Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Song of Solomon 2:9
My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, showing himself through the lattice.
9. My beloved is like a roe or a young hart ] Preferably, like a gazelle or a young hart.
our wall ] The possessive pronoun here must, on the hypothesis we have adopted, refer to the Shulammite and the court ladies among whom she is. She speaks of her lover as having now arrived, as standing outside the wall and looking into the chamber.
he looketh forth at the windows ] Lit. he gazeth from the windows, glanceth from the lattices. These phrases may mean, either that the person referred to looks out, or that he looks in. All they imply is that the person looking directs his glances from the windows, and so they may legitimately be rendered, looketh in at the windows glanceth through the lattices. The allegorical interpreters all made the bridegroom look out from a safe and quiet dwelling into which the bride desired to come. But, obviously, when the scene actually portrayed is realised, it is seen that he is outside, seeking her, and comes close up to the windows and lattices and peers in. The word translated glanceth denotes glimmering, shining, and indicates that the charakkim = ‘lattices’ are openings narrower than windows, and the lover had come so close to them that the gleam of his eyes could be seen.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 9. He standeth behind our wall] This may refer to the wall by which the house was surrounded, the space between which and the house constituted the court. He was seen first behind the wall, and then in the court; and lastly came to the window of his bride’s chamber.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Like a roe or a young hart; either,
1. In loveliness. Or rather,
2. In swiftness, by comparing this verse with the former. The swiftness of roes is noted 2Sa 2:18; 1Ch 12:8. He is coming to me with all speed, and will not tarry a moment beyond the appointed and proper season.
He standeth behind our wall; and whilst he doth for wise and just reasons forbear to come, he is not far from us. Though he be not yet come into the door of our house, yet he stands behind the wall of our house, and is always at hand, to give me that succour and comfort which I do or may need or desire. Both this and the following phrases seem to note the obscure and imperfect manner and degree of Christs manifesting himself to his people, either,
1. Under the law, in comparison of his discoveries in the gospel. Or,
2. In this life, in comparison of what he will do in the future life.
He looketh forth, from his high and heavenly palace, towards me, to watch over me, and refresh me with the prospect of his favour.
At the window: this phrase, and that,
through the lattice, intimate that the church doth indeed see Christ, but, as through a glass, darkly, as it is said even of gospel revelations, 1Co 13:12, and was much more true of legal administrations.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. he standethafter havingbounded over the intervening space like a roe. He often stands nearwhen our unbelief hides Him from us (Gen 28:16;Rev 3:14-20). His usual way;long promised and expected; sudden at last: so, in visiting thesecond temple (Mal 3:1); so atPentecost (Act 2:1; Act 2:2);so in visiting an individual soul, Zaccheus (Luk 19:5;Luk 19:6; Joh 3:8);and so, at the second coming (Mat 24:48;Mat 24:50; 2Pe 3:4;2Pe 3:10). So it shall be at Hissecond coming (1Th 5:2; 1Th 5:3).
wallover the cope ofwhich He is first seen; next, He looks through (not forth;for He is outside) at the windows, glancing suddenly andstealthily (not as English Version, “showing Himself”)through the lattice. The prophecies, types, c., were lattice glimpsesof Him to the Old Testament Church, in spite of the wall ofseparation which sin had raised (Joh8:56) clearer glimpses were given by John Baptist, but notunclouded (Joh 1:26). The legalwall of partition was not to be removed until His death (Eph 2:14;Eph 2:15; Heb 10:20).Even now, He is only seen by faith, through the windows of HisWord and the lattice of ordinances and sacraments (Luk 24:35;Joh 14:21); not full vision (1Co13:12); an incentive to our looking for His second coming(Isa 33:17; Tit 2:13).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart,…. The church, upon the swift and speedy approach of Christ unto her, compares him to these creatures; which are well known for their swiftness l in running, and agility in leaping, as before observed: and, besides these things, Christ may be compared to them on other accounts; they are pleasant and lovely, choice and valuable; bear an antipathy to serpents, which they easily overcome; are very good for food, and very agreeable, and are long lived creatures m; Christ is lovely and amiable in his person, and high in the esteem of his divine Father, angels and men; is choice and excellent in his nature, offices, and grace; bears an antipathy to the old serpent, the devil, whose works and powers he came to destroy, and has got an entire victory over them; and is very agreeable food to faith; his flesh is meat indeed, and the more so through his sufferings and death; as the flesh of those creatures is said to be the more tender and agreeable, by being hunted; and Christ, though dead, is alive, and lives for evermore;
behold, he standeth behind our wall; not the middle wall of the ceremonial law, behind which, Christ, under the Old Testament dispensation, stood, showing himself to believers; nor the wall of our humanity he partook of, when he came in the flesh, and under which his glorious deity was in some measure covered and hid; but rather the wall of our hearts, Jer 4:19; the hardness, infidelity, and carnal reasonings of it, which are so many walls of separation between Christ and his people; behind which he stands, showing his resentment of them, and in order to demolish them, and get admittance: he is represented here, as nearer than when she first saw him, even at her very home;
he looketh forth at the windows; this is coming nearer still; for, by the manner of the expression, it seems that he was within doors, since he is said, not to look through the windows, but to look forth at them, meaning the ordinances; which are that to the church as windows to a house, the means of letting in light into the souls of men; and where Christ shows himself, in his glory and beauty, as kings and great personages look out at windows to show themselves to their people: though Christ may also be said to look in at, those windows, to observe the behaviour of his people in his house and ordinances, with what attention, affection, faith, and reverence, they wait upon him in them;
showing himself through the lattice; by which may be meant the same things, only a larger and clearer discovery of Christ in them, of which ordinances are the means; and yet, unless Christ shows himself through them, he cannot be seen in them: and a “behold” being prefixed to these gradual discoveries of himself, show them to be wonderful! a glance of him behind the wall is surprising; his looking in at the windows still more so; but his showing himself, in all his glories and excellencies, through the lattice, is enough to throw into the greatest rapture, to fill with joy unspeakable and full of glory! Some render the word “flourishing” n, like a rose or lily, or like a vine, or jessamine; which grow up by a window or lattice, and, seen through them, took very pleasant and delightful. But the allusion is rather to the quick sighted roe, or young hart; which, as it is remarkable for its swiftness, referred to, So 2:8, so for the sharpness of its sight; Pliny o says it is never dim sighted; it has its name “dorcas”, in Greek, from its sight.
