Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Song of Solomon 5:10
My beloved [is] white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
10. white ] The Heb. tsach is an adj. derived from tschach, ‘to shine’ or ‘glow,’ ‘to be brightly white.’ Here, and in Lam 4:7, where the word is used of the colour of the skin, it means a clear, white complexion. In the latter passage the phrase is, ‘more tsach than milk’ contrasted with ‘darker than blackness.’
the chiefest ] Probably, as R.V. marg., marked out by a banner, or raised like a banner, ‘eminent,’ ‘distinguished.’ Some critics, however, connect the word with an Assyrian root meaning ‘to look,’ and explain ‘looked at,’ ‘admired,’ ‘conspicuous.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
My beloved is white and ruddy – Compare 1Sa 16:12; Dan 7:9. The complexion most admired in youth. Jewish interpreters remark that he who is elsewhere called the Ancient of Days is here described as the Ever-Young. White in His virgin-purity, says Jerome, and ruddy in His Passion.
The chiefest among ten thousand – literally, a bannered one among a myriad; hence one signalized, a leader of ten thousand warriors.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Son 5:10
My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
Christs perfection and precedence
The spouse in this verse styles her Lord, my Beloved, from which it is easy for us to gather that it is of the utmost importance that our hearts affection should be really and truly set upon Christ Jesus, our Lord. We must trust Him, and we must ]ore Him. Christ on the cross saves us when He becomes to us Christ in the heart. If we have reached that stage in our journey heavenwards, it will be well if we go on a step further. Loving our Lord and Saviour in our heart, and being assured of that love in our inmost conscience after earnest heart-searching, it will be well if we have the courage never to hesitate in the avowal of that love. We must not cast our pearls before swine; but, on the other hand, it is so ennobling a passion that we need never blush to own it in any company. If we ever are ashamed of loving Christ, we have good reason to be ashamed of such shameful shame. Loving Jesus, knowing that we love Him, and boldly confessing our love to Him, let us, next, so study His person and His character that we shall be able to give a reason for the love that is in us to any who make the inquiry, What is thy Beloved more than another beloved?
I. First, then, the spouse saith, my Beloved is white and ruddy, and so she sets forth His charming complexion.
1. Our Lord is, first of all, in Himself white; that is, He has immaculate perfection of character. In His Godhead, Jesus Christ is perfection itself. As to His manhood, the term whiteness well describes Him who was born without natural corruption, or taint of hereditary depravity–that holy thing, the Christ of God, who became incarnate, yet without sin. Doth not this word white describe Him also in His actual life? There was never any sin in Christ. As to Christs actions, they are matchless and perfect in every respect; the two great objects of His life were the glory of God and the good of man. There is no spot in Him; He is the Lamb of God without blemish, the perfect Christ, and hence it is that we love Him.
2. But, next, we come to the blood-shedding, the sacrificial character of Christ. This is the chief reason, after all, why Christs people love Him, because, in His precious blood, they see the pardon of all their sins, they see the lifting of themselves up into the life of God, they see the open way of access unto the Father, they see the gates of heaven opened to all believers.
II. Now notice that the spouse saith of her Beloved that He is the chiefest among ten thousand. These words set forth His personal precedence. He is the chiefest among ten thousand, and it so happens that this word chiefest may mean any one of three or four things.
1. First, take it as it stands Chiefest, that is to say, Christ is higher, better, lovelier, more excellent than any who are round about Him. If you shall bring ten thousand angels, He is the chiefest Angel, the Messenger of the covenant. If you shall bring ten thousand friends, He is the chiefest Friend, the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Christ is the chiefest, the best, the highest of all beings; whatever excellences there may be in others, they are all eclipsed by the surpassing excellences that are found in Him.
2. Christ is the chiefest among ten thousand; that is to say, He is the Head, the Ruler, the Prince, the King, the Lord over all. Let Christ, and Christ alone, wear the crown He bought with His own blood; He alone is King, and let Him ever be so proclaimed-and acknowledged.
3. According to thee Septuagint, the text has another meaning. Our Lord in Scripture is called the chosen One, the elect of God. As the psalmist puts it, speaking by prophecy, I have exalted One chosen out of the people. Christ is chosen out of ten thousand, as the Mediator to stand between God and men. Whoever else might have been employed by God for this service–and we are not able to think of any other–yet first of all was Christ chosen of God; and to-day we may call Him the chosen One because He is the chosen of His Church.
4. Lastly, according to the margin of our Bible, the text should be thus read, He is the Standard-bearer among ten thousand. Now, our Lord Jesus Christ has come into this world, and set up a standard because of the truth, and well does He handle it, firmly doth He grasp it. When on the cross, the battle thickened round Him; all the hosts of hell and all the bands of cruel ones on earth sought to smite Him, and to seize the standard, too, but He bore it still aloft through all the dreadful fray! and this day, though He is now in heaven, yet by His blessed Spirit that standard is still unfurled to the breeze. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 10. My beloved is white and ruddy] Red and white, properly mixed, are essential to a fine complexion; and this is what is intimated: he has the finest complexion among ten thousand persons; not one in that number is equal to him. Literally, “He bears the standard among ten thousand men;” or “He is one before whom a standard is borne,” i.e., he is captain or chief of the whole.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
White and ruddy; which two colours rightly mixed together make a face beautiful. Or the white may note his pure and spotless innocency, and the brightness of his glory and majesty, and the ruddy colour may intimate his bloody passion, which made him amiable both to God and men.
The chiefest, Heb. the standard-bearer; for such are usually persons of great eminency, both for stature, and courage, and dignity.
Among ten thousand; among all persons, angels or men. A certain number is put for an uncertain. There are other kings, and priests, and prophets, but none to be compared with him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. (1Pe3:15).
white and ruddyhealthand beauty. So David (equivalent to beloved), His forefatherafter the flesh, and type (1Sa17:42). “The Lamb” is at once His nuptial andsacrificial name (1Pe 1:19;Rev 19:7), characterized by whiteand red; white, His spotless manhood (Re1:14). The Hebrew for white is properly”illuminated by the sun,” white as the light” (compareMt 17:2); red, in Hisblood-dyed garment as slain (Isa 63:1-3;Rev 5:6; Rev 19:13).Angels are white, not red; the blood of martyrs does not enterheaven; His alone is seen there.
chiefestliterally, “astandard bearer”; that is, as conspicuous above all others, as astandard bearer is among hosts (Psa 45:7;Psa 89:6; Isa 11:10;Isa 55:4; Heb 2:10;compare 2Sa 18:3; Job 33:23;Phi 2:9-11; Rev 1:5).The chief of sinners needs the “chiefest” of Saviours.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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, So 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 r, 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 Ps 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 Ps 73:24; The words may be rendered, “the standard bearer”, or “one standarded by” or “over ten thousand” s; 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, So 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! Re 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 Isa 11:10.
r De Legibus, l. 2. s “vexillatus a decem millibus”, Montanus; “sub signis habens exercitum decem millium”, Tigurine version. t “Insignis prae decem millibus”, Pagninus, so Cocceius, Marckius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Hereupon Shulamith describes to them who ask what her beloved is. He is the fairest of men. Everything that is glorious in the kingdom of nature, and, so far as her look extends, everything in the sphere of art, she appropriates, so as to present a picture of his external appearance. Whatever is precious, lovely, and grand, is all combined in the living beauty of his person.
