Song of Solomon 1:2

2 Your lips cover me with kisses; your love is better than wine.

Song of Solomon 1:2 Meaning and Commentary

Song of Solomon 1:2

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth
That is, Solomon; Christ, the antitype of Solomon, the church's beloved; or it is a relative without an antecedent, which was only in her own mind, "let him"; him, whom her thoughts were so much employed about; her affections were so strongly after; and whose image was as it were before her, present to her mind: and "the kisses of his mouth", she desires, intend some fresh manifestations and discoveries of his love to her; by some precious word of promise from his mouth, applied to her; and by an open espousal of her, and the consummation of marriage with her. It may be rendered, "with one of the kisses of his mouth" {n}; kisses with the ancients were very rare, and used but once when persons were espoused, and as a token of that; and then they were reckoned as husband and wife F15: on which account, it may be, it is here desired; since it was after this we hear of the spouse being brought into the nuptial chamber, and of the keeping of the nuptial feast, ( Song of Solomon 1:4 Song of Solomon 1:12 ) ; for thy love [is] better than wine;
or "loves" F16; which may denote the abundance of it; the many blessings of grace which flow from it; and the various ways in which it is expressed; as well as the high esteem the church had of it. This is said to be "better than wine"; for the antiquity of it, it being from everlasting; and for the purity of it, being free from all dregs of dissimulation and deceit on the part of Christ, and from all merit, motives, and conditions, on the part of the church; for its plenty, being shed plenteously in the hearts of believers, and who may drink abundantly of it; and for its freeness and cheapness, being to be had without money and without price; and it is preferable to wine for the effects of it; which not only revives and cheers heavy hearts, but quickens dead sinners, and comforts distressed saints; and of which they may drink plentifully, without hurt, yea, to great advantage.


FOOTNOTES:

F14 (whyp twqyvnm) "uno tantum, vel altero de osculis oris sui", Michaelis; so Gussetius, p. 446.
F15 Salmuth. in Pancirol. Memorab. Rer. par. 1. tit. 46. p. 215.
F16 (Kydd) "amores tui", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator

Song of Solomon 1:2 In-Context

1 The most beautiful of songs, by Solomon.
2 Your lips cover me with kisses; your love is better than wine.
3 There is a fragrance about you; the sound of your name recalls it. No woman could keep from loving you.
4 Take me with you, and we'll run away; be my king and take me to your room. We will be happy together, drink deep, and lose ourselves in love. No wonder all women love you!
5 Women of Jerusalem, I am dark but beautiful, dark as the desert tents of Kedar, but beautiful as the draperies in Solomon's palace.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.