l “Cervi veloces”, Virgil. Aeneid. 5. v. 253. m Vid. Pausaniae Arcad. sive l. 8. p. 472. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 32. Aelian de Animal. l. 2. c. 9. Solin. Polyhistor. c. 31, Frantz. Animal, Sacr. par. 1. c. 15. n “efflorescens”, Piscator, Michaelis, so Ainsworth. o Nat. Hist. l. 28. c. 11.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
9 My beloved is like a gazelle,
Or a young one of the harts.
Lo, there he stands behind our wall!
He looks through the windows,
Glances through the lattices.
The figure used in Son 2:8 is continued in Son 2:9. is the gazelle, which is thus designated after its Arab. name ghazal , which has reached us probably through the Moorish-Spanish gazela (distinct from “ ghasele ,” after the Pers. ghazal , love-poem). is the young hart, like the Arab. ghufar ( ghafar ), the young chamois, probably from the covering of young hair; whence also the young lion may be called . Regarding the effect of passing from one figure to another, vid., under Son 2:7. The meaning would be plainer were Son 2:9 joined to Son 2:8, for the figures illustrate quick-footed speed (2Sa 2:18; 1Ch 12:8; cf. Psa 18:34 with Hab 3:19 and Isa 35:6). In Son 2:9 he comes with the speed of the gazelle, and his eyes seek for the unforgotten one. (from , compingere, condensare; whence, e.g., Arab. mukattal , pressed together, rounded, ramass; vid., regarding R. at Psa 87:6), Aram. (Jos 2:15; Targ. word for ), is meant of the wall of the house itself, not of the wall surrounding it. Shulamith is within, in the house: her beloved, standing behind the wall, stands without, before the house (Tympe: ad latus aversum parietis , viz., out from it), and looks through the windows, – at one time through this one, at another through that one, – that he might see her and feast his eyes on her. We have here two verbs from the fulness of Heb. synon. for one idea of seeing. , from , occurring only three times in the O.T., refers, in respect of the roots , , , to the idea of piercing or splitting (whence also , to be furious, properly pierced, percitum esse ; cf. oestrus, sting of a gadfly = madness, Arab. transferred to hardiness = madness), and means fixing by reflexion and meditation; wherefore in post-bibl. Heb. is the name for Divine Providence. , elsewhere to twinkle and to bloom, appears only here in the sense of seeing, and that of the quick darting forward of the glance of the eye, as blick glance and blitz lightning ( blic) are one word; “he saw,” says Goethe in Werther, “the glance of the powder” (Weigand).
(Note: In this sense: to look sharply toward, is (Talm.) – for Grtz alone a proof that the Song is of very recent date; but this word belongs, like , to the old Heb. still preserved in the Talm.)
The plurs. fenestrae and transennae are to be understood also as synechdoche totius pro parte , which is the same as the plur. of categ.; but with equal correctness we conceive of him as changing his standing place. is the window, as an opening in the wall, from , perforare. we combine most certainly ( vid., Pro 12:27) with (Arab.) khark , fissura, so that the idea presents itself of the window broken through the wall, or as itself broken through; for the window in the country there consists for the most part of a pierced wooden frame of a transparent nature, – not (as one would erroneously conclude, from the most significant name of a window , now schubbake , from , to twist, to lattice, to close after the manner of our Venetian blinds) of rods or boards laid crosswise. accords with the looking out through the pierced places of such a window, for the glances of his eye are like the penetrating rays of light.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(9) Wall.As an instance of the fertility of allegorical interpretation, the variety of applications of this passage may be quoted. The wall = (1) the wall between us and Christ, i.e., our mortal condition; (2) the middle wall of partition, the law; (3) the iniquities separating man from God, so that He does not hear or His voice cannot reach us; (4) the creatures behind whom God Himself stands speaking through them, and si fas dicere, (5) the flesh of Christ itself spread over His Divinity, through which it sounds sweetly and alters its voice (Bossuet).
