Song of Solomon 4:12-16

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:15-16

These seem to be the words of the spouse, the church, in answer to the commendations which Christ, the bridegroom, had given of her as a pleasant fruitful garden. Isa. she a garden? I. She owns her dependence upon Christ himself to make this garden fruitful. To him she has an eye (Song 4:15) as the fountain of gardens, not only the founder of them, by whom they are planted and to whom they owe their being, but the fountain of them, by which they are watered and to which they own their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:12

A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse ,.... At a little distance from Bethlehem are pools of water, and below these runs a narrow rocky valley, enclosed on both sides with high mountains which the friars, as Mr. Maundrell says F4 Journey from Aleppo, &c.; p. 89. Edit. 7. will have to be the enclosed garden here alluded to; but it is more likely that the allusion is to a garden near Jerusalem, called the king's garden, Adrichomius F5 Theatrum Terrae Sanctae, p. 170. ... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:14

Spikenard and saffron ,.... The former is the best sort of nard, and therefore mentioned and repeated, to which saints may be compared, because of the graces of the Spirit in them; which, when exercised, give a sweet odour, and are exceeding grateful to Christ; see Song of Solomon 1:12 ; and the latter, according to Schindler F19 Lexic. Pentaglott. col. 910. , seems to have been read "carcos", the same with "crocus", and is a plant well known by us for its cheering nature; and has... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:15

A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon. Some F3 So Cocceius, Schmidt, Heunischius, Marckius, Michaelis. take these words to be the words of Christ continued, speaking still of his church, and explaining and enlarging upon what he had said of her, Song of Solomon 4:12 ; but they are rather the words of the church; who, upon hearing herself commended, and knowing that all her fruitfulness, and the flourishing condition she was in, were owing to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:16

Awake, O north wind ,.... These words, according to some F12 So Cocceius, Marckius, Michaelis. , are the words of the church continued, praying for the spirit; to which sense the order and connection of the words seem to incline; though the language suits best with Christ, who has the command of the winds, and a right and property in the garden, the church: nor does it seem so agreeable, that the church should petition Christ to let loose the north wind upon her, if by that are meant... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Song of Solomon 4:12

A garden enclosed - a spring shut up, a fountain sealed - Different expressions to point out the fidelity of the bride, or of the Jewish queen. See the outlines. She is unsullied, a chaste, pure virgin. None has ever entered into this garden; none has yet tasted of this spring; the seal of this fountain has never been broken. Among the Athenians, the interior part of the house, called the women's apartment, was not only locked but sealed; so Aristophan., Thesmoph. ver. 422: - Ειτα δια... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Song of Solomon 4:16

Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south - It is granted that the south wind in Palestine, in the summer, is extremely hot and troublesome; therefore, another interpretation of this passage has been proposed by Mr. Harmer; who thinks בואי boi , which we render come, signifies enter into thy repositories; and, therefore, supposes the true interpretation of the words to be as follows: "Arise, thou north wind, (and retire, thou south), blow upon my garden; let the spices thereof flow... read more

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:15-16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:12

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Song of Solomon 4:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Song of Solomon 4:12

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Song of Solomon 4:16

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