3; 16:24).
under thy tongue—not always on, but under, the tongue, ready to fall (Ps 55:21). Contrast her former state (Ps 140:3; Ro 3:13). "Honey and milk" were the glory of the good land. The change is illustrated in the penitent thief. Contrast Mt 27:44 with Lu 23:39, &c. It was literally with "one" eye, a sidelong glance of love "better than wine," that he refreshed Jesus Christ (So 4:9, 10). "To-day shalt thou be with Me (compare So 4:8) in Paradise" (So 4:12), is the only joyous sentence of His seven utterances on the cross.
smell of … garments—which are often perfumed in the East (Ps 45:8). The perfume comes from Him on us (Ps 133:2). We draw nigh to God in the perfumed garment of our elder brother (Ge 27:27; see Jude 23).
Lebanon—abounding in odoriferous trees (Ho 14:5-7).
12. The Hebrew has no "is." Here she is distinct from the garden (So 5:1), yet identified with it (So 4:16) as being one with Him in His sufferings. Historically the Paradise, into which the soul of Jesus Christ entered at death; and the tomb of Joseph, in which His body was laid amid "myrrh," &c. (So 4:6), situated in a nicely kept garden (compare "gardener," Joh 20:15); "sealed" with a stone (Mt 27:66); in which it resembles "wells" in the East (Ge 29:3, 8). It was in a garden of light Adam fell; in a garden of darkness, Gethsemane, and chiefly that of the tomb, the second Adam retrieved us. Spiritually the garden is the gospel kingdom of heaven. Here all is ripe; previously (So 2:13) it was "the tender grape." The garden is His, though He calls the plants hers (So 4:13) by His gift (Isa 61:3, end).
spring … fountain—Jesus Christ (Joh 4:10) sealed, while He was in the sealed tomb: it poured forth its full tide on Pentecost (Joh 7:37-39). Still He is a sealed fountain until the Holy Ghost opens it to one (1Co 12:3). The Church also is "a garden enclosed" (Ps 4:3; Isa 5:1, &c.). Contrast Ps 80:9-12. So "a spring" (Isa 27:3; 58:11); "sealed" (Eph 4:30; 2Ti 2:19). As wives in the East are secluded from public gaze, so believers (Ps 83:3; Col 3:3). Contrast the open streams which "pass away" (Job 6:15-18; 2Pe 2:17).
13. orchard—Hebrew, "a paradise," that is, a pleasure-ground and orchard. Not only flowers, but fruit trees (Joh 15:8; Php 1:11).
camphire—not camphor (So 1:14), hennah, or cypress blooms.
14. calamus—"sweet cane" (Ex 30:23; Jer 6:20).
myrrh and aloes—Ointments are associated with His death, as well as with feasts (Joh 12:7). The bride's ministry of "myrrh and aloes" is recorded (Joh 19:39).
15. of—This pleasure-ground is not dependent on mere reservoirs; it has a fountain sufficient to water many "gardens" (plural).
living—(Jer 17:8; Joh 4:13, 14; 7:38, 39).
from Lebanon—Though the fountain is lowly, the source is lofty; fed by the perpetual snows of Lebanon, refreshingly cool (Jer 18:14), fertilizing the gardens of Damascus. It springs upon earth; its source is heaven. It is now not "sealed," but open "streams" (Re 22:17).
16. Awake—literally, "arise." All besides is ready; one thing alone is wanted—the breath of God. This follows rightly after His death (So 6:12; Ac 2:1-4). It is His call to the Spirit to come (Joh 14:16); in Joh 3:8, compared to "the wind"; quickening (Joh 6:63; Eze 27:9). Saints offer the same prayer (Ps 85:6; Hab 3:2). The north wind "awakes," or arises strongly, namely, the Holy Ghost as a reprover (Joh 16:8-11); the south wind "comes" gently, namely, the Holy Ghost as the comforter (Joh 14:16). The west wind brings rain from the sea (1Ki 18:44, 45; Lu 12:54). The east wind is tempestuous (Job 27:21; Isa 27:8) and withering (Ge 41:23). These, therefore, are not wanted; but first the north wind clearing the air (Job 37:22; Pr 25:23), and then the warm south wind (Job 37:17); so the Holy Ghost first clearing away mists of gloom, error, unbelief, sin, which intercept the light of Jesus Christ, then infusing spiritual warmth (2Co 4:6), causing the graces to exhale their odor.
Let my beloved, &c.—the bride's reply. The fruit was now at length ripe; the last passover, which He had so desired, is come (Lu 22:7, 15, 16, 18), the only occasion in which He took charge of the preparations.
his—answering to Jesus Christ's "My." She owns that the garden is His, and the fruits in her, which she does not in false humility deny (Ps 66:16; Ac 21:19; 1Co 15:10) are His (Joh 15:8; Php 1:11).