PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible — Song of Solomon
Gill, John, 1697-1771 · 74,116 words · 86 reading sections
Song of Solomon 1:1
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible. Song of Solomon 1:1 INTRODUCTION TO THE SONG OF SOLOMON This book is entitled, in the Hebrew copies, "Shir Hashirim", the Song of Songs. The Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions call it, "the Song"; and the title of it in the Syriac version, is, "the Wisdom of Wisdoms of…
2,250 wordsSECTION 2Song of Solomon 1:2
Song of Solomon 1:2 Ver. 2. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth,.... That is, Solomon; Christ, the antitype of Solomon, the church's beloved; or it is a relative without an antecedent, which was only in her own mind, "let him"; him, whom her thoughts were so much employed about; her affections were so strongl…
406 wordsSECTION 3Song of Solomon 1:3
Song of Solomon 1:3 Ver. 3. Because of the savour of thy good ointments,.... It was usual for lovers to anoint themselves, their hair, garments, &c. to commend themselves to each other; and it was common to commend each other's ointments, and the grateful smell of them {q} none being like them, or so agreeable as thei…
408 wordsSECTION 4Song of Solomon 1:4
Song of Solomon 1:4 Ver. 4. Draw me,.... With the cords of love, for what draw lovers to each other more strongly? under the influence of that they cannot bear to be without each other's company. Aben Ezra takes these words to be spoken by the virgins, who everyone of them said this, promising upon it to follow after …
693 wordsSECTION 5Song of Solomon 1:5
Song of Solomon 1:5 Ver. 5. I [am] black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem,.... The church having obtained of Christ, what she wanted, turns to the daughters of Jerusalem, the same perhaps with the virgins her companions; they seem to be young converts, it may be not yet members of the visible church, but had a…
690 wordsSECTION 6Song of Solomon 1:6
Song of Solomon 1:6 Ver. 6. Look not upon me,.... Meaning not with scorn and disdain because of her meanness; nor as prying into her infirmities to expose her; nor with joy at her trials and afflictions; neither of these can be supposed in the daughters of Jerusalem addressed by her: but rather, not look on her as ama…
694 wordsSECTION 7Song of Solomon 1:7
Song of Solomon 1:7 Ver. 7. Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth,.... With all her heart, cordially and sincerely; for, notwithstanding her sinful compliance with others, and neglect of her own affairs, she had not lost her love to Christ; and, being sensible of her sin and folly, whereby she was deprived of his compan…
699 wordsSECTION 8Song of Solomon 1:8
Song of Solomon 1:8 Ver. 8. If thou know not,.... Or, "seeing thou knowest not" {m}; the saints in this imperfect state know but in part, are ignorant of many things, and in some measure of themselves; for though they know much of the sinfulness and deceitfulness of their hearts, yet they know not all; and of their im…
694 wordsSECTION 9Song of Solomon 1:9
Song of Solomon 1:9 Ver. 9. I have compared thee, O my love,.... The church having taken the direction of Christ, had now found him, and was with him; and when for her encouragement and comfort he greets her as his love, an appellation very usual among lovers; and in the chastest sense between husband and wife; the ch…
5,255 wordsSECTION 10Song of Solomon 2:1
Song of Solomon 2:1 INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 2 Here begins a new colloquy between Christ and his church; in which they alternately set forth the excellencies of each other; and express their mutual affection for, and delight and pleasure they take in, each other's company. Christ seems to begin, in an account …
1,532 wordsSECTION 11Song of Solomon 2:2
Song of Solomon 2:2 Ver. 2. As the lily among thorns, so [is] my love among the daughters. These are manifestly the words of Christ concerning his church, whom he calls "my love", See Gill on "So 1:9"; and was his love still, though in such company, and in such an uncomfortable condition. In what sense she is comparab…
426 wordsSECTION 12Song of Solomon 2:3
Song of Solomon 2:3 Ver. 3. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so [is] my beloved among the sons,.... As the apple tree, in a garden or orchard, excels and is preferable to the wild barren trees of a forest {k}, especially it appears so when laden with choice fruit; so the church, who here returns the comm…
1,018 wordsSECTION 13Song of Solomon 2:4
Song of Solomon 2:4 Ver. 4. He brought me to the banqueting house,.... Or "into" it {q}. The "house of wine" {r}, as it is literally in the original; either the "wine cellar" {s}, as some, where stores of it were kept; or, the "place of fasting" {t}, as others, and, as we render it, a "banqueting house"; where it was …
415 wordsSECTION 14Song of Solomon 2:5
