Song of Solomon 7:7

7 Thy stature is likened to a palm tree, and thy teats to clusters of grapes. (Thy stature is like a palm tree/Thou art stately like a palm tree, and thy breasts be like clusters of grapes.)

Song of Solomon 7:7 Meaning and Commentary

Song of Solomon 7:7

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 Samuel 9:2); hence methods are often made use of to make them look taller, as by their head dresses, their shoes, and by stretching out their necks, ( Isaiah 3:16 ) ; and the simile of a tree is not an improper one: and so Galatea is, for height and tallness, compared to an alder and to a plane tree ^F8; and Helena, to a cypress tree in a garden ^F9, on the same account; and here the church to a palm tree: the Egyptian palm tree is said to be the best ^F11; and if Solomon here has any reference to Pharaoh's daughter, his wife, he might think of that, which is described

``of body straight, high, round, and slender ^F12,''

and fitly expresses a good shape and stature. The church's stature is no other than the "stature of the fulness of Christ", ( Ephesians 4:13 ) ; which will be attained unto when all the elect are gathered in, and every member joined to the body, and all filled with the gifts and graces of the spirit designed for them, and are grown up to a just proportion in the body; and in such a state Christ seems to view his church, and so commends her by this simile: saints are oftentimes compared to palm trees in Scripture on other accounts; see ( Psalms 92:12 ) ; and thy breasts to clusters [of grapes];
on a vine which might be planted by and run up upon a palm tree, as Aben Ezra suggests: though rather clusters of dates, the fruit of the palm tree, are designed, since this fruit, as Pliny ^F13 observes, grows in clusters; and to clusters of the vine the church's breasts are compared in ( Song of Solomon 7:8 ) . And by these "breasts" may be meant either the ministers of the Gospel, who communicate the sincere milk of the word to souls; and may be compared to clusters for their numbers, when there is plenty of them, which is a great mercy to the church; and for their unity, likeness, and agreement in their work, in their ministrations, and in the doctrine they preach, though their gifts may be different; or else the two Testaments, full of the milk of the word; and comparable to "clusters" of grapes or dates, because of the many excellent doctrines and precious promises in them; which, when pressed by hearing, reading, meditation, and prayer, yield both delight and nourishment to the souls of men. Some think the two ordinances of the Gospel, baptism and the Lord's supper, are intended, which are breasts of consolation; and, when the presence of Christ, and the manifestations of his love, are enjoyed in them, they afford much pleasure and satisfaction; and as those breasts are full in themselves, they are beautiful in the eye of Christ, and as such commended; (See Gill on Song of Solomon 4:5).

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Ovid. Metamorph. l. 13. Fab. 8.
F9 Theocrit. Idyll. 18. v. 30.
F11 A. Gellii Nect. Attic. l. 7. c. 16. Vid. Strabo. Geograph. l. 17. p. 563.
F12 Sandys's Travels, l. 2. p. 79.
F13 Nat. Hist. l. 13. c. 4.

Song of Solomon 7:7 In-Context

5 Thine head is as Carmel; and the hairs of thine head be as the king's purple, joined to troughs. (Thy head is held high like Mount Carmel; and the hair on thy head is like the king's purple, braided with ribbons.)

6 Most dear spousess, thou art full fair, and full shapely in delights. (My dear spousess, thou art so beautiful, and so shapely, and so delightfully formed.)

7 Thy stature is likened to a palm tree, and thy teats to clusters of grapes. (Thy stature is like a palm tree/Thou art stately like a palm tree, and thy breasts be like clusters of grapes.)

8 I said, I shall go up into a palm tree, and I shall take the fruits thereof. And thy teats shall be as the clusters of grapes of a vinery; and the odour of thy mouth as the odour of pomegranates; (I said, I shall go up into the palm tree, and I shall take of its fruits. And thy breasts be like clusters of grapes in a vineyard; and the aroma of thy breath is like the aroma of pomegranates;)

9 thy throat shall be as best wine. Worthy to my darling for to drink, and to his lips and teeth to chew. (yea, thy breath is like the best wine. Worthy for thy darling to drink, and flowing over my lips and teeth.)