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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:8-14

These are still the words of Christ to his church, expressing his great esteem of her and affection to her, the opinion he had of her beauty and excellency, the desire he had of, and the delight he had in, her converse and society. And so ought men to love their wives as Christ loves the church, and takes pleasure in it as if it were spotless and had no fault, when yet it is compassed with infirmity. Now, observe here, I. The endearing names and titles by which he calls her, to express his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:13

Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates ,.... These plants are the members of the church, true converts, believers in Christ; pleasant plants, plants of renown, planted in the church by Christ's heavenly Father, and shall never be plucked up; or, thy gardens, as it may be rendered F14 Vid. Guisium in Misn. Sheviith, c. 2. s. 2. ; particular churches, well taken care of and watered; these make an orchard, or are like one, even a paradise, as the word F15 פרדס παραδεισος ,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Song of Solomon 4:13

Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates - This seems to refer to the fecundity of the bride or Jewish queen; to the former it would be a prediction; to the latter, a statement of what had already taken place. The word פרדס pardes , which we translate an orchard, is the same which has given birth to our paradise, a garden of pleasure. The other expressions, in this and the following verse, seem to refer wholly to matters of a connubial nature. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:7-16

Further conversation. I. THE WORDS OF THE BRIDEGROOM . 1 . His entire love for the bride. If the view of Song of Solomon 4:6 indicated above gives the true meaning, the bride has left the bridegroom for a time. In the evening they meet again, and the king again expresses his affection: "Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee." Such shall the Church be in the eyes of Christ, when he has sanctified and cleansed her with the washing of water by the Word; when... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:9-15

Cur Deus homo? In these verses the beloved tells her whom he has come to deliver wherefore he would run all this risk and endure so much for her sake. And reading them as an allegory, we may take them as setting forth why and wherefore God became Man; why "he who was rich for our sakes became poor." And amongst these reasons are— I. HIS INTENSE LOVE FOR US . The speaker tells in Song of Solomon 4:9 how but a small portion of the beauty and of the adornments of her whom he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:12-15

The garden and the fountain. The bride's beauty, purity, sweetness, and delightfulness are set forth in these verses of the song with all the richness of Oriental imagery. The poet's fancy takes him to the sunny garden of the half-tropical En-gedi, to the breezy heights of Lebanon, whence flow the streams that convert the desert into a paradise. Orchards of pomegranates, gardens redolent with spicy odours, murmuring fountains, all serve to suggest the charms of the peerless one whom the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:12-16

The King's garden. The Church of Christ is fitly likened to a garden. It is a piece of territory separated from the rest, enclosed from the beaten road of this world's traffic. The distinguishing mark of a Christian Church is separation; i.e. separation from evil, separation as a means of blessing. As in a garden a king finds great delight and solace, so in this sacred garden Jesus Christ has a special joy. He calls it "my garden." We do not hear him say, "My star; my snow-capped... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:13-14

Thy shoots are an orchard of pomegranates, with precious fruits; henna with spikenard plants, spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices. Thy shoots ; i.e. that which comes forth from thee, thy plants, or, as Bottcher puts it, "all the phenomena and life utterances of her personality." All the plants had their meaning in flower language. They are mostly exotics. But it is difficult now to suggest meanings,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Song of Solomon 4:12-15

The loveliness and purity of the bride are now set forth under the image of a paradise or garden fast barred against intruders, filled with rarest plants of excellent fragrance, and watered by abundant streams. Compare Proverbs 5:15-20.Song of Solomon 4:12A fountain sealed - i. e., A well-spring covered with a stone Genesis 29:3, and sealed with “the king’s own signet” (Daniel 6:17; compare Matthew 27:66).Song of Solomon 4:13Orchard - This is the renderlng here and in Ecclesiastes 2:5 of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Song of Solomon 4:13-14

Song of Solomon 4:13-14. Thy plants are an orchard Believers, which are planted in thee, are like the plants or fruits of an orchard, which are pleasant to the eye, and delicious to the taste or smell, whereby he signifies the variety and excellence of the gifts and graces in the several members of the church. Spike-nard Which he mentions here with camphire, and in the next verse with saffron, because it is mixed with both these, and, being so mixed, yields the more grateful smell. ... read more

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