Song of Solomon4
New International Version
1 How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from the hills of Gilead.
2 Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing. Each has its twin; not one of them is alone.
3 Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate.
4 Your neck is like the tower of David, built with courses of stone; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors.
5 Your breasts are like two fawns, like twin fawns of a gazelle that browse among the lilies.
6 Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of incense.
7 You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.
8 Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon. Descend from the crest of Amana, from the top of Senir, the summit of Hermon, from the lions’ dens and the mountain haunts of leopards.
9 You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.
10 How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume more than any spice!
11 Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
12 You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.
13 Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, with henna and nard,
14 nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree, with myrrh and aloes and all the finest spices.
15 You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon.
16 Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread everywhere. Let my beloved come into his garden and taste its choice fruits.
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Song of Solomon 4Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Song of Solomon 4. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Christ sets forth the graces of the church. (1-7) . Christ's love to the church. (8-15) . The church desires further influences of Divine grace. (16).
vv1-7
If each of these comparisons has a meaning applicable to the graces of the church, or of the faithful Christian, they are not clearly known; and great mistakes are made by fanciful guesses. The mountain of myrrh appears to mean the mountain Moriah, on which the temple was built, where the incense was burned, and the people worshipped the Lord. This was his residence till the shadows of the law given to Moses were dispersed by the breaking of the gospel day, and the rising of the Sun of righteousness. And though, in respect of his human nature, Christ is absent from his church on earth, and will continue to be so till the heavenly day break, yet he is spiritually present in his ordinances, and with his people. How fair and comely are believers, when justified in Christ's righteousness, and adorned with spiritual graces! when their thoughts, words, and deeds, though imperfect, are pure, manifesting a heart nourished by the gospel!
vv8-15
Observe the gracious call Christ gives to the church. It is, 1. A precept; so this is Christ's call to his church to come off from the world. These hills seem pleasant, but there are in them lions' dens; they are mountains of the leopards. 2. As a promise; many shall be brought as members of the church, from every point. The church shall be delivered from her persecutors in due time, though now she dwells among lions, Ps. 57:4. Christ's heart is upon his church; his treasure is therein; and he delights in the affection she has for him; its working in the heart, and its works in the life. The odours wherewith the spouse is perfumed, are as the gifts and graces of the Spirit. Love and obedience to God are more pleasing to Christ than sacrifice or incense. Christ having put upon his spouse the white raiment of his own righteousness, and the righteousness of saints, and perfumed it with holy joy and comfort, he is well pleased with it. And Christ walks in his garden unseen. A hedge of protection is made around, which all the powers of darkness cannot break through. The souls of believers are as gardens enclosed, where is a well of living water, John 4:14; 7:38, the influences of the Holy Spirit. The world knows not these wells of salvation, nor can any opposer corrupt this fountain. Saints in the church, and graces in the saints, are fitly compared to fruits and spices. They are planted, and do not grow of themselves. They are precious; they are the blessings of this earth. They will be kept to good purpose when flowers are withered. Grace, when ended in glory, will last for ever. Christ is the source which makes these gardens fruitful; even a well of living waters.
v16
The church prays for the influences of the blessed Spirit, to make this garden fruitful. Graces in the soul are as spices in these gardens, that in them which is valuable and useful. The blessed Spirit, in his work upon the soul, is as the wind. There is the north wind of conviction, and the south wind of comfort. He stirs up good affections, and works in us both to will and to do that which is good. The church invites Christ. Let him have the honour of all the garden produces, and let us have the comfort of his acceptance of it. We can invite him to nothing but what is his own already. The believer can have no joy of the fruits, unless they redound some way or other to the glory of Christ. Let us then seek to keep separate from the world, as a garden enclosed, and to avoid conformity thereto.
Key Words
הִנֵּה: lo!
יָפֶה: beautiful (literally or figuratively)
רַעְיָה: a female associate
עַיִן: an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
יוֹנָה: a dove (apparently from the warmth of their mating)
בְּעַד: in up to or over against; generally at, beside, among, behind, for, etc.
צַמָּה: a veil
שֵׂעָר: hair (as if tossed or bristling)
עֵדֶר: an arrangement, i.e. muster (of animals)
עֵז: a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for goat's hair)
Cross References
Song of Solomon 4Believers as wells of living water, reflecting the indwelling Spirit transforming the heart.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Christ presenting the Church to Himself without spot, wrinkle, or any such thing.
Supported by JFB
The enclosed garden contains a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The bride's beauty is made perfect through the comeliness of her husband put upon her.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The blushing temples behind the veil denote modesty and penitent shamefacedness.
Supported by JFB
The scarlet lips of the bride typologically echo Rahab's saving scarlet cord.
Supported by JFB
The call to leave home and worldly associations to cleave to the King.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The sweet smell of the spouse's garments mirrors Israel's fragrance as Lebanon.
Supported by JFB
Long hair as a natural covering and glory, signifying subjection and modesty.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Gracious, comely speech seasoned with salt corresponds to the bride's lovely lips.
Supported by JFB
The mountain of myrrh typified in Christ's physical burial spices.
Supported by JFB
The church dwells safely with Christ though physically surrounded by lions and adversaries.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The sacrifice of praise from lips that drop sweetness, acknowledging His name.
Supported by JFB
Shields and armor hanging on walls as ornaments of strength and valor.
Supported by JFB
The loving hind and pleasant roe as symbols of marital delight and satisfaction.
Supported by JFB
Gilead recognized as an exceptionally rich country for livestock like goats.
Supported by Matthew Poole