Song of Solomon 7

1 Daughter of the prince, thy goings be full fair in shoes; the jointures of thy hips be as brooches, that be made by the hand of a craftsman. (Daughter of the prince, thy feet be so beautiful in thy shoes; the curves of thy hips be like brooches, that be made by the hand of a craftsman.)

2 Thy navel is as a round cup, and well-formed, that hath never need to drinks; thy womb is as an heap of wheat, beset about with lilies. (Thy navel is like a round cup, that is well-formed, and never lacketh for drinks; thy belly is like a heap of wheat, surrounded by lilies.)

3 Thy two teats be as two kids, twins of a capret. (Thy two breasts be like two kids, or two fawns, yea, the twins of a gazelle.)

4 Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes be as [the] cisterns in Heshbon, that be in the gate of the daughter of [the] multitude; thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon, that beholdeth against Damascus. (Thy neck is like an ivory tower; thine eyes be like the pools in Heshbon, that be at the gate of Bathrabbim; thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon, that looketh toward Damascus.)

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.)

10 I shall cleave by love to my darling, and his turning shall be to me.

11 Come thou, my darling, go we out into the field; dwell we together in towns. (Come thou, my darling, let us go out into the fields, or into the countryside; and then stay we together in the towns.)

12 Rise we early to the vinery; see we, if the vine hath flowered, if the flowers bring forth fruit, if [the] pomegranates have flowered; there I shall give to thee my loves. (Rise we up early, and let us go to the vineyard; and we shall see, if the vine hath flowered, and if the flowers have brought forth fruit, and if the pomegranate trees have flowered; and there I shall give my love to thee.)

13 [The] Mandrakes have given their odour in our gates; my darling, I have kept to thee all apples, new and eld. (The mandrakes have given their aroma at our gates; my darling, I have kept all the fruits for thee, new and old.)

Song of Solomon 7 Commentary

Chapter 7

The graces of the church. (1-9) The delight of the church in Christ. (10-13)

Verses 1-9 The similitudes here are different from what they were before, and in the original refer to glorious and splendid clothing. Such honour have all his saints; and having put on Christ, they are distinguished by their beautiful and glorious apparel. They adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things. Consistent believers honour Christ, recommend the gospel, and convince and awaken sinners. The church resembles the stately and spreading palm; while her love for Christ, and the obedience resulting therefrom, are precious fruit of the true Vine. The King is held in the galleries. Christ takes delight in the assemblies and ordinances of his people; and admires the fruit of his grace in them. When applied to the church and to each faithful Christian, all this denotes that beauty of holiness, in which they shall be presented to their heavenly Bridegroom.

Verses 10-13 The church, the believing soul, triumphs in its relation to Christ, and interest in him. She humbly desires communion with him. Let us walk together, that I may receive counsel, instruction, and comfort from thee; and may make known my wants and my grievances to thee, with freedom, and without interruption. Communion with Christ is what all that are made holy earnestly breathe after. And those who would converse with Christ, must go forth from the world. Wherever we are, we may keep up communion with God. Nor should we go where we cannot in faith ask him to go with us. Those who would go abroad with Christ, must begin early in the morning of their days; must begin every day with him, seek him early, seek him diligently. A gracious soul can reconcile itself to the poorest places, if it may have communion with God in them; but the most delightful fields will not satisfy, unless the Beloved is there. Let us not think to be satisfied with any earthly object. Our own souls are our vineyards; they should be planted with useful trees. We should often search whether we are fruitful in righteousness. Christ's presence will make the vine flourish, and the tender grapes appear, as the returning sun revives the gardens. If we can appeal to him, Thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee; if his Spirit witness with our spirit, that our souls prosper, it is enough. And we must beg of him to search and try us, to discover us to ourselves. The fruits and exercises of graces are pleasant to the Lord Jesus. These must be laid up, and always ready; that by our bringing forth much fruit, he may be glorified. It is all from him, therefore it is fit it should be all for him.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 7

In this chapter Christ gives a fresh commendation of the beauty of his church, in a different order and method than before; beginning with her "feet", and so rising upwards to the "hair" of her head, and the roof of her mouth, So 7:1-9; And then the church asserts her interest in him, and his desire towards her, So 7:10; and invites him to go with her into the fields, villages, and vineyards, and offers various reasons, by which she urges him to comply with her invitation, So 7:11-13.