1 O that H5414 thou wert as my brother, H251 that sucked H3243 the breasts H7699 of my mother! H517 when I should find H4672 thee without, H2351 I would kiss H5401 thee; yea, I should not be despised. H936
Hearken, H8085 O daughter, H1323 and consider, H7200 and incline H5186 thine ear; H241 forget H7911 also thine own people, H5971 and thy father's H1 house; H1004 So shall the king H4428 greatly desire H183 thy beauty: H3308 for he is thy Lord; H113 and worship H7812 thou him.
When the LORD H3068 shall build up H1129 Zion, H6726 he shall appear H7200 in his glory. H3519 He will regard H6437 the prayer H8605 of the destitute, H6199 and not despise H959 their prayer. H8605
That ye may suck, H3243 and be satisfied H7646 with the breasts H7699 of her consolations; H8575 that ye may milk out, H4711 and be delighted H6026 with the abundance H2123 of her glory. H3519 For thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Behold, I will extend H5186 peace H7965 to her like a river, H5104 and the glory H3519 of the Gentiles H1471 like a flowing H7857 stream: H5158 then shall ye suck, H3243 ye shall be borne H5375 upon her sides, H6654 and be dandled H8173 upon her knees. H1290
For then G1893 must G1163 he G846 often G4178 have suffered G3958 since G575 the foundation G2602 of the world: G2889 but G1161 now G3568 once G530 in G1909 the end G4930 of the world G165 hath he appeared G5319 to G1519 put away G115 sin G266 by G1223 the sacrifice G2378 of himself. G846 And G2532 as G2596 G3745 it is appointed G606 unto men G444 once G530 to die, G599 but G1161 after G3326 this G5124 the judgment: G2920 So G3779 Christ G5547 was once G530 offered G4374 to G1519 bear G399 the sins G266 of many; G4183 and unto them that look G553 for him G846 shall he appear G3700 G1537 the second time G1208 without G5565 sin G266 unto G1519 salvation. G4991
But G1161 we see G991 Jesus, G2424 who G3588 was made G1642 a little G1024 G5100 lower G1642 than G3844 the angels G32 for G1223 the suffering G3804 of death, G2288 crowned G4737 with glory G1391 and G2532 honour; G5092 that G3704 he G1089 by the grace G5485 of God G2316 should taste G1089 death G2288 for G5228 every man. G3956 For G1063 it became G4241 him, G846 for G1223 whom G3739 are all things, G3956 and G2532 by G1223 whom G3739 are all things, G3956 in bringing G71 many G4183 sons G5207 unto G1519 glory, G1391 to make G5048 the captain G747 of their G846 salvation G4991 perfect G5048 through G1223 sufferings. G3804 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
But G235 what things G3748 were G2258 gain G2771 to me, G3427 those G5023 I counted G2233 loss G2209 for G1223 Christ. G5547 Yea G235 doubtless, G3304 and G2532 I count G2233 all things G3956 but loss G2209 for G1511 G1223 the excellency G5242 of the knowledge G1108 of Christ G5547 Jesus G2424 my G3450 Lord: G2962 for G1223 whom G3739 I have suffered the loss G2210 of all things, G3956 and G2532 do count G2233 them G1511 but dung, G4657 that G2443 I may win G2770 Christ, G5547
And G2532 he turned him G4762 unto G4314 his disciples, G3101 and said G2036 privately, G2398 G2596 Blessed G3107 are the eyes G3788 which G3588 see G991 the things that G3739 ye see: G991 For G1063 I tell G3004 you, G5213 that G3754 many G4183 prophets G4396 and G2532 kings G935 have desired G2309 to see G1492 those things which G3739 ye G5210 see, G991 and G2532 have G1492 not G3756 seen G1492 them; and G2532 to hear G191 those things which G3739 ye hear, G191 and G2532 have G191 not G3756 heard G191 them.