Looketh forth.Rather, looking through, as in next clause, where the same Hebrew particle occurs. and may = either out or in, as context requires. Here plainly in at.
Shewing himself.Marg., flourishing. The primitive idea seems to be to look bright. Hence the Hiphil conjugation = to make to look bright; here making his eyes glance or twinkle as he peers in through the lattice.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Like a hart He came quickly like the animals to which he is compared.
He standeth More strictly, Now he stood behind our wall, he looketh through the window: showing himself through the lattice. The windows of Jewish houses were very narrow, and set with lattice-work, not glass.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Son 2:9. My beloved is like a roe, &c. This should be connected more properly with the preceding verse. My beloved resembles a roe, &c. leaping and skipping upon the hills. The following part of this verse would be better rendered thus: Behold, he stood behind our wall; he looked in through the windows; he shewed himself through the lattice.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.
The former part of this verse is but a continuance of the former; in which the coming of Christ, as the Church’s beloved, is compared to the swiftness and loveliness of a roe or young hart. By which, no doubt, is intended, to convey the promptness with which Jesus flies to the relief and joy of all his redeemed. It shall come to pass before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Isa 65:24 . But it seems a very sweet addition to these features of Christ, what is said in the latter part of this verse, that Jesus standeth behind the wall, looketh forth at the windows, showing himself through the lattice. Our nature, that is our corrupt part of it, the body of flesh, of sin, and death, becomes, no doubt, a thick wall of separation. In ordinances and the several means of grace; believers get sweet glimpses of Jesus. And he, when those ordinances are refreshing by the Holy Ghost, may be said to look in upon his people. But, after all, every view of Jesus is but partial and imperfect; and he that seeth most of Christ seeth but as through a glass darkly. Yea, Jesus himself having enshrined the Godhead in a veil of flesh, is seen but behind the wall of our nature. Reader, the slightest views of Jesus are blessed, the smallest manifestations he is pleased to make of himself are gracious to the soul. Shall I venture to ask, Have you seen the king in his beauty? Hath he looked in upon you through the windows and lattices of his love, and mercy, and favour?
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Son 2:9 My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.
Ver. 9. My beloved is like a roe or a young hart, ] viz., For sweetness and swiftness, as in the former verse. His help seems long, because we are short. In the opportunity of time he will not be wanting to those that wait for him. The lion seems to leave her young ones till they have almost killed themselves with roaring and howling; but at last she relieves them; and hereby they become the more courageous. God seems to forget his people sometimes, but it is that they may the better remember themselves, and remind him. He seems, as here to have taken a long journey, and to be at a great distance from them, whenas indeed he is as near us as once he was to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection; but she was so bleared she could not see him. If he at any time absent himself for trial of our faith and love to him, and to let us know how ill we can be without him, yet he is no further off than behind some wall or screen. Or if he get out of doors from us, yet he looks in at the window, to see how we take it, and soon after shows himself through the lattice, that we may not altogether despond or despair of his return. Yea, he flourisheth or blossometh a through the lattices, like some flower or fruit tree that, growing under or near unto a window, sends in a sweet scent into the room, or perhaps some pleasant branches, to teach that Christ cometh not to his without profit and comfort to their souls.
a , Apparuit instar floris exorientis.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
standeth = there he was standing.
looketh forth = looked through.
shewing himself = he glanced.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
our wall
“Our wall.” The bride had returned to her own home: the Bridegroom seeks her.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
like: Son 2:17, Son 8:14
he standeth: 1Co 13:12, 2Co 3:13-18, Eph 2:14, Eph 2:15, Col 2:17, Heb 9:8, Heb 9:9, Heb 10:1, Heb 10:19, Heb 10:20
showing: Heb. flourishing, Luk 24:35, Joh 5:39, Joh 5:46, Joh 12:41, 1Pe 1:10-12, Rev 19:10
Reciprocal: Gen 26:8 – a window Jdg 5:28 – through 1Ki 6:4 – windows of narrow lights 2Ki 1:2 – a lattice Pro 5:19 – as the Son 8:9 – a wall Eze 42:20 – it had Act 9:36 – Dorcas
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Son 2:9. My beloved is like a roe In swiftness. He is coming to me with all speed, and will not tarry a moment beyond the proper season. He standeth behind our wall And while he doth, for wise reasons, forbear to come, he is not far from us. Both this and the following phrases may denote the obscure manner of Christs manifesting himself to his people, under the law, in comparison of his discoveries in the gospel. He looketh forth at the window This phrase, and that, through the lattice, intimate that the church does indeed see Christ, but as through a glass, darkly, as it is said even of gospel revelations, (1Co 13:12,) which was much more true of legal administrations.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2:9 My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he {e} standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, gazing himself through the {f} lattice.
(e) For as his divinity was hidden under the cloak of our flesh.
(f) So that we cannot have full knowledge of him in this life.