Song of Solomon 2:5 Ver. 5. Stay me with flagons,.... Of wine, which is a supporter of the animal spirits {w}. The church was now in a house of wine, where was plenty of it; even of the love of Christ, compared to wine, and preferred unto it, So 1:2; the church though she had had large discoveries of it, desired more;…
421 wordsSECTION 15Song of Solomon 2:6
Song of Solomon 2:6 Ver. 6. His left hand [is] under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me. The church, having desired to be stayed, supported, strengthened, and comforted, presently found her beloved with her, who with both hands sustained her; which shows his tender love to her, care of her, and regard for her…
250 wordsSECTION 16Song of Solomon 2:7
Song of Solomon 2:7 Ver. 7. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem,.... Of whom, see So 1:5. There is some difficulty in these words, whether they are spoken by the church, or by Christ: according to our version, they are the words of the church, and bids fair to be the sense; since they are spoken to the virgins, …
892 wordsSECTION 17Song of Solomon 2:8
Song of Solomon 2:8 Ver. 8. The voice of my beloved!.... So says the church, who well knew Christ her beloved's voice; which is known by all believers in him, and is distinguished by them from the voice of others; by the majesty and authority of it; by the power and efficacy of it; by its directing them to himself, an…
580 wordsSECTION 18Song of Solomon 2:9
Song of Solomon 2:9 Ver. 9. 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 co…
695 wordsSECTION 19Song of Solomon 2:10
Song of Solomon 2:10 Ver. 10. My beloved spake, and said unto me,.... Christ, the church's beloved, being so near her, she could distinctly hear and understand what he spoke, and relate the very words: or, "he answered to me" {p}; to a secret petition, put up to him for a more full enjoyment of him; for there is menta…
294 wordsSECTION 20Song of Solomon 2:11
Song of Solomon 2:11 Ver. 11. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over [and] gone. A season of the year which keeps persons within doors, makes going abroad unsafe, unpleasant, and uncomfortable; very unfit for travelling, roads bad, rivers impassable, and journeying very difficult; but now this season being over…
486 wordsSECTION 21Song of Solomon 2:12
Song of Solomon 2:12 Ver. 12. The flowers appear on the earth,.... One of the first signs of the spring being come {t}; and make the season delightful and pleasant; the sun returning with its warming influences, herbs and plants are quickened and spring up; fields and meadows, as well as gardens, are covered with a va…
903 wordsSECTION 22Song of Solomon 2:13
Song of Solomon 2:13 Ver. 13. The fig tree putteth forth her green figs,.... Another sign of spring being come, nay, of its being pretty much advanced, since Christ makes this a token of summer being at hand, Mt 24:32. Theopompus {e} speaks of figs in the middle of the spring. This tree puts forth its fruit at once, a…
4,319 wordsSECTION 23Song of Solomon 3:1
Song of Solomon 3:1 INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 3 In this chapter an account is given of an adventure of the church, in quest of her beloved; of the time when, and places where, and the persons of whom she sought him; and of her success upon the whole; with a charge she give to the daughters of Jerusalem, So 3:1;…
476 wordsSECTION 24Song of Solomon 3:2
Song of Solomon 3:2 Ver. 2. I will rise now,.... Perceiving she had taken a wrong method, and therefore unsuccessful, she fixes on another; and, in the strength of divine grace, determines to pursue it, and "now", at once, immediately, without any delay, "rise" from her bed of sloth and ease, and forego her carnal ple…
396 wordsSECTION 25Song of Solomon 3:3
Song of Solomon 3:3 Ver. 3. The watchmen that go about the city found me,.... By whom are meant the ministers of the Gospel; who are called watchmen, as the prophets were under the Old Testament, Isa 52:8; in allusion to watchmen in cities; and are so called in regard to themselves, it being their duty to watch over t…
420 wordsSECTION 26Song of Solomon 3:4
Song of Solomon 3:4 Ver. 4. [It was] but a little that I passed from them,.... Either a small moment of time, as the Targum and Aben Ezra; or a little distance of place, that is, from the watchmen or ministers, from whom she passed; not through disrespect to them, much less contempt of them; nor because she received n…
623 wordsSECTION 27Song of Solomon 3:5
Song of Solomon 3:5 Ver. 5. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem,.... Which are either the words of Christ, adjuring the young converts not to disturb the church; who had now Christ in her arms, taking repose with him, being wearied with running about in search of him: or they are the words of the church; who hav…
139 wordsSECTION 28Song of Solomon 3:6