But G1161 blessed G3107 are your G5216 eyes, G3788 for G3754 they see: G991 and G2532 your G5216 ears, G3775 for G3754 they hear. G191 For G1063 verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 many G4183 prophets G4396 and G2532 righteous G1342 men have desired G1937 to see G1492 those things which G3739 ye see, G991 and G2532 have G1492 not G3756 seen G1492 them; and G2532 to hear G191 those things which G3739 ye hear, G191 and G2532 have G191 not G3756 heard G191 them.
And G2532 there came G2064 a certain G3391 poor G4434 widow, G5503 and she threw in G906 two G1417 mites, G3016 which make G3603 a farthing. G2835 And G2532 he called G4341 unto him his G846 disciples, G3101 and saith G3004 unto them, G846 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 this G3778 poor G4434 widow G5503 hath cast G906 more G4119 in, G906 than all G3956 they which have cast G906 into G1519 the treasury: G1049 For G1063 all G3956 they did cast in G906 of G1537 their G846 abundance; G4052 but G1161 she G3778 G846 of G1537 her G846 want G5304 did cast in G906 all G3956 that G3745 she had, G2192 even all G3650 her G846 living. G979
And G1161 Jesus G2424 said, G2036 Let G863 her G846 alone; G863 why G5101 trouble ye G2873 G3930 her? G846 she hath wrought G2038 a good G2570 work G2041 on G1519 me. G1691 For G1063 ye have G2192 the poor G4434 with G3326 you G1438 always, G3842 and G2532 whensoever G3752 ye will G2309 ye may G1410 do G4160 them G846 good: G2095 but G1161 me G1691 ye have G2192 not G3756 always. G3842 She hath done G4160 what G3739 she G3778 G846 could: G2192 she is come aforehand G4301 to anoint G3462 my G3450 body G4983 to G1519 the burying. G1780 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Wheresoever G3699 G302 this G5124 gospel G2098 shall be preached G2784 throughout G1519 the whole G3650 world, G2889 this also G2532 that G3739 she G3778 G846 hath done G4160 shall be spoken G2980 of for G1519 a memorial G3422 of her. G846
And G2532 it was G2258 revealed G5537 unto him G846 by G5259 the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 that he should G1492 not G3361 see G1492 death, G2288 before G4250 G2228 he had seen G1492 the Lord's G2962 Christ. G5547 And G2532 he came G2064 by G1722 the Spirit G4151 into G1519 the temple: G2411 and G2532 when the parents G1118 brought G1521 in G1722 the child G3813 Jesus, G2424 to do G4160 G846 for G4012 him G846 after G2596 the custom G1480 of the law, G3551 Then G2532 took G1209 he G846 him G846 up G1209 in G1519 his G846 arms, G43 and G2532 blessed G2127 God, G2316 and G2532 said, G2036 Lord, G1203 now G3568 lettest thou G630 thy G4675 servant G1401 depart G630 in G1722 peace, G1515 according G2596 to thy G4675 word: G4487 For G3754 mine G3450 eyes G3788 have seen G1492 thy G4675 salvation, G4992 Which G3739 thou hast prepared G2090 before G2596 the face G4383 of all G3956 people; G2992 A light G5457 to G1519 lighten G602 the Gentiles, G1484 and G2532 the glory G1391 of thy G4675 people G2992 Israel. G2474
Thou gavest G1325 me G3427 no G3756 kiss: G5370 but G1161 this woman G3778 G846 since G575 the time G3739 I came in G1525 hath G1257 not G3756 ceased G1257 to kiss G2705 my G3450 feet. G4228 My G3450 head G2776 with oil G1637 thou didst G218 not G3756 anoint: G218 but G1161 this woman G3778 G846 hath anointed G218 my G3450 feet G4228 with ointment. G3464 Wherefore G3739 G5484 I say G3004 unto thee, G4671 Her G846 sins, G266 which G3588 are many, G4183 are forgiven; G863 for G3754 she loved G25 much: G4183 but G1161 to whom G3739 little G3641 is forgiven, G863 the same loveth G25 little. G3641 And G1161 he said G2036 unto her, G846 Thy G4675 sins G266 are forgiven. G863
