In this chapter Christ gives a fresh commendation of the beauty of his church, in a different order and method than before; beginning with her “feet”, and so rising upwards to the “hair” of her head, and the roof of her mouth, Song 7:1–9; And then the church asserts her interest in him, and his…

How beautiful are thy feet with shoes It is no unusual thing to describe the comeliness of women by their feet, and the ornaments of them; so Hebe is described by Homer [[3]] as having beautiful feet, and Juno by her golden shoes: particular care was taken of, and provision made for, the shoes of…

Thy navel is like a round goblet According to some, not the navel itself is meant; but a covering of it, a jewel or plate of gold in the shape of it; and because the word for “round”, in the Chaldee language, signifies the “moon”, and so Ben Melech interprets it, some have thought of the “round…

Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins. ] (See Gill on Song 4:5).

Thy neck is as a tower of ivory Two things recommend the neck, erectness and whiteness; both are here expressed, the one by a “tower”, the other by “ivory”; hence a fine beautiful neck is called an ivory one [[18]]; and for the same reason it sometimes has the epithet of “snowy” [[19]], and…

Thine head upon thee is like Carmel Set with hair, thick and long, as Carmel with plants and trees. Now Christ is the church’s Head in various senses; he is her federal and representative Head in eternity and time; her political Head, as a King to his subjects; an economical Head, as the husband to…

How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! ] These are the words of the King in the galleries, wondering at the church’s beauty, it being incomparable and inexpressible, it could not be said well how great it was; and expressing the strength of his love to her, which was invariably…

This thy stature is like to a palm tree Made up of the above parts commended, and others had in view, as appears from the relative “this”. The word for “stature” properly signifies height, tallness, and erectness; and which were reckoned agreeable in women, as well as men; (See Gill on 1 Sam.

I said, I will go up to the palm tree Which is easy of ascent; having, in the bark of the trunk or body of the tree, rings like steps, whereby the eastern people climb it with incredible swiftness, as Pliny [[12]] relates: these steps are made by the lower boughs being lopped off, whose knots, or…

And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine Which may intend, either her taste, as the word is rendered in ; by which she can distinguish good wine from bad, truth from error; or her breath, sweet and of a good smell, like the best wine; the breathings of her soul in prayer, which are sweet…

I am my beloved’s These are the words of the church, strongly expressing the assurance of faith she had of her union to Christ, and interest in him; which shows that “that” grace is attainable, and that there may be a continuation of the exercise of it; it may be expressed again and again, as it is…

Come, my beloved The word come is often used by Christ, and here by the church, in imitation of him; see (Song 2:10, Song 2:13) . This call is the call of the church upon Christ, to make good his promise, ; and is an earnest desire after the presence of Christ, and the manifestations of his love;…

Let us get up early to the vineyards After a night’s lodging in the fields, or among the “Cyprus trees”. By which “vineyards” may be meant particular churches, gathered according to Gospel order, and distinguished from the world, planted with fruitful vines, and fenced by almighty power: hither the…

The mandrakes give a smell Or, “those lovely flowers”, as Junius and Tremellius, and Piscator, translate the words; even those the church proposed to give to her beloved, when in the fields Some take them to be violets; others, jessamine; others, more probably, lilies [[6]]; as the circumstances of…