Song of Songs 5:10

Woman

10 My love is fit and strong,[a] notable among ten thousand.

Song of Songs 5:10 Meaning and Commentary

Song of Solomon 5:10

My beloved [is] white and ruddy
This, and the following verses, contain the church's answer to the question of the daughters; she first gives a general description of her beloved, and then descends to particulars: the description of him in general is, that he is "white and ruddy"; having the whiteness of the lily, and the redness of the rose, ( Song of Solomon 2:1 ) ; which make a perfect beauty. Some understand this of the two natures in Christ, divine and human; with respect to his divine nature, "white", expressive of his simplicity, purity and holiness; which colour, Cicero says F18, is chiefly becoming God, it being simple, and having no mixture and composition in it: with respect to his human nature, "red", being a partaker of the same flesh and blood with his people. Others, only of the human nature; "white" denoting the purity and holiness of it, being without either original or actual sin; "red", or "ruddy", his bloody sufferings in it for the sins of his people. But it may denote, in general, his fairness, beauty, and glory; being, as a divine Person, the brightness of his Father's glory; as man; fairer than the children of men; as the Mediator, full of grace and truth; and in all his offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King, and in all the relations he stands in to his, as Father, Husband, Brother, and Friend, he appears most lovely and amiable;

the chiefest among ten thousand;
whether angels or men; he is the Creator of angels, the object of their worship; and has a more excellent name and nature than they, to whom they are subject, and are ministering spirits; he is superior to men, good and bad, high and low; Lord of all, King of kings, and Head of saints, and has the pre-eminence over all creatures. The Septuagint version is, "chosen out of" or "from ten thousand"; Christ, as man, is chosen of God, from among the myriads of the individuals of human nature, to union with the divine Word, or Son of God; see ( Psalms 89:19 ) ; as God-man and Mediator, to be the alone Saviour and Redeemer of his people; to be the Head of the body, the church; and to be the Judge of quick and dead; and he is chosen by sensible sinners to be the object of their love; to be their only Saviour; and to be their Ruler and Governor, whose laws, commands, and ordinances, they choose to obey; see ( Psalms 73:24 ) ; The words may be rendered, "the standard bearer", or "one standarded by" or "over ten thousand" F19; the church is militant, and has many enemies; in the name of the Lord, she sets up her banners against them, and the banner over her is the "love" of Christ, ( Song of Solomon 2:4 ) ; and he is the standard bearer, who has a multitude of angels and saints under his standard; and how stately and majestic does he look, and what a noble sight is it to see him bearing the standard before such a company! ( Revelation 7:9 ) . Or the sense is, Christ is a more excellent standard bearer than all others {t}; there may be ten thousand persons that carry a flag, but none to be compared with him, for comeliness, strength, and courage: or he is lifted up, as a standard, above others, angels and men; as he was upon the cross, and now, in the ministry of the word, that souls may gather unto him, and enlist themselves in his service; see ( Isaiah 11:10 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F18 De Legibus, l. 2.
F19 (hbbrm lwgd) "vexillatus a decem millibus", Montanus; "sub signis habens exercitum decem millium", Tigurine version.
F20 "Insignis prae decem millibus", Pagninus, so Cocceius, Marckius.

Song of Songs 5:10 In-Context

8 Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you: if you find my love, tell him that I am lovesick.
9 What makes the one you love better than another, most beautiful of women? What makes him better than another, that you would give us this charge?
10 My love is fit and strong, notable among ten thousand.
11 His head is purest gold. His hair is wavy and black as a raven.
12 His eyes are like doves beside streams of water, washed in milk and set like jewels.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or is radiant and ruddy
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