The officers G5257 answered, G611 Never G3763 man G444 spake G3779 G2980 like G5613 this G3778 man. G444 Then G3767 answered G611 them G846 the Pharisees, G5330 Are G4105 ye G5210 also G2532 deceived? G4105 G3361 Have any G3387 of G1537 the rulers G758 or G2228 of G1537 the Pharisees G5330 believed G4100 on G1519 him? G846 But G235 this G3778 people G3793 who G3588 knoweth G1097 not G3361 the law G3551 are G1526 cursed. G1944 Nicodemus G3530 saith G3004 unto G4314 them, G846 (he that came G2064 to Jesus G846 by G4314 night, G3571 being G5607 one G1520 of G1537 them,) G846 Doth G2919 our G2257 law G3551 judge G2919 G3361 any man, G444 before G4386 G3362 it hear G191 G3844 him, G846 and G2532 know G1097 what G5101 he doeth? G4160 They answered G611 and G2532 said G2036 unto him, G846 Art G3361 G1488 thou G4771 also G2532 of G1537 Galilee? G1056 Search, G2045 and G2532 look: G2396 for G3754 out of G1537 Galilee G1056 ariseth G1453 no G3756 prophet. G4396
G3767 He G1565 answered G611 and G2532 said, G2036 Whether G1487 he be G2076 a sinner G268 or no, I know G1492 not: G3756 one thing G1520 I know, G1492 that, G3754 whereas I was G5607 blind, G5185 now G737 I see. G991 Then G1161 said they G2036 to him G846 again, G3825 What G5101 did he G4160 to thee? G4671 how G4459 opened he G455 thine G4675 eyes? G3788 He answered G611 them, G846 I have told G2036 you G5213 already, G2235 and G2532 ye did G191 not G3756 hear: G191 wherefore G5101 would G2309 ye hear G191 it again? G3825 will G3361 G2309 ye G5210 also G2532 be G1096 his G846 disciples? G3101 Then G3767 they reviled G3058 him, G846 and G2532 said, G2036 Thou G4771 art G1488 his G1565 disciple; G3101 but G1161 we G2249 are G2070 Moses' G3475 disciples. G3101 We G2249 know G1492 that G3754 God G2316 spake G2980 unto Moses: G3475 as for this G1161 G5126 fellow, we know G1492 not G3756 from whence G4159 he is. G2076 The man G444 answered G611 and G2532 said G2036 unto them, G846 Why G1063 herein G1722 G5129 is G2076 a marvellous thing, G2298 that G3754 ye G5210 know G1492 not G3756 from whence G4159 he is, G2076 and G2532 yet he hath opened G455 mine G3450 eyes. G3788 Now G1161 we know G1492 that G3754 God G2316 heareth G191 not G3756 sinners: G268 but G235 if G1437 any man G5100 be G5600 a worshipper of God, G2318 and G2532 doeth G4160 his G846 will, G2307 him G5127 he heareth. G191 Since G1537 the world began G165 was it G191 not G3756 heard G191 that G3754 any man G5100 opened G455 the eyes G3788 of one that was born G1080 blind. G5185 If G1508 this man G3778 were G2258 not G1508 of G3844 God, G2316 he could G1410 G3756 do G4160 nothing. G3762 They answered G611 and G2532 said G2036 unto him, G846 Thou G4771 wast G1080 altogether G3650 born G1080 in G1722 sins, G266 and G2532 dost thou G4771 teach G1321 us? G2248 And G2532 they cast G1544 him G846 out. G1854 Jesus G2424 heard G191 that G3754 they had cast G1544 him G846 out; G1854 and G2532 when he had found G2147 him, G846 he said G2036 unto him, G846 Dost G4100 thou G4771 believe G4100 on G1519 the Son G5207 of God? G2316 He G1565 answered G611 and G2532 said, G2036 Who G5101 is he, G2076 Lord, G2962 that G2443 I might believe G4100 on G1519 him? G846 And G1161 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto him, G846 Thou hast G3708 both G2532 seen G3708 him, G846 and G2532 it is G2076 he G1565 that talketh G2980 with G3326 thee. G4675 And G1161 he said, G5346 Lord, G2962 I believe. G4100 And G2532 he worshipped G4352 him. G846
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Song Of Solomon 8
Commentary on Song Of Solomon 8 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 8
So 8:1-14.