(Note: Hengstenberg finds in this eulogium, on the supposition that Solomon is the author, and is the person who is here described, incomprehensible self-praise. But he does not certainly say all this immediately of himself, but puts it into the mouth of Shulamith, whose love he gained. But love idealizes; she sees him whom she loves, not as others see him, – she sees him in her own transforming light.)
She first praises the mingling of colours in the countenance of her beloved.
10 My beloved is dazzling white and ruddy,
Distinguised above ten thousand.
The verbal root has the primary idea of purity, i.e., freedom from disturbance and muddiness, which, in the stems springing from it, and in their manifold uses, is transferred to undisturbed health (Arab. sahh , cf. baria , of smoothness of the skin), a temperate stomach and clear head, but particularly to the clearness and sunny brightness of the heavens, to dazzling whiteness ( , Lam 4:7; cf. ), and then to parched dryness, resulting from the intense and continued rays of the sun; is here adj. from , Lam 4:7, bearing almost the same relation to as to , cogn. with lucere. , R. , to condense, is properly dark-red, called by the Turks kuju kirmesi (from kuju , thick, close, dark), by the French rouge fonc , of the same root as , the name for blood, or a thick and dark fluid. White, and indeed a dazzling white, is the colour of his flesh, and redness, deep redness, the colour of his blood tinging his flesh. Whiteness among all the race-colours is the one which best accords with the dignity of man; pure delicate whiteness is among the Caucasian races a mark of high rank, of superior training, of hereditary nobility; wherefore, Lam 4:7, the appearance of the nobles of Jerusalem is likened in whiteness to snow and milk, in redness to corals; and Homer, Il. iv. 141, says of Menelaus that he appeared stained with gore, “as when some woman tinges ivory with purple colour.” In this mingling of white and red, this fulness of life and beauty, he is , distinguished above myriads. The old translators render dagul by “chosen” (Aquila, Symm., Syr., Jerome, Luther), the lxx by , e cohorte selectus ; but it means “bannered” ( degel , Son 2:4), as the Venet.: , i.e., thus distinguished, as that which is furnished with a degel , a banner, a pennon. Grtz takes dagul as the Greek (noted). With , as a designation of an inconceivable number, Rashi rightly compares Eze 16:7. Since the “ten thousand” are here though of, not in the same manner as , the particle min is not the compar. magis quam , but, as at Gen 3:14; Jdg 5:24; Isa 52:14, prae , making conspicuous (cf. Virgil, Aen. v. 435, prae omnibus unum ). After this praise of the bright blooming countenance, which in general distinguished the personal appearance of her beloved, so far as it was directly visible, there now follows a detailed description, beginning with his head.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
SUPERIOR QUALITIES OF THE SHEPHERD
Verses 10-16 answer the question of verse 9 with the Shulamite’s detailed statement that her beloved shepherd is from head to foot, feature by feature, the ultimate in male physical beauty, and is also her friend as well as her beloved.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
SHULAMITES DESCRIPTION OF HER BELOVED
Son. 5:10-16
SHULAMITE
My beloved is white and ruddy,
The chief among ten thousand.
His head is as the most fine gold;
His locks are bushy,
And black as a raven.
His eyes are as the eyes of doves,
By the rivers of waters,
Washed with milk,
And fitly set.
His cheeks are as a bed of spices,
As sweet flowers;
His lips are like lilies,
Dropping sweet-smelling myrrh.
His hands are as gold rings,
Set with the beryl.
His belly (or body) is as bright ivory,
Overlaid with sapphires.
His legs are as pillars of marble,
Set upon sockets of fine gold.
His countenance is as Lebanon,
Excellent as the cedars.
His mouth is most sweet:
Yea, he is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved,
And this is my friend,
O ye daughters of Jerusalem.
In reply to the daughters of Jerusalem, Shulamite gives a full-length portrait of her beloved. The description one of enraptured admiration and affection. Superlatively glorious, and given in brief and comprehensible language. Rich specimen of Oriental poetry. Observe from it
1. Believers able to give a true, if not a full description of Jesus. Living Christians well acquainted with Christ, and able to give a reason of their love as well as their hope.
2. Believers to be ready to make others acquainted with Christ. This their calling and privilege. Ye shall be my witnesses.
3. The joy of a living believer to testify for Jesus, and to guide inquirers to Him. I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Love must speak of its object.
4. Better to be employed in setting forth Christs excellence, than in dwelling on our own defects or troubles.
5. Testimony concerning Jesus to be borne with heartiness and love. The truth to appear not only in the matter but the manner of our testimony.
6. Thoughts of Jesus, and the expression of them, the best anodyne for a troubled spirit. McCheynes recipe: For one look at self take ten at Christ. Confession of Christ often the shortest way to comfort in Christ. Speaking of Him for others, a precious help to our realizing Him for ourselves.
7. Testimony to Christs loveliness and excellence for others, to be accompanied with a personal appropriation of Him for ourselves. This is my beloved, &c. Preachers to commend Christ and speak of Him as their own Beloved and Friend.
8. Christs excellence and preciousness the best subject for the fellowship of believers with each other. Believers thus to stir up their own love to Christ and that of others.
9. A pre-eminence and perfection of beauty in Jesus. The concentration of all creature loveliness. The union of all the elements of loveliness found in Him. The sum of all conceivable and all possible beauty and sweetness. Thou art fairer than the children of men. The chief (conspicuous, or a standard-bearer) among ten thousand. The one Pearl of great price. Natural that the source of all beauty should Himself be the perfection of beauty.
10. The happiness of believers to be made to perceive, appreciate, and enjoy that beauty. Eyes anointed by the Spirits eye-salve, and hearts renewed by His grace, required for that perception and appreciation.
11. The beauty and excellence of Christ made up of a variety of particulars. The holy perfume composed of various ingredients (Exo. 30:34-35). His offices, relations, attributes, words and works, make up the one Christ.
12. Everything in Christ excellent and glorious in itself, as well as attractive and precious in the eyes of a believer. Altogether lovely; or, all desirable things. Christ an unalloyed congeries of excellencies and delights. Every divine and human perfection found in Him, and nothing but what is absolutely perfect.
