Chapter 4

1 Christ setteth forth the graces of the church. 8 He sheweth his love to her. 16 The church prayeth to be made fit for his presence.

1. Thou art fair. Better, “thou art beautiful.” The principal speaker thus far in the song has been the Shulamite maid. Now begins the most extended speech of the bridegroom. The reminiscent address extols the beauty of the bride and culminates in a proposal for marriage, which is accepted.

Doves’ eyes. See ch. 1:15.

Thy locks. Rather, “thy veil.” The veil worn by many Eastern women is a dark cloth that is suspended from the head. The forehead and the eyes are left uncovered. This veil covers not only all the face except the forehead and eyes, but also the neck, and hangs loosely down over the bosom.

A flock of goats. Her hair is black and sleek like the hair of Palestinian goats, which were mostly black or dark brown in color.

2. Flock of sheep. The teeth are beautifully white, well formed, and evenly paired. None is missing.

3. Speech. Rather the “mouth” as an instrument of speech.

Temples. Heb. raqqah, from a root meaning “to be thin,” “to be weak,” hence the thin parts of the skull on each side of the eyes. Some suggest that the cheeks are intended.

4. Bucklers. Bucklers were frequently hung about towers, both as ornaments and to have at hand in time of emergency.

6. Day break. See on ch. 2:17. This seems to be another refrain, perhaps spoken by the bride in her modesty and humility, to check the fervor of the bridegroom. He, however, immediately continues to pour forth his love with new expressions of affection.

7. Thou art all fair. You are altogether lovely, you do not have a single defect. Jesus is represented as saying these words to the church, His bride (see MH 356; MB 100).

8. Amana. The Anti-Lebanon Mts.

Shenir. The Amorite as well as the Ugaritic and Akkadian name for Mt. Hermon (see Deut. 3:9). The two mountains may stand in apposition here, or Shenir may be a prominent peak of Hermon. Solomon wants the Shulamite maiden to leave all the beautiful mountains of her northern country land.

9. Ravished my heart. The Hebrew verb is derived from the noun “heart.” Solomon said literally, “you have hearted me.” Perhaps what he meant was, “you have encouraged me.”

10. Thy love. Literally, “thy loves,” that is, the many attentions and manifestations of love (see ch. 1:2).

12. A garden inclosed. Under the symbolic expression of an enclosed garden King Solomon proposes marriage, and under the same symbol is accepted by the Shulamite maiden (v. 16). No one has ever entered this garden, no one has ever tasted this fountain, the seal of this fountain has never been broken.

15. A well of living waters. The language of this verse has been used to describe the ever-refreshing draughts that may be drawn from the Word of God (see PP 234; PK 37).

16. Come into his garden. This is the answer of the Shulamite. She invites him into his garden to eat of his fruits.

Ellen G. White comments

7    MB 100; MH 356

15   MB 37; PK 234