Song of Solomon 4

Song of Solomon 4:1

Behold. The words of the shepherd approaching the Shulamite.

my love = my friend. Hebrew. ra’yah. See note on Son 1:9. Feminine, showing the speaker and the one spoken to.

behold = gaze on.

doves’ eyes. Referring to the large melting eye of the dove: a “clean” bird.

within thy locks = behind (or through) thy veil.

that appear = springing down.

Song of Solomon 4:2

even = evenly.

whereof every one bear twins = all of which are paired.

barren = bereaved, as in Jeremiah 18:21.

Song of Solomon 4:3

thread = braid.

speech = mouth.

temples = cheeks.

piece = part.

Song of Solomon 4:6

Until = When. The Shulamite speaks in Son 4:6, referring to Son 2:17, answering that that very evening she will quit Jerusalem and go to their delightful country.

break = cools. Compare Son 2:17.

Song of Solomon 4:7

Thou art all fair, my love. The shepherd speaks: “love” being here feminine again.

Song of Solomon 4:8

Come = Thou wilt come.

Lebanon . . . Amana . . . Shenir . . . Hermon . . . the lions’ dens,

. . . the mountains of the leopards. He gives these names to Jerusalem and the royal residence.

my spouse = my betrothed.

lions . . . leopards: denote the king and his courtiers. Compare Ezekiel 19:7; Ezekiel 22:25. Nahum 2:12.

Song of Solomon 4:9

ravished my heart = put heart into me.

one. It was customary to unveil one eye in conversation.

of: or round.

Song of Solomon 4:10

fair = sweet.

love = endearments. Hebrew. dodim, as in Son 1:2, Son 1:4, and Son 7:12.

my sister, my spouse = my sister betrothed.

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27.

Song of Solomon 4:11

drop as = drop [honey] as.

Song of Solomon 4:12

A garden. Note the Alternation in verses: Son 4:12-15: c | 12-. Garden. d | -12. Spring. c | 13, 14. Garden fruits. d | 15. Fountain.

inclosed = closed: bolted and barred.

shut up. Same word as “inclosed” (above).

Song of Solomon 4:13

an orchard = a paradise. See note on Ecclesiastes 2:5.

camphire = henna, or cypress.

Song of Solomon 4:14

all trees of frankincense = all sorts of frankincense trees.

spices = spice plants.

Song of Solomon 4:15

A fountain = [With] a fountain.

fountain of gardens = a garden-fountain, without which no garden was complete.

Let my beloved. The Shulamite speaks in response, with the eloquent brevity of her overwrought feelings.

my beloved. Here, masculine, which shows who the speaker of this sentence is.

his = its.