13. That in Jesus which exceeds all description and all knowledge. The Bride breaks off as unable to describe the beauty and excellence of her beloved. A breadth, and length, and depth, and height in Jesus and His love, never to be fully comprehended. The duty and happiness of believers to grow in the knowledge of Christ. All comparisons fall short of fully exhibiting Him. The most beautiful and excellent things in nature and art employed, but fail.
The description of the bridegroom inclusive of his dress and ornaments, as well as his person. That of a youthful prince eminent for dignity and beauty. Probably such as Solomon himself appeared to the eyes of beholders in the early period of his reign. Corresponds to his fathers appearance at a similar age (1Sa. 16:12). Not necessary to find in Jesus an exact counterpart in every particular. Yet every part suggestive of something to be found in Him. The application to be made as the Holy Spirit gives understanding. We have in
The Bridegrooms Portrait,
1. His Complexion. White and ruddy. Fair and blooming. The perfection of a beautiful and healthy complexion. Suggests the Saviours general loveliness, as well as His purity and spiritual health. Holy, harmless, undefiled. Fairer than the children of men. Recalls His spotless life and atoning death, as well as the union of the divine and human nature constituting the one God-man Redeemer. His meek and heavenly visage not less lovely because, for our sakes, marred more than the sons of men. His form not less beautiful because bruised and lacerated with the scourge and the nails, and ruddy with His own precious blood.
2. His Head. As the most fine gold. For excellence, a mass of pure and precious gold. Perhaps including an allusion to the golden crown which at times adorned it. Suggests the kingliness and nobility of Jesus, as well as His excellent wisdom. Head over all things to His Church. Head over all principality and power. In Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
3. His Hair. His locks are bushy (or curled and pendulous), and black as a raven. Expressive of youthful and manly vigour. Jesus only known on earth as one in the prime and bloom of life. His death at the age of thirty-three. Jesus ever young. The same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Appears in heaven as a Lamb that had been slain. In another description of his appearance: his hair white as snow (Rev. 1:14), as expressive of His eternitythe Ancient of Days. His raven locks perhaps symbolical of His human, and His snow-white hair of His divine, nature.
3. His Eyes. As the eyes of doves (or, as doves), by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set (or, sitting in fulnessin full streams). Suggestive of the love, tenderness, and gentleness of Him who was meek and lowly in heart; who, when He beheld the city, wept over it, and when He saw the sisters of Lazarus weeping at his grave, and the Jews also weeping, wept along with them.
4. His Cheeks. As beds of spices (or, balsams), as sweet flowers, (or, towers of perfume). The loving aspect of Jesus the index of His loving heart. His countenance ordinarily lighted up with gracious smiles that cheered the penitent, invited even publicans and sinners to draw near to Him, and made Him attractive even to little children. His benignant aspect made His presence like a bed of spices to such as, like Mary, sat down at His feet, hearing His words.
5. His Lips. Like lilies, dropping sweet-smelling myrrh. Expressive either of the gracious words that proceeded from His mouth, and which, as recorded in the Scriptures, have been the comfort of millions ever since, or the sweetness felt in the communication of His love to the soulthe kisses of His mouth (chap. Son. 1:2).
6. His Hands. As gold rings (or cylinders), set with the beryl (chrysolite or topaz). The image probably from the rings that usually adorned the hands of Oriental princes. His hands themselves were as the costliest jewels. Suggestive of those works of benevolence and lovewonderful and gloriouswrought by Jesus when on earth, as well as those which, though invisible, He is working still, as the Head and High Priest of His Church.
7. His Body. His belly (or body) is as bright ivory, overlaid with sapphires. The tender compassion of Jesus, combined with heavenliest purity. He who said: I have compassion on the multitudes, said also: Which of you convinceth me of sin? Ye are from beneath; I am from above: Ye are of this world; I am not of this world (Joh. 8:23; Joh. 8:46).
8. His Legs. As pillars of marble set upon sockets of fine gold. The marble whiteness of His pillar-like legs suggestive of the spotless purity and integrity of His life, as well as His faithfulness and ability to support all who trust in Him. His feet like sockets of fine gold, descriptive of Him who went about doing good. Beautiful on the mountains, as the feet of Him who brought glad tidings to a perishing world.
9. His Figure or General Aspect. Like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. The majesty and stateliness of His figure, resembling in its general character and aspect the goodly mountain with its noble cedars, expressive of the amiable dignity of Him who is both Son of God and Son of Man, the man that is Jehovahs fellow, the brightness of the divine glory, while not ashamed to call us brethren.
10. His Mouth. Most sweet. Recalling the sweetness of the discourse of Him who spake as never man spake. Suggestive also of the divine sweetness of that love which is better than wine.
The enraptured and magnificent description closes with a holy admiration and amazement which ends in silence. Yea, Ile is altogether lovely (or, all of Him is lovely and desirable things.) Winds up with an emphatic
Appropriation of the Beloved.
This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O ye daughters of Jerusalem.
Commendation of Christ to others to be accompanied with conscious choice and personal appropriation of Him by ourselves. That choice and appropriation of Christ by ourselves to be openly avowed while we commend Him to others. Conscious interest in Christ by ourselves, that which gives heart and life to our commendation of Him to others. The Brides language expressive of
1. The believers personal apprehension of Christs loveliness and excellence. Thisthe person I have described to youis my Beloved.
2. Choice of Him in preference to all other objects of attraction.
3. Appropriation and personal possession of Christ as our own.
4. Consciousness of such choice and appropriation. My Lord and my God. I know whom I have believed. I know that my Redeemer liveth.
5. Unchanged and unchanging attachment. My Beloved, notwithstanding present appearances. Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him, and love Him. I will wait on him who hideth himself.
6. Full satisfaction with and glorying in Him as our choice and portion, our beloved and friend. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord.
7. A bold and fearless confession of Him as the object of our choice, and the Saviour in whom we trust. Christ not only to be believed in with the heart, but confessed with the mouth (Rom. 10:9-10).
8. Christ at once the believers beloved and friendbeloved and lover. The love a mutual one. Christ, as
The Christians Beloved,
Is loved
(1) For what He is in Himselfthe chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely.
(2) For what He is to us, Saviour, Redeemer, husband, brother, and friend.
(3) For what He has done for usgiven Himself to humiliation and anguish, a bloody and shameful death, to satisfy, as our sacrifice and substitute, the demands of Divine justice upon us; sought us when we were wanderers; won our hearts, and espoused us to Himself as His own. That Christ is our beloved implies
(1) Wonderful condescension and love on the part of Christ, that sinners should be able to call Him their beloved.