Song of Solomon 3:6 Ver. 6. Who [is] this that cometh out of the wilderness,.... This is said by the daughters of Jerusalem, adjured in So 3:5; who, upon the happy meeting of Christ and his church, saw a greater glory and beauty in her than they had seen before; and therefore put this question, not as ignorant of her,…
724 wordsSECTION 29Song of Solomon 3:7
Song of Solomon 3:7 Ver. 7. Behold his bed which [is] Solomon's,.... Not Solomon the son of David, and penman of this song, but a greater than he, the antitype of him; so it is interpreted of the Messiah by many Jewish writers {q}: they were both sons of David and sons of God, and kings and preachers in Jerusalem. Sol…
368 wordsSECTION 30Song of Solomon 3:8
Song of Solomon 3:8 Ver. 8. They all hold swords,.... Or a "sword" {r}; the word is singular, which designs the word of God, called the sword of the Spirit, and said to be sharper than a twoedged sword, Eph 6:17 Heb 4:12; which everyone of the ministers of the Gospel hold in their hands; and which denotes not only the…
465 wordsSECTION 31Song of Solomon 3:9
Song of Solomon 3:9 Ver. 9. King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon. The word translated chariot is only used in this place; some render it a bride chamber {u}; others a nuptial bed {w}, such as is carried from place to place; it is used in the Misnah {x} for the nuptial, bed, or open chariot, in wh…
622 wordsSECTION 32Song of Solomon 3:10
Song of Solomon 3:10 Ver. 10. He made the pillars thereof [of] silver,.... The truths and doctrines of the Gospel are the "pillars" of it; which, like pillars, are solid and substantial, and continue firm and immovable, and are of great use to support the children of God under the several trials and exercises they are…
634 wordsSECTION 33Song of Solomon 3:11
Song of Solomon 3:11 Ver. 11. Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion,.... The same with the daughters of Jerusalem; the reason of the variation is, because Christ, here so gloriously described, is King of Zion, and they his subjects; these the church observing, being intent on looking at the bed and chariot she had describe…
606 wordsSECTION 34Song of Solomon 4:1
Song of Solomon 4:1 INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 4 In this chapter is contained a large commendation of the church's beauty by Christ; first, more particularly, by an enumeration of several parts, as her eyes, hair, teeth, lips, temples, neck, and breasts, So 4:1; and more generally, So 4:7; And having observed wh…
1,435 wordsSECTION 35Song of Solomon 4:2
Song of Solomon 4:2 Ver. 2. Thy teeth [are] like a flock [of sheep],.... That is, like the teeth of a flock of sheep; as her eyes were like the eyes of doves, and her hair like the hair of goats: and Galen long ago observed, that human teeth are much like the teeth of sheep, in figure, order, and structure, as well as…
838 wordsSECTION 36Song of Solomon 4:3
Song of Solomon 4:3 Ver. 3. Thy lips [are] like a thread of scarlet,.... To a "thread" for thinness, to "scarlet" for colour; thin red lips being beautiful, as well as white teeth; so the beautiful Aspasia had red lips {b}, and teeth whiter than snow; hence we read of red and purple lips {c}. Now as lips are the instr…
1,099 wordsSECTION 37Song of Solomon 4:4
Song of Solomon 4:4 Ver. 4. Thy neck [is] like the tower of David, builded for an armoury,.... This was either the strong hold of Zion; or some tower erected by David for an armoury, wherein his worthies or mighty men bring up their shields; Mr. Sandys {k} says, it stood aloft in the utmost angle of a mountain, whose …
692 wordsSECTION 38Song of Solomon 4:5
Song of Solomon 4:5 Ver. 5. Thy two breasts [are] like two young roes that are twins,.... Or, "two fawns, the twins of a doe": Providence, as Plutarch observes {p}, has given to women two breasts, that, should they have twins, both might have a fountain of nourishment; and are fitly compared to twins of the doe. The h…
663 wordsSECTION 39Song of Solomon 4:6
Song of Solomon 4:6 Ver. 6. Until the day break, and the shadows flee away,.... Until the day of grace breaks on every elect sinner, and the shadows of darkness, ignorance, and unbelief, are in a great measure fled and gone; or until the everlasting day breaks, and there will be no more night, nor any darkness of affl…
315 wordsSECTION 40Song of Solomon 4:7
Song of Solomon 4:7 Ver. 7. Thou art all fair, my love,.... Being justified by the righteousness of Christ, washed in his blood, and sanctified by his Spirit; of the title, my "love", see So 1:9. The church is often said by Christ to be "fair", his "fair one", and the "fairest among women", So 1:8; but here "all fair"…
266 wordsSECTION 41Song of Solomon 4:8
Song of Solomon 4:8 Ver. 8. Come with me from Lebanon, [my] spouse, with me from Lebanon,.... This is a new title given the church, my "spouse"; here first mentioned, because the day of espousals was over, So 3:11; and having on the wedding garment, in which she was so fair and spotless, as before described, she looke…
872 wordsSECTION 42Song of Solomon 4:9
