Song of Solomon 4:1-7 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:1-7

Here is, I. A large and particular account of the beauties of the church, and of gracious souls on whom the image of God is renewed, consisting in the beauty of holiness. In general, he that is a competent judge of beauty, whose judgment, we are sure, is according to truth, and what all must subscribe to, he has said, Behold, thou art fair. She had commended him, and called all about her to take notice of his glories; and hereby she recommends herself to him, gains his favour, and, in return... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:1

Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair ,.... The same as in Song of Solomon 1:15 ; here repeated by Christ, to introduce the following commendation; to express the greatness of his love to his church; and show that he had the same opinion of her, and esteem for her, notwithstanding what had passed between that time and this; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks ; the same comparison; see Gill on Song of Solomon 1:15 ; only with this difference, here her eyes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:2

Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep ,.... That is, like the teeth of a flock of sheep; as her eyes were like the eyes of doves, and her hair like the hair of goats: and Galen long ago observed, that human teeth are much like the teeth of sheep, in figure, order, and structure, as well as are small and white; neatly set, innocent and harmless, not ravenous and voracious, cropping herbs and grass only F23 In Salazar apud Marckium in loc. ; the whiteness of the teeth is chiefly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:3

Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet ,.... To a "thread" for thinness, to "scarlet" for colour; thin red lips being beautiful, as well as white teeth; so the beautiful Aspasia had red lips F2 Aelian. Var. Hist. l. 12. c. 1. , and teeth whiter than snow; hence we read of red and purple lips F3 χειλεα πυρρα , Theocrit. Idyll. 15. "Purpureis labellis", Ovid. Amor. l. 3. Eleg. 13. . Now as lips are the instruments of speech, the words of the church, and of all true believers,... read more

John Gill

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

Thy neck is like the tower of David, builded for an armoury ,.... This was either the strong hold of Zion; or some tower erected by David for an armoury, wherein his worthies or mighty men bring up their shields; Mr. Sandys F11 Travels, p. 139. Vid. Adrichom. Theatrum Terrae Sanctae, p. 168. says, it stood aloft in the utmost angle of a mountain, whose ruins are yet extant: though the neck is compared to this, not for its height, seeing a high and outstretched neck is a token of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:5

Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins ,.... Or, "two fawns, the twins of a doe": Providence, as Plutarch observes F16 De Liberis Educand. vol. 2. p. 3. , has given to women two breasts, that, should they have twins, both might have a fountain of nourishment; and are fitly compared to twins of the doe. The hind, for the most part, brings but one roe at a time; but there are some, the philosopher says F17 Aristot. de Animal. l. 6. c. 29. , bring twins; by which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:6

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away ,.... Until the day of grace breaks on every elect sinner, and the shadows of darkness, ignorance, and unbelief, are in a great measure fled and gone; or until the everlasting day breaks, and there will be no more night, nor any darkness of affliction, nor any more desertion, doubts, and fears; see Song of Solomon 2:17 . They are the words of Christ, declaring whither he would go till that time came, as follows: I will get me to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:7

Thou art all fair, my love ,.... Being justified by the righteousness of Christ, washed in his blood, and sanctified by his Spirit; of the title, my "love", see Song of Solomon 1:9 . The church is often said by Christ to be "fair", his "fair one", and the "fairest among women", Song of Solomon 1:8 ; but here "all fair", being a perfection of beauty, and perfectly comely through his comeliness: this is said to show her completeness in Christ, as to justification; and that, with respect to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Song of Solomon 4:1

Thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks - Perhaps this refers rather to a sort of veil worn by many of the Eastern women, but especially in Egypt. It is a species of black cloth made of the hair of some animal, probably the black goat; is suspended from the head by silken cords, one of which comes from the crown of the head, down the forehead, to the upper part of the nose, just under the eyes, at which place the veil begins; for the forehead and the eyes are uncovered, except the cord above... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Song of Solomon 4:2

Thy teeth are like a flock - This comparison appears to be founded on the evenness, neatness, and whiteness of the newly shorn and newly washed sheep. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:1-7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:3

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Song of Solomon 4:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Song of Solomon 4:2

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