(2) Precious grace, that so changes the heart and renews the nature that we can thus truly and sincerely speak of Christ.
(3) Blessed condition of believers, that they are able to claim Jesus as their beloved. Christ, as
The Christians Friend,
Is
(1) Loving, generous, and sympathizing.
(2) Faithful and true,sticketh closer than a brother.
(3) Unchangingloving to the end.
(4) Rich and powerful. His hand able to answer the dictates of His heart.
(5) Tried and provedproved both by suffering for us, and suffering from us. Performs all the offices of a loving and faithful Friend
1.
Pays our debts.
2.
Redeems our person.
3.
Supplies our wants.
4.
Comforts us in trouble.
5.
Counsels us in difficulty.
6.
Warns us of danger.
7.
Reproves and corrects our faults.
8.
Confides to us His secrets.
9.
Delights in our society.
10.
Entrusts us with His interests.
11.
Defends our name and reputation.
12.
Takes our part against all adversaries.
Christ a friend in need and a friend indeed. Rich and blessed the pauper who has Christ for his friend; poor and wretched the prince who has not. A mans highest wisdom to make Christ his friend while he may. Happy and only happy the man that can say of Him, this is my beloved, and this is my friend. Reader, let this happiness be yours.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(10) Chiefest.Marg., a standard bearer; Heb. dagl, participle of a word occurring in Psa. 20:5, where the Authorised Version gives we will set up our banners.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. White and ruddy His bright and flush complexion make him as conspicuous among common men as a standard-bearer is in an army.
Chiefest Hebrew, Standard-man, colour-bearer. The phrase among ten thousand is of military origin.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
In her continuing dream the YOUNG WIFE gives her response
“My beloved is white and ruddy, The chiefest among ten thousand. His head is as the most fine gold, His locks are curly, and black as a raven. His eyes are like doves beside the water-brooks, Washed with milk, and fitly set. His cheeks are as a bed of spices, As banks of sweet herbs, His lips are as lilies, dropping liquid myrrh. His hands are as rings of gold set with beryl, His body is as ivory work overlaid with sapphires. His legs are as pillars of marble, Set on sockets of fine gold, His aspect is like Lebanon, Excellent as the cedars. His mouth is most sweet, Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”
Almost too late the young wife has remembered the attractions of her husband. She no longer thinks of his hair as filled with dew, and his locks with the drops of the night. Now she can only think of his hair as like finest gold (possibly having in mind the custom of sprinkling gold on the hair), and his locks as curly and black as the raven. And she expands on the attributes of her husband with a mixture of descriptions, partly reminiscent of how he has previously described her (eyes like doves (Son 4:1), springs of water (Son 4:15)) partly taken from nature, and partly taken from the jewellery with which she has become familiar in the king’s palace. She now sees him as being as precious to her, as she is to Him.
She sees him now as a mixture of that handsome young shepherd whom she had first known, and the powerful king whose wealth was bordering on the fabulous. But it can all be summed up in terms of the opening and closing descriptions, ‘he is the fairest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely’. He is both her ‘beloved’ and her ‘friend’, someone to be delighted in and trusted. Now she knows that nothing must be allowed prevent the complete fulfillment of their relationship.
Seeing it in terms of the Lord Jesus Christ it depicts His perfections, and what He is to us, both ‘beloved’, because we love Him, and ‘friend’ because He is both our companion and our helper. ‘You are my friends if you do the things which I command you’ (Joh 15:14). To us too ‘He is the fairest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely’. The overall descriptions remind us that He is both of earthly nature (descriptions from nature) and of Heaven (descriptions in terms of splendor). We may see it as reminding us that He is both man and God. How foolish we are then when we keep Him at a distance.
The descriptions contain within them the ancient ideas of beauty and splendor. If we wish to go into detail we may see the fact that He is white and ruddy as indications of His matchless purity, and His precious redeeming blood (1Pe 1:1-19). The gold in His hair may be seen as reminding us that he is a King with all the riches of Heaven at His disposal, and as portraying that in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3). The blackness of His locks points to His permanent youthfulness as the giver of life. There is no aging with Him. From everlasting to everlasting He is God (Psa 90:2). His dove’s eyes demonstrate that He is the Prince of Peace and of gentleness (Isa 9:6). That they are fitly set indicates His ultimate perfection. That His face and lips emit the perfumes and scents of nature indicates that His face is ever towards us for good, and that His words will be sweet in our ears, even when sometimes they are necessarily tender words of rebuke. The descriptions of His hands, body and legs in terms of the finest materials and jewels bring out His infinite glory and beauty. Lebanon was seen as pointing to all that was most splendid about nature, with its towering cedars and its fragrant trees and plants. His aspect can thus be seen as reflecting the glory of the Creator. The sweetness of His mouth reminds us of the gentleness of His words and the beneficial effects of His teaching. ‘Altogether lovely’ sums up the whole. How wonderful then to be able to say, ‘this is my Beloved, and this is my friend, O all you who hear’.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Son 5:10. My beloved is white and ruddy Fair and bright. Bochart. The chiefest among ten thousand. Pitts, in his account of his return from Mecca, thus describes those lights by which they travel in the night in the desert, and which are carried on the tops of high poles, to direct their march: “They are somewhat like iron stoves, into which they put short dry wood, with which some of the camels are loaded: It is carried in great sacks, which have a hole near the bottom, where the servants take it out, as they see the fires need a recruit. Every cottor hath one of these poles belonging to it, some of which have ten, some twelve of these lights on their tops, more or less; and they are likewise of different figures, as well as numbers; one perhaps oval, or like a gate; another triangular, or like an N, or M, &c. so that every one knows by them his respective cottor. They are carried in the front, and set up in the place where the caravan is to pitch, before that comes up, at some distance from each other. They are also carried by day, not lighted; but yet by the figure and number of them the Hagges are directed to what cottor they belong, as soldiers are by their colours where to rendezvous: and without such directions it would be impossible to avoid confusion in such a vast number of people.” This account may tend to throw some light upon the present passage. The spouse says, My beloved is white and ruddy; the chiefest among ten thousand; or, as the margin of our English Bibles has it, a standard-bearer among ten thousand. All the ground for making these words synonymous, is, I presume, the supposing the standard-bearer to be the chiefest of the company; which by no means appears to be true: it is not so among the modern people of the East, any more than among us. I will not however press this, since what is meant is, One before whom a standard is borne; which is a mark of dignity in the East, as well as in the West; and which the word must signify, if any thing of this sort, any dignity be meant, since