Song of Solomon 5:12

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Song of Solomon 5:12

Song of Solomon 5:12. And fitly set— Sitting at the full streams. The literal meaning is, "His eyes are sparkling and yet mild, like those of milk-white doves, when they are delighted as they sit by the water-side." See Patrick, Bochart, &c. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Song of Solomon 5:12

12. as the eyes of doves—rather, "as doves" (Psalms 68:13); bathing in "the rivers"; so combining in their "silver" feathers the whiteness of milk with the sparkling brightness of the water trickling over them (Psalms 68:13- :). The "milk" may allude to the white around the pupil of the eye. The "waters" refer to the eye as the fountain of tears of sympathy (Ezekiel 16:5; Ezekiel 16:6; Luke 19:41). Vivacity, purity, and love, are the three features typified. fitly set—as a gem in a ring; as the... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Song of Solomon 5:2-16

A Dream. His Beauty and hers2-7. Another dream of hers, with a painful ending. The accumulation (Son 5:2) of names of endearment reminds us of the frequent repetition, by a Palestinian bridegroom during the wedding dance, of Yâ halâli, Yâ mâli, ' O my property, 'Omy possession!'2. Heavy dew falls, especially during spring and in the second half of the night. The Spanish poet whom Longfellow translated had in his mind our passage and Revelation 3:20 :'Lord, what am I, that, with unceasing... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Song of Solomon 5:12

(12) Fitly set.—Literally, sitting in fulness, which the Margin explains, according to one received method of interpretation, as beautifully set, like a precious stone in the foil of a ring. If the comparison were to the eyes of the dove, this would be a sufficient interpretation, the image being perfect, owing to the ring of bright red skin round the eye of the turtle-dove. But there is no necessity to have recourse to the figure comparatio compendiana here, since doves delight in bathing; and... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Song of Solomon 5:1-16

The Incomparableness of Christ Song of Solomon 5:9 'What is thy Beloved more than another beloved?' Wherein is Christ incomparable? I. Christ is Incomparable in the Inquiries He Excites. There must be something in our Beloved that is more than another beloved when such interrogatories are urged upon us. Commonplaceness does not arrest attention. Mediocrity does not challenge comparison. Ordinary personalities do not normally create extraordinary excitement. But our Beloved is much inquired... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 5:9-16

MYSTICAL INTERPRETATIONSTHUS far we have been considering the bare, literal sense of the text. It cannot be denied that, if only to lead up to the metaphorical significance of the words employed, those words must be approached through their primary physical meanings. This is essential even to the understanding of pure allegory such as that of "The Faerie Queene" and "The Pilgrim’s Progress"; we must understand the adventures of the Red Cross Knight and the course of Christian’s journey before... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Song of Solomon 5:1-16

CHAPTER 5 The Bridegroom answers the invitation extended to Him when the bride had said, “Let my Beloved come into His (not her) garden.” He says, “I am come into My garden, My sister, My spouse.” She is both “sister and spouse.” When He speaks of her as sister, He owns the national relationship. In Matthew 12:46-50 He disowned that relationship because they rejected the offer of the kingdom, but now it is reestablished and the godly portion of Israel becomes the spouse. In His garden, the... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 5:1-16

Acts 2:0 , SCENE 1 This scene embraces the first four verses of chapter 2, and is a soliloquy of the bride in the nature of a troubled dream troubled because of anxiety for her lover’s safety in the chase. It is emblematical of the temporary interruption experienced in the fellowship of Christ’s people with their Lord. Acts 3:0 , SCENE 1 We are here dealing with the events of Song of Solomon 3:5-11 of this same chapter, and which are supposed to have occurred on the third morning. The royal... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Song of Solomon 5:1-16

Christ and His Church Song of Solomon 5-8 The Song has a double action: sometimes the Church praises Christ, and sometimes Christ praises the Church. The most noticeable feature is that the praise on both sides is equal. Not one word does the Church say of Christ that Christ does not in his turn say of the Church. So there is no idolatry in Christian worship when that worship is directed to God the Son. God the Son does not take from the Church all praise and honour without returning to his... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Song of Solomon 5:12

His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. The Church now describes the eyes of her, beloved. Blessed it is to know that Jesus's eye is upon all his people, and with the love and meekness of the dove. Perhaps the influences of his Holy Spirit may be here intended by the allusion. And as the Holy Ghost is frequently set forth under the similitude of rivers and waters; so his gifts are said to be as by the rivers. Sweet thought here again... read more