Song of Solomon 5:8-16

Song of Solomon 5:8 to Song of Solomon 6:3. Descriptive Poem (Wasf) : The Strength and Beauty of the Bridegroom. On this view, Song of Solomon 5:8 f. is taken as an introduction to the praises of the beloved, and whether there is any real connexion with the dream poem is uncertain.

Song of Solomon 5:8. sick: from the disappointment and delays of love.

Song of Solomon 5:9. Or, What kind of a beloved is thy beloved?

Song of Solomon 5:10. dazzling white (Lamentations 4:7) and ruddy (1 Samuel 16:12). chiefest: the most conspicuous or distinguished.

Song of Solomon 5:11. bushy: the word occurs only here; probably curly or wavy.

Song of Solomon 5:12. Perhaps this should read: His eyes are like a pair of doves sitting by the water courses; Which are as if bathed in milk and sitting by full streams.

Song of Solomon 5:13. spices: better balsam shrubs (Song of Solomon 6:2). banks of sweet herbs: towers of perfume (mg.) is the literal rendering, but to follow the versions requires only a slight change in the pronunciation, viz. producing sweet odours (cf. Psalms 133:2). lilies: scarlet flowers (see Song of Solomon 2:1).

Song of Solomon 5:14. His fingers are cylinders of gold set with topaz (mg.) ; his body was as beautiful as a piece of ivory work studded with sapphires.

Song of Solomon 5:15. He is strong, handsome, and attractive in speech.

Song of Solomon 5:16 b, c. surely a full answer to the question of Song of Solomon 5:9.