dagul, is a passive, not an active participle in the Hebrew; that is to say, the word does not signify “one who lifts up a banner,” but “one whom the listing up of the banner some way respects or concerns.” It is not, however, so natural upon the whole to understand this passage of one before whom an ensign of dignity was borne, because the original word is most probably to be understood of a portable beacon, which is necessary to travellers in the night, but not, as far as I know, ever considered as a mark of dignity, on the one hand; whilst, on the other, a very easy sense may be put on the word, if it be understood of one of those eastern flambeaux; for in that view the participle paul of the verb will signify enlightened, and consequently dazzling, glittering, or something of that kind; and so the meaning of the spouse will appear to have probably been, (the words being now considered in their literal sense,) that her bridegroom was dazzling beyond ten thousand, or was dazzling like a person surrounded with ten thousand lights. It may not be unsuitable to add, that those places which speak of the standards of the tribes, and this which I am now endeavouring to illustrate, are all the passages in which the Hebrew word dagal, occurs; excepting Psa 20:5 and chap. Son 2:4. The word beacon occurs indeed in another place in our version; Isa 30:17.; but it is not there, in the original, that word which I am supposing to signify a portable beacon, but another; which may possibly incline the learned reader not to admit that sense which I have affixed to this passage, and which I have been illustrating, as unwilling to suppose that there are two words in so limited a language to signify a beacon: It ought, however, to be remembered, that though our version renders toren, a beacon, it properly signifies no more than a sign, whatever that sign might be; whether the raising of a spear, or displaying a flag, or any thing else. See Observations, p. 227, &c.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
The Church in this verse begins her answer, and had she said no more than what she saith in the commendation of Jesus, this is a final reply to all. First, she describes his double nature, He is white; alluding, most probably, to his Godhead, spotless, pure and holy: next to his manhood; he is ruddy or red. Adam was so called, in allusion to the earth, which is red; and this feature intimates the Person of Christ in his human nature, when shedding his blood for the sins of his people. But some have supposed, and perhaps not without reason; that the human nature of Christ only is intended by the expression: the perfect obedience and purity of Christ indicated by the whiteness; and the bloody hue of his sacrifice and death setting forth by the red: But whether either or both of these, it is sufficient to show the great sense the Church had of the glory of her Lord. But she adds also, that he is the chiefest among ten thousand. This is a delightful description of the Lord Jesus. He is the chiefest among ten thousand in the sight and choice of God the Father. For Jehovah saith, I have exalted one chosen out of the people. Psa 89:20 . He is so among all his people; for he is fairer than the children of men: and the language of every follower of Jesus is, he shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Psa 47:4 . Precious Lord! how lovely is it to see that thou art hath the choice of Jehovah, and of thy people also.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Son 5:10 My beloved [is] white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
Ver. 10. My beloved is white and ruddy, &c. ] Love lacks no rhetoric to lay forth the thing beloved in liveliest colours. “White and ruddy!” What can be more laudable and lovely? What can come nearer to a perfect symmetry, to a sound and sure constitution and complexion? Sure it is that these two, being comelily mixed, do make the most beautiful or orient look or colour; see the prophet’s description of the Nazarites, Lam 4:7 . And note, saith an expositor, that the Holy Ghost joineth both these together – the whiteness making the ruddiness more fresh and fair, and the ruddiness discerning the whiteness from paleness of face, or phlegmatic complexion. Sed sunt in his mysteria investiganda, saith another, itaque candor refert divinam Christi naturam, rubor humanam. White and red may signify Christ’s Godhead and manhood. God is called the “Ancient of days”; Dan 7:9 his “head and his hairs are white like wool, as white as snow.” Rev 1:14 Man had his name Adam of the red earth, out of which he was taken. Gen 2:7 Christ also, the second Adam, became red with his own blood, whereby he “purchased the Church” Act 20:28 – a bloody spouse she was unto him – and paved for her “a new and lively way into the most holy place”; Heb 10:20 upon the battlements whereof he hangs out still (as once that warlike Scythian did) a white flag of grace and mercy to penitent persons, that humble themselves at his feet for favour; but a red flag of justice and severity to those his enemies that will not have him to rule over them – in token whereof his raiment is said to be red, Isa 63:1-3 his vesture dipped in blood. Rev 19:13
The chiefest among ten thousand.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Son 5:10-16
10My beloved is dazzling and ruddy,
Outstanding among ten thousand.
11His head is like gold, pure gold;
His locks are like clusters of dates
And black as a raven.
12His eyes are like doves
Beside streams of water,
Bathed in milk,
And reposed in their setting.
13His cheeks are like a bed of balsam,
Banks of sweet-scented herbs;
His lips are lilies
Dripping with liquid myrrh.
14His hands are rods of gold
Set with beryl;
His abdomen is carved ivory
Inlaid with sapphires.
15His legs are pillars of alabaster
Set on pedestals of pure gold;
His appearance is like Lebanon
Choice as the cedars.
16His mouth is full of sweetness.
And he is wholly desirable.
This is my beloved and this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem.
Son 5:10-16 This is a prolonged poetic description of the man, apparently directed at the daughters of Jerusalem (cf. Son 1:5; Son 2:7; Son 3:5; Son 3:10; Son 5:8; Son 5:16; Son 8:4). In Son 5:9; Son 6:1 they ask the maiden questions.
This love song of physical comparisons is parallel to the man’s description of the maiden in Son 4:1-7. These love poems use all physical senses (touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing) to heighten the desire, anticipation, and fulfilment of physical love. Human sexuality is a God-given desire for the expansion and preservation of humankind. It is a beautiful and godly experience until it is damaged by the self-seeking, me-first consequences of Genesis 3. See Special Topic: Human Sexuality .
Son 5:10 dazzling This (BDB 850, KB 1018) refers either to physical health (shining, glowing, or white [cf. Lam 4:7]) or character.
ruddy This comes from the same root as Adam (BDB 9). It meant a reddish tint to the skin (BDB 10) and can be used for horses (cf. Zec 1:8), cattle (cf. Num 19:2), or humans (i.e., David, 1Sa 16:12).
Outstanding among ten thousand He stood out in a crowd, at least for her. See Special Topic: Thousand (eleph) .
Son 5:11 His head is like gold This could refer to:
1. a tan (cf. Son 5:14)
2. his golden crown or other ornaments
His locks His hair is describes in parallels:
1. cluster of dates (a lot of wavy hair)
2. black as a raven (very dark)
This would characterize a young man of the Near East.
Son 5:12 His eyes His eyes are described in parallels:
1. like doves (see note at Son 1:15)
2. beside streams of water
3. bathed in milk (i.e., white eyes)
4. in their proper place (cf. BDB 443, #4) or perching (KB 444, Qal #2)
As the UBS, Handbook for Translators points out (pp. 160-161), it is uncertain which of these items listed above refer to the man’s eyes or to the pair of doves. Poetry is powerful, but slippery!