1. He had been a brother already. Why, then, this prayer here? It refers to the time after His resurrection, when the previous outward intimacy with Him was no longer allowed, but it was implied it should be renewed at the second coming (Joh 20:17). For this the Church here prays; meanwhile she enjoys inward spiritual communion with Him. The last who ever "kissed" Jesus Christ on earth was the traitor Judas. The bride's return with the King to her mother's house answers to Ac 8:25, after the mission to Samaria. The rest spoken of (So 8:4) answers to Ac 9:31.
that sucked … mother—a brother born of the same mother; the closest tie.
2. Her desire to bring Him into her home circle (Joh 1:41).
who would instruct me—rather, "thou wouldest instruct me," namely, how I might best please thee (Isa 11:2, 3; 50:4; Lu 12:12; Joh 14:26; 16:13).
spiced wine—seasoned with aromatic perfumes. Jesus Christ ought to have our choicest gifts. Spices are never introduced in the song in His absence; therefore the time of His return from "the mountain of spices" (So 8:14) is contemplated. The cup of betrothal was given by Him at the last supper; the cup or marriage shall be presented by her at His return (Mt 26:29). Till then the believer often cannot feel towards, or speak of, Him as he would wish.
3, 4. The "left and right hand," &c., occurred only once actually (So 2:6), and here optatively. Only at His first manifestation did the Church palpably embrace Him; at His second coming there shall be again sensible communion with Him. The rest in So 8:4, which is a spiritual realization of the wish in So 8:3 (1Pe 1:8), and the charge not to disturb it, close the first, second, and fourth canticles; not the third, as the bridegroom there takes charge Himself; nor the fifth, as, if repose formed its close, we might mistake the present state for our rest. The broken, longing close, like that of the whole Bible (Re 22:20), reminds us we are to be waiting for a Saviour to come. On "daughters of Jerusalem," see on So 7:10.
Canticle V.—(So 8:5-14)—From The Call of the Gentiles to the Close of Revelation.
5. Who is this—Words of the daughters of Jerusalem, that is, the churches of Judea; referring to Paul, on his return from Arabia ("the wilderness"), whither he had gone after conversion (Ga 1:15-24).
I raised thee … she … bare thee—(Ac 26:14-16). The first words of Jesus Christ to the bride since her going to the garden of nuts (So 6:9, 10); so His appearance to Paul is the only one since His ascension, So 8:13 is not an address of Him as visible: her reply implies He is not visible (1Co 15:8). Spiritually, she was found in the moral wilderness (Eze 16:5; Ho 13:5); but now she is "coming up from" it (Jer 2:2; Ho 2:14), especially in the last stage of her journey, her conscious weakness casting itself the more wholly on Jesus Christ (2Co 12:9). "Raised" (Eph 2:1-7). Found ruined under the forbidden tree (Ge 3:22-24); restored under the shadow of Jesus Christ crucified, "the green tree" (Lu 23:31), fruit-"bearing" by the cross (Isa 53:11; Joh 12:24). "Born again by the Holy Ghost" "there" (Eze 16:3-6). In this verse, her dependence, in the similar verse, So 3:6, &c., His omnipotence to support her, are brought out (De 33:26).
