Bible Commentaries

Let ^a him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love [is] better than wine.

(a) This is spoken in the person of the Church, or of the faithful soul inflamed with the desire of Christ, whom she loves.

Because of the ^b savour of thy good ointments thy name [is as] ointment poured forth, therefore do the ^c virgins love thee.

(b) The feeling of your great benefits.

(c) They that are pure in heart and conversation.

^d Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his ^e chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

(d) The faithful confess that they cannot come to Christ, unless they are drawn.

(e) Meaning the secret joy that is not known to the world.

I [am] ^f black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of ^g Kedar, as the ^h curtains of Solomon.

(f) The Church confesses her spots and sin, but has confidence in the favour of Christ.

(g) Kedar was Ishmael's son, of whom came the Arabians that dwelt in tents.

(h) Which within were all set with precious stones and jewels.

Look not upon me, because I [am] ⁱ black, because the ^k sun hath looked upon me: ^l my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; [but] my own vineyard have I not ^m kept.

(i) Consider not the Church by the outward appearance.

(k) The corruption of nature through sin and afflictions.

(l) My own brethren who should have most favoured me.

(m) She confesses her own negligence.

Tell me, ⁿ O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest [thy flock] to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of ^o thy companions?

(n) The spouse feeling her fault flees to her husband only for comfort.

(o) Whom you have called to the dignity of pastors, and they set forth their own dreams instead of your doctrine.

^p If thou knowest not, O thou fairest among women, go forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.

(p) Christ speaks to his Church, bidding them that are ignorant to go to the pastors to learn.

I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's ^q chariots.

(q) For your spiritual beauty and excellency there was no worldly treasure to be compared to you.

^r While the king [sitteth] at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth its fragrance.

(r) The Church rejoices that she is admitted to the company of Christ.

A bundle of myrrh [is] my wellbeloved to me; he shall lie all night between my ^s breasts.

(s) He will be most dear to me.

Behold, thou [art] fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our ^u bed [is] green.

(u) That is, the heart of the faithful, in which Christ dwells by his Spirit.