It is interesting that in two of the descriptions of King David (cf. 1Sa 16:12) his ruddiness and beautiful eyes are used in this love poem about the man’s handsomeness. Many scholars think that the imagery used in Song of Songs is royal imagery (i.e., David, Solomon) used as a literary foil for local weddings and they are characteristic love poems written and read during the wedding period. Even the titles King and Queen are found in Arabic love poems from Syria (cf. Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, p. 807).
Son 5:13 His cheeks These two lines of poetry refer to his fragrance.
His lips His lips are described as
1. lilies, which refers to their beautiful shape or color (reddish)
2. dripping with liquid myrrh, which refers to his sweet tasting kisses (cf. Son 5:16)
Son 5:14 This may refer to:
1. jewelry worn on the arm or hand
2. tanned skin (cf. Son 5:11; Son 5:15)
3. as so often in this passage, these words have a euphemistic sense (hands can refer to penis, see note at Son 5:4 and abdomen can also depict male arousal, cf. Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, p. 778).
Son 5:15 alabaster This is a soft white stone which was imported from Egypt. It was usually used in the making of perfume containers.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
My beloved. The Shulamite describes him further to them. See Structure (above).
the chiefest among ten thousand = distinguished or conspicuous above thousands. Hebrew “signalized as by a banner”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Son 5:10-16
Son 5:10-16
“My beloved is white and ruddy,
The chiefest among ten thousand.
His head is as the most fine gold;
His locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
His eyes are like doves beside the water-brooks,
Washed with milk, and fitly set.
His cheeks are as a bed of spices,
As banks of sweet herbs: His lips are as lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.
His hands are as rings of gold set with beryl:
His body is as ivory work overlaid with sapphires.
His legs are as pillars of marble, set with sockets of fine gold:
His aspect is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
His mouth is most sweet;
Yea, he is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved, and this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem.”
There is another description of Christ the Holy One in Rev 1:12-16 which resembles this one in many ways, in spite of their differences. There is absolutely nothing in either of the descriptions that may be applied to things sensual, vulgar or sexual. The glory of them both is that they declare the supreme value and eternity of the lover. The mention of the lover’s being “white” suggests his purity and holiness, exactly the same as did “his hair white as snow” in the Revelation account. Another similarity occurs in the supreme emphasis of the lover’s words (his teaching), appearing here in the mention of “lips” and “mouth,” and in the Apocalypse as “the sharp sword” in his mouth.
Any attempt to find a line by line reference in this passage to any human being would tend to eroticism, “And would do an injustice to the text.” In their ultimate application, they cannot refer to a human being at all but to Him who has “Sat down upon the right hand of the Majesty on High.”
The thought here is concluded in the first three verses of the following chapter (See Son 6:1-3).
Son 5:10. If Solomon is the author of this song (and we believe he is) the words that follow would be the most exaggerated of self-praise if they referred to himself-however, put in the mouth of the Shulammite concerning her shepherd lover, they become far more believable. She calls into use the kingdom of nature and art in her praise of this one who is altogether lovely. Whatever is precious, lovely, and grand, is all combined in the living beauty of his person. (Ibid) The rosy whiteness of his skin suggests perfect health. The term chiefest among ten thousand refers to the one who carries the banner in war. She is saying to the ladies of the court or harem you could easily pick him out . . . It would be as easy as seeing the banner-bearer among ten thousand.
Son 5:11. To say that his head is precious fine gold is to immediately associate it with beauty-value and honor-perhaps the imposing nobility of bearing is the point in comparison. The locks of his hair appear as a terraced hillside-or a series of hills seen at a distance, hill upon hill. Seen from his neck upwards, his hair forms in undulating lines, hill upon hill. In color, these locks of hair are black as a raven . . . the raven-blackness of the hair contrasts with the whiteness and redness of the countenance, which shines forth as from a black ground, from a black border. (Delitzsch)
Son 5:12. The eyes in their glancing moistness, and in the movement of their pupils, are like doves which sip at the water-brooks, and move to and fro beside them . . . That the eyes are like a precious stone in its casket, does not merely signify that they fill the sockets . . . but that they are not sunk like the eyes of one who is sick . . . they appear full and large as they pass forward from wide and open eyelids. (ibid)
Son 5:13. His cheeks are like a soft, raised flower bed, the impression received upon seeing them is like the fragrance which flows from such a flower bed, planted as it is with sweet-scented flowers. This latter allusion is probably to the practice of perfuming the beard. (Cf. Psa 133:2) His lips are as blood-red as the scarlet anemone. His speech is as fragrant and sweet as the smell of myrrh.
Son 5:14. His hands-golden cylinders, filled with stones of Tarshish. The fingers, full, round, fleshy in mould are compared to rods or bars of gold formed like rollers garnished with stones from Tarshish, to which the nails are likened. The transparent horn-plates of the nails, with the white segment of a circle at their roots, are certainly, when they are beautiful, an ornament to the hand, and without any need of being stained are worthy to be compared to the gold-yellow of topaz. His body is an ivory work of art, covered with sapphires. The term covered over perhaps should be with sapphires. The well formed body over which are the branching blue veins under the white skin.
Son 5:15. His legs are white marble columns, set on bases of fine gold. Strength and stability as well as beauty are here symbolized. His whole bearing is noble, the impression one gets upon looking at him is the same as when we stand at the base of a giant cedar tree and looks up.
Son 5:16. His mouth (or speech) is most sweet, this is a reference to the manner by which he addresses others-with true sweetness. (Cf. Pro 16:21)
To sum up her evaluation she can say he is altogether lovely. The women of the court wanted to know-(or did they?) As she stands back before this full length portrait she can tell them-This (emphatically) is my beloved, and this is my friend.! She evidently had spent enough time with him in various circumstances so she could say she was describing not only his physical appearance, but his personality and character.
Marriage Son 5:8-16
What a paragon of manhood! What hope is there for us poor, ordinary mortal husbands? Before we turn the page and look for more practical material-pause! Look again. The various parts of the body of the husband all relate to a quality of character we each can find in our lives as they relate to our wives-Consider:
(1) A pure mind-(refined gold)-What a valuable, honorable, beautiful quality this is. A slavery to King Jesus by which He brings every thought into captivity is the answer here. Surely there is no greater gift we could offer our wives.
(2) A single eye-i.e., a healthy eye-The eye is the window of the soul. A single resolute purpose in life is so important to marriage. If our Lord cannot supply such a purpose we shall never have it.
(3) A pleasant face-it is possible to cultivate a happy cheerful expression on our face. An optimistic attitude in our general demeanor which is reflected on the face will be a very large help. Who can offer reason for such an expression? The fruit of His presence is joy.