6. Implying approaching absence of the Bridegroom.
seal—having her name and likeness engraven on it. His Holy Priesthood also in heaven (Ex 28:6-12, 15-30; Heb 4:14); "his heart" there answering to "thine heart" here, and "two shoulders" to "arm." (Compare Jer 22:24, with Hag 2:23). But the Holy Ghost (Eph 1:13, 14). As in So 8:5, she was "leaning" on Him, that is, her arm on His arm, her head on His bosom; so she prays now that before they part, her impression may be engraven both on His heart and His arm, answering to His love and His power (Ps 77:15; see Ge 38:18; Isa 62:3).
love is strong as death—(Ac 21:13; Ro 8:35-39; Re 12:11). This their love unto death flows from His (Joh 10:15; 15:13).
jealousy … the grave—Zealous love, jealous of all that would come between the soul and Jesus Christ (1Ki 19:10; Ps 106:30, 31; Lu 9:60; 14:26; 1Co 16:22).
cruel—rather, "unyielding" hard, as the grave will not let go those whom it once holds (Joh 10:28).
a most vehement flame—literally, "the fire-flame of Jehovah" (Ps 80:16; Isa 6:6). Nowhere else is God's name found in the Song. The zeal that burnt in Jesus Christ (Ps 69:9; Lu 12:49, 50) kindled in His followers (Ac 2:3; Ro 15:30; Php 2:17).
7. waters—in contrast with the "coals of fire" (So 8:6; 1Ki 18:33-38). Persecutions (Ac 8:1) cannot quench love (Heb 10:34; Re 12:15, 16). Our many provocations have not quenched His love (Ro 8:33-39).
if … give all the substance … contemned—Nothing short of Jesus Christ Himself, not even heaven without Him, can satisfy the saint (Php 3:8). Satan offers the world, as to Jesus Christ (Mt 4:8), so to the saint, in vain (1Jo 2:15-17; 5:4). Nothing but our love in turn can satisfy Him (1Co 13:1-3).
8. The Gentile Church (Eze 16:48). "We," that is, the Hebrew Church, which heretofore admitted Gentiles to communion, only by becoming Judaic proselytes. Now first idolatrous Gentiles are admitted directly (Ac 11:17-26). Generally, the saint's anxiety for other souls (Mr 5:19; Joh 4:28, 29).
no breasts—neither faith nor love as yet (see on So 4:5), which "come by hearing" of Him who first loved us. Not yet fit to be His bride, and mother of a spiritual offspring.
what shall we do—the chief question in the early Church at the first council (Ac 15:23-29). How shall "the elder brother" treat the "younger," already received by the Father (Lu 15:25-32)? Generally (2Sa 15:15; Joh 9:4; Ac 9:6; Ga 6:10).
In the day … spoken for—that is, when she shall be sought in marriage (Jud 14:7), namely, by Jesus Christ, the heavenly bridegroom.
9. wall … door—the very terms employed as to the Gentile question (Ac 14:27; Eph 2:14). If she be a wall in Zion, founded on Jesus Christ (1Co 3:11), we will not "withstand God" (Ac 11:17; 15:8-11). But if so, we must not "build" (Ac 15:14-17) on her "wood, hay, stubble" (1Co 3:12), that is, Jewish rites, &c., but "a palace of silver," that is, all the highest privileges of church communion (Ga 2:11-18; Eph 2:11-22). Image from the splendid turrets "built" on the "walls" of Jerusalem, and flanking the "door," or gateway. The Gentile Church is the "door," the type of catholic accessibleness (1Co 16:9); but it must be not a mere thoroughfare but furnished with a wooden framework, so as not merely to admit, but also to safely enclose: cedar is fragrant, beautiful, and enduring.