(4) Words of fragrant sweetness can be said. Many a bride wishes she were married to Barnabus-i.e., the son of encouragement. One of the gifts of His presence is encouragement or exhortation.
(5) Beautiful hands-strong and helpful. There are so many little areas of need where we can help. Show me your love apart from your works and I by my works will show thee my love.
(6) A body like a work of art-A work of art is only produced by the most careful cooperation and practice of the skills of an artist. Our whole person should be fashioned by the Master artist until we become like Him. Until we become in truth His own body, indwelt by His Spirit.
(7) Strong legs by which and on which we stand.-Our foundation is solid gold. Having done all to stand-to do that requires strong legs. He who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation can cause us to stand today. We stand in a beautiful, valuable place every time we let Him direct our posture.
So we can see with Him and through Him and because of Him we are altogether lovely. What wife wouldnt be delighted to share life with such a man?
Communion Son 5:8-16
It is not at all difficult to see the application of this text to our heavenly husband-indeed, and in truth He is altogether lovely! We should like to attempt a paraphrase of the text as we relate it to our Lord: My beloved is pure and strong. The leader among all men. He carries the banner of His own conquest. He is the head of His body, the church-such a head is of value beyond estimate. He is eternally youthful and strong. His beauty is such a contrast to the environment in which He lives. What a refreshment it is to look into His eyes! His eyes are full of love and alive with interest in my life in all of it, all the time. He looks at me tenderly-softly, like doves beside the water brooks-peaceful, restful, yet full of life. He always is able to see what no one else could. Everything moves into its proper place when I look long enough into His eyes. All the love and care of my Father is seen in the face of my Lord. To know that even now I have the fragrant words that came from His lips is startling! What beautiful strong hands does my Lord have. Today His hands are my hands. His help is my help in our world. The body of my Lord is indeed a work of art-not of men but of God. I stand in the strength of His might. His total bearing is one of the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords. This is my beloved and my nearest, dearest Friend. How inadequately we have represented Him-He is more-much more than we were able to say.
A Troubling Dream – Son 5:2 to Son 6:3
Open It
1. How have your relationships with best friends or your spouse changed as time has passed?
2. What do you think causes feelings of love to fade in a relationship?
3. What couple do you know with a successful marriage, and what do you most admire about their relationship?
Explore It
4. What stage in the couples relationship is described in these verses? (Son 5:2 to Son 6:3)
5. What did the Beloved say she was doing? (Son 5:2)
6. With what terms did the Lover address his Beloved? (Son 5:2)
7. What events took place in the Beloveds dream? (Son 5:2-8)
8. How did the Beloved respond to her husbands request to open the door? (Son 5:3)
9. What happened once the Beloved opened the door? (Son 5:6)
10. What did the Beloved say the watchmen did? (Son 5:7)
11. How did the Beloved describe her attitude toward her husband? (Son 5:8)
12. How did the Beloved describe her Lover? (Son 5:10-16)
13. What question did the Friends ask the Beloved? (Son 6:1)
14. Where did the Beloved say her Lover had gone? (Son 6:2-3)
Get It
15. What clues are there in these verses that time has lapsed since the wedding?
16. In what ways had this marriage relationship changed or stayed the same since the wedding?
17. Why might the initial excitement that accompanies marriage begin to fade?
18. What is significant about the Beloveds description of her Lover?
19. What makes a successful relationship last?
20. How can a couple keep the flame of love alive in their marriage?
Apply It
21. If you are married, what is one thing you can do today to show your spouse that you love him or her?
22. What lesson from these verses do you especially want to remember?
23. What fractured relationship do you want to work on mending?
24. What friends with a fractured relationship will you pray for today?
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
18.
The excellence and supremacy of Christ
Son 5:10
My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand..
The glorious, intimate, loving description of our Lord Jesus Christ given in Son 5:10-16 is given in response to the question of the daughters of Jerusalem in Son 5:9. What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us? In his commentary on the Song of Solomon, Pastor Roger Ellsworth makes a tremendous statement about this.
The question of the daughters of Jerusalem puts squarely before us a thrilling possibility it is possible for Gods children to so love Christ, and as a result to live in such a way, that they arrest attention and arouse interest. The reverse side of the coin is somber. It is also possible for Gods children to live in such a way that they never stimulate in others any thought about their faith or provoke any consideration of it. The apostle Peter tells his readers to Always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you(1Pe 3:15). He expected them to live in such an arresting manner that they would frequently have to explain why Christ meant so much to them.
May God give us grace to live in such obvious devotion, love, and consecration to Christ that people are aroused to asked us about him.
A question
What a joy it is for a believing sinner to call the Lord Jesus Christ, My Beloved. May God give us grace to constantly give him our hearts, to constantly set our hearts affection upon our Savior who loved us and gave himself for us (Col 3:1-3). It is of utmost importance that our hearts affection be really and truly set upon Christ.
We must trust him; and we must love him. Christ on the cross saves us when he becomes to us as Christ in the heart. It is of little value for us to know about Christ, if we do not really trust him and love him. It is meaningless for us to talk about Christ, unless our hearts are truly wed and knit to him. The orthodoxy of our doctrine is but a mockery of Christ, if we do not love Christ.
Therefore, I must ask a question. It is a question which I ask of myself frequently. Is the Lord Jesus Christ my Beloved? Can I call the Lamb of God, who was crucified on Calvary and who now reigns at the Fathers right hand, my Beloved? Can I truly call him my Beloved? We will never consider a more important question. It would be far better for a person never to have been born than to live and die without true love for Christ (1Co 16:22). Religious morality is not enough – Do I love Christ? Religious zeal and devotion is not enough – Do I love Christ? Religious works are not enough – Do I love Christ?
Love for Christ is not the ground of our salvation. Only the righteousness, and shed blood, and sovereign power of Christ can save me. Love for Christ is not the means by which we obtain salvation. Salvation comes by grace through faith. But true love for Christ is essential to salvation. Where there is no love for grace there is no grace and no salvation.
Believers are men and women who truly do love the Son of God. We do not love him as we ought. Indeed, we blush to speak of our love for him! But we do love our Redeemer. With Peter we bow our heads and say, Lord, Thou knowest all things. Thou knowest that I love thee. As John puts it, We love him because he first loved us (1Jn 4:19). His love for us precedes our love for him. His love for us causes our love for him. His love for us infinitely exceeds our love for him. But if we know him, we do love him. All who know him, trust him, worship him, and love him. There are no exceptions. Loving him, we find his word delightful, not grievous. Loving him, we find his will satisfying, not irksome. Loving him, Gods people love his Word, seek his glory, delight in his salvation, and love one another (1Jn 3:14; 1Jn 5:1-3). Loving Christ, believers rejoice in his honor, his exaltation, and his glory. We may be reluctant to sing it in public, but believing sinners can truthfully sing to their Savior
My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine,
for Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou,
if ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, tis now.