10. The Gentile Church's joy at its free admission to gospel privileges (Ac 15:30, 31). She is one wall in the spiritual temple of the Holy Ghost, the Hebrew Church is the other; Jesus Christ, the common foundation, joins them (Eph 2:11-22).
breasts … towers—alluding to the silver palace, which the bridal virgins proposed to build on her (So 8:9). "Breasts" of consolation (Isa 66:11); faith and love (1Th 5:8); opposed to her previous state, "no breasts" (So 8:8; 2Th 1:3). Thus Eze 16:46, 61 was fulfilled, both Samaria and the Gentiles being joined to the Jewish gospel Church.
favour—rather, "peace." The Gentile Church too is become the Shulamite (So 6:13), or peace-enjoying bride of Solomon, that is, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace (Ro 5:1; Eph 2:14). Reject not those whom God accepts (Nu 11:28; Lu 9:49; Ac 15:8, 9). Rather, superadd to such every aid and privilege (So 8:9).
11. The joint Church speaks of Jesus Christ's vineyard. Transference of it from the Jews, who rendered not the fruits, as is implied by the silence respecting any, to the Gentiles (Mt 21:33-43).
Baal-hamon—equivalent to the owner of a multitude; so Israel in Solomon's day (1Ki 4:20); so Isa 5:1, "a very fruitful hill" abounding in privileges, as in numbers.
thousand pieces—namely, silverlings, or shekels. The vineyard had a thousand vines probably; a vine at a silverling (Isa 7:23), referring to this passage.
12. "mine" by grant of the true Solomon. Not merely "let out to keepers," as in the Jewish dispensation of works, but "mine" by grace. This is "before me," that is, in my power [Maurer]. But though no longer under constraint of "keeping" the law as a mere letter and covenant of works, love to Jesus Christ will constrain her the more freely to render all to Solomon (Ro 8:2-4; 1Co 6:20; Ga 5:13; 1Pe 2:16), after having paid what justice and His will require should be paid to others (1Co 7:29-31; 9:14). "Before me" may also mean "I will never lose sight of it" (contrast So 1:6) [Moody Stuart]. She will not keep it for herself, though so freely given to her, but for His use and glory (Lu 19:13; Ro 6:15; 14:7-9; 1Co 12:7). Or the "two hundred" may mean a double tithe (two-tenths of the whole paid back by Jesus Christ) as the reward of grace for our surrender of all (the thousand) to Him (Ga 6:7; Heb 6:10); then she and "those that keep" are the same [Adelaide Newton]. But Jesus Christ pays back not merely two tithes, but His all for our all (1Co 3:21-23).
13. Jesus Christ's address to her; now no longer visibly present. Once she "had not kept" her vineyard (So 1:6); now she "dwells" in it, not as its owner, but its superintendent under Jesus Christ, with vinedressers ("companions"), for example, Paul, &c. (Ac 15:25, 26), under her (So 8:11, 12); these ought to obey her when she obeys Jesus Christ. Her voice in prayer and praise is to be heard continually by Jesus Christ, if her voice before men is to be effective (So 2:14, end; Ac 6:4; 13:2, 3).
14. (See on So 2:17). As she began with longing for His first coming (So 1:2), so she ends with praying for His second coming (Ps 130:6; Php 3:20, 21; Re 22:20). Moody Stuart makes the roe upon spices to be the musk deer. As there are four gardens, so four mountains, which form not mere images, as Gilead, Carmel, &c., but part of the structure of the Song: (1) Bether, or division (So 2:17), God's justice dividing us from God. (2) Those "of leopards" (So 4:8), sin, the world, and Satan. (3) That "of myrrh and aloes" (So 4:6, 14), the sepulchre of Calvary. (4) Those "of spices," here answering to "the hill of frankincense" (So 4:6), where His soul was for the three days of His death, and heaven, where He is a High Priest now, offering incense for us on the fragrant mountain of His own finished work (Heb 4:14, 7:25; Re 8:3, 4); thus He surmounts the other three mountains, God's justice, our sin, death. The mountain of spices is as much greater than our sins, as heaven is higher than earth (Ps 103:11). The abrupt, unsatisfied close with the yearning prayer for His visible coming shows that the marriage is future, and that to wait eagerly for it is our true attitude (1Co 1:7; 1Th 1:10; Tit 2:13; 2Pe 3:12).