If truly we love the Lord Jesus Christ, we delight to speak of him. Love speaks of its object, defends the honor of its object, and is never ashamed of its object.
Would you grow in the love of Christ? Then seek to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge. The surest way to grow in the knowledge of his love for you and in love for him is to seek to know him. Meditate on Christ. Study Christ. Try to understand the glory of his Person. Seek to know the purity of his character. Study Christ in all his sacred offices. Think and study much about the cross, the blood, and the atonement of Christ. Meditate upon his resurrection, ascension, exaltation, and intercession. Feed your souls hope by contemplating the Lords glorious second coming. Study Christ! Study Christ, so that when any ask you, What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved?, you may be ready to answer easily, quickly, and forcibly (1Jn 1:1-3).
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
The better we know the Lord Jesus Christ the better we will love him, speak of him, and praise him.
Christs excellence
Throughout the Song of Solomon, and throughout the Book of God, we are given glimpses of the excellence of Christ. Here the Church speaks of Christs excellence in admiring words of deep affectionMy Beloved is white and ruddy.
It seems to me that these words call attention to the two primary characteristics of our Lords Person. Solomon had often seen the snow-white lambs, those emblems of purity, brought to the temple to be offered in sacrifice to the Lord. So he compares Christ to the white lamb of sacrifice. My Beloved is white. He had also seen the priest slit the lambs throat, and then had seen the ruby red blood of the lamb poured out in sacrifice to God. So he puts the two together and says, My Beloved is white and ruddy. The white represents his immaculate purity. The red represents his sacrificial blood.
Our Lord is in himself white. He is the eternal, immaculate Son of God (1Jn 1:5). Jesus Christ truly is God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity (1Jn 5:7). Whiteness also represents the purity of our Saviors life as a man (Heb 7:25-26). Both perfect Godhood and perfect manhood are essential for him to be our Mediator and sin-atoning Substitute.
Redness refers to the sacrificial character of our Redeemer. We must never be turned aside from the great good news of the gospel and the message of substitutionary redemption. It is the foundation and the cornerstone of our faith (Rom 1:16-17; 1Co 2:1; Gal 6:14). Christ died at Calvary as our Substitute, having all the sins of Gods elect imputed to him, that all his righteousness might be justly imputed to us (2Co 5:21). He was made to be sin for us by divine imputation. And we are made to be the righteousness of God in him in exactly the same way. When he had fully satisfied the righteousness and justice of God by the sacrifice of himself in the room and stead of his people, he put away our sins forever and obtained eternal redemption for us. The excellence of Christ is seen in his Person, in his work, and the fullness of grace that is ours in him (1Co 1:30).
Christs supremacy
Next, the Church speaks of the supremacy of Christ. My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. These words suggest a comparison. The Lord Jesus Christ is higher, lovelier, more excellent, and greater than all others. He is the greatest Angel. He is the Messenger of the Covenant. He is the greatest Friend. He is the Friend who sticketh closer than a brother. He is the greatest Bishop. He is the Bishop of our souls. He is the greatest Shepherd. He is the good, chief, great Shepherd. He is the greatest Physician. He is the greatest Advocate (1Jn 2:1-2). The angel said to Mary, He shall be great; and he is great. There is none to compare unto him. Christ alone is Great!
To say that he is the chiefest among ten thousand is to say that Christ is the Head, the Ruler, the Prince, the King, the Lord over all things (Psa 2:8; Isa 53:10-12; Joh 17:2; 2Pe 2:1; Psa 69:18; Eph 4:18). Christ is head of all things (Eph 1:22). Christ is King! He is the King of the universe, King of his Church, and King in the hearts of his people.
These words might be translated, He is the chosen one out of ten thousand (Psa 89:19). He was chosen of God to be our Savior, our Surety, our Redeemer, and our King. And he is chosen by each of his people. Chosen by his People. The marginal reference suggests that it should read, He is the standard bearer (ensign) among ten thousand (Isa 11:10). An ensign, a standard bearer, is one who holds the banner around whom the battalions rally. With a valiant heart he leads the army from victory to victory. Our Ensign is Christ himself. Our banner is the cross. Our weapon is the gospel. Our triumph is sure.
Our all-glorious Christ is flawlessly perfect in all things! In His Person. In His Works. In His Doctrine. In His Salvation. In His Dominion.
Fuente: Discovering Christ In Selected Books of the Bible
beloved: Son 2:1, Deu 32:31, Psa 45:17, Isa 66:19, Heb 7:26
the chiefest: Heb. a standard bearer, Isa 10:18, Isa 59:19, Rom 9:5, Phi 2:9-11, Col 1:18, Heb 2:10
Reciprocal: 1Sa 16:12 – ruddy Psa 45:2 – fairer Son 1:7 – O thou Son 1:16 – thou art Son 2:3 – my beloved Isa 33:17 – eyes Lam 4:7 – purer Zec 9:17 – how great is his beauty
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Son 5:10-13. My beloved is white and ruddy The white may denote his pure and spotless innocence, and the ruddy colour, his bloody passion. His head is as the most fine gold It shines like gold, by reason of the crown of pure gold upon his head. We need not aim at a distinct application of this and the following particulars unto some special excellences of Christ, because such things are mere conjectures, and the only design of this description is to set forth the beauty of Christ under the notion of a most amiable person, in whom there is no defect or blemish, from the crown of his head to the sole of his feet. His eyes, the eyes of doves Lovely and pleasant, chaste and innocent. By rivers of waters Where they delight to abide. Washed with milk The doves, not their eyes, were of a white colour. His cheeks His face or countenance, an eminent part whereof is the cheeks; are as a bed of spices Of aromatic flowers, which delight both the eye with a pleasant prospect, and the smell with their fragrancy. His lips are like lilies Beautiful and pleasant; dropping sweet-smelling myrrh Not only grateful to the eye, as lilies are, but also fragrant to the smell.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Nevertheless, the Shulammite still loved Solomon very much, as is clear from her description of him here. The comparisons illustrate his value and attractiveness to her, more than just giving us a picture of his actual physical appearance. For example, his hand (Son 5:11) was not the color of gold, but his dealings with her symbolized by his hand had been of the highest quality. Some features in her description may be purely physical, such as his black hair (Son 5:11). These verses show that a woman has the right to enjoy her husband’s body (cf. 1Co 7:4).
"A normal person finds the erotic ultimately meaningful only if there is trust and commitment, delight in the other’s person as well as in the body." [Note: Kinlaw, p. 1234.]