Song of Solomon 4:9 Ver. 9. Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, [my] spouse,.... Here another new title is given to the church, "my sister", with the repetition of the former, my "spouse": for one and the same person, with the Hebrews, might be sister and spouse; see 1Co 9:5. And this may be used in a love strain,…
849 wordsSECTION 43Song of Solomon 4:10
Song of Solomon 4:10 Ver. 10. How fair is thy love, [my] sister, my spouse!.... Of these titles, See Gill on "So 4:8"; See Gill on "So 4:9"; and of the love of the church to Christ, See Gill on "So 1:3"; here said to be "fair", lovely and delightful, grateful and acceptable; as it is to Christ, in the several acts and…
297 wordsSECTION 44Song of Solomon 4:11
Song of Solomon 4:11 Ver. 11. Thy lips, O [my] spouse, drop [as] the honeycomb,.... Words, for sweetness, delight, and pleasure, like that; so the speech of persons, flowing from their mouth and tongue, is said to be sweeter than the honeycomb {s}; and lovers are said to be sweeter to one another than the sweet honey …
744 wordsSECTION 45Song of Solomon 4:12
Song of Solomon 4:12 Ver. 12. A garden enclosed [is] my sister, [my] spouse,.... At a little distance from Bethlehem are pools of water, and below these runs a narrow rocky valley, enclosed on both sides with high mountains which the friars, as Mr. Maundrell says {d} will have to be the enclosed garden here alluded to…
3,283 wordsSECTION 46Song of Solomon 5:1
Song of Solomon 5:1 INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 5 This chapter begins with Christ's answer to the church's request; in which he informs her, that he was come into his garden, as she desired, and gives an account of what he had done there; and kindly invites his dear friends to feast with him there, So 5:1; Then s…
932 wordsSECTION 47Song of Solomon 5:2
Song of Solomon 5:2 Ver. 2. I sleep, but my heart waketh,.... Like persons that are half awake, half asleep, whom Cicero {x} calls "semisomni". Christ and the church having feasted together at his invitation, she soon after fell asleep, as the disciples did after a repast with their Lord; yet not so fast asleep but th…
1,136 wordsSECTION 48Song of Solomon 5:3
Song of Solomon 5:3 Ver. 3. I have put off my coat,.... In order to lie down on her bed at night, and take her ease; meaning her conversation garments, which she had not been careful of to keep, but had betook herself to carnal ease and rest, and was off her watch and guard, Ne 4:23; and being at ease, and free from t…
441 wordsSECTION 49Song of Solomon 5:4
Song of Solomon 5:4 Ver. 4. My beloved put in his hand by the hole [of the door],.... To remove the bolt or bar which kept him from entering in. By the "door" is meant the door of her heart, which was in a great measure shut against Christ, through the prevalence of corruption; and the "hole" in it shows that it was n…
351 wordsSECTION 50Song of Solomon 5:5
Song of Solomon 5:5 Ver. 5. I rose up to open to my beloved,.... As soon as touched by the hand of mighty grace, she not only resolved to rise, but actually rose, and that directly, not being easy to lie any longer on her bed of carnal security; being now made heartily and thoroughly willing to let in her beloved, who…
611 wordsSECTION 51Song of Solomon 5:6
Song of Solomon 5:6 Ver. 6. I opened to my beloved,.... Which was what he desired, and was done in virtue of his putting in his hand by the hole of the door; or by the exertion of his efficacious grace, working in her both to will and to do, without which it would not have been done; namely, her heart dilated, the des…
616 wordsSECTION 52Song of Solomon 5:7
Song of Solomon 5:7 Ver. 7. The watchmen that went about the city, found me,.... Of the city and the watchmen in it, and of their finding the church, See Gill on "So 3:2"; See Gill on "So 3:3"; they smote me, they wounded me; taking her for a night walker, they gave her ill words and hard blows this was not very beco…
595 wordsSECTION 53Song of Solomon 5:8
Song of Solomon 5:8 Ver. 8. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,.... Young converts, as before observed; who, upon the hideous outcry the church made in the streets, came to her to know what was the matter, whom she addressed as after related; this shows the humility and condescension of the church, in desiring the…
387 wordsSECTION 54Song of Solomon 5:9
Song of Solomon 5:9 Ver. 9. What is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, O thou fairest among women?.... The same title Christ gives her, So 1:8; and from whom these daughters seem to have taken it; and, in giving it to her, might be assured they were right, since he, who knew her perfectly well, so calls her; in …
6,412 wordsSECTION 55Song of Solomon 6:1
Song of Solomon 6:1 INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 6 The discourse between the church and the daughters of Jerusalem is continued in this chapter: they inquire whither her beloved was gone, in order to seek him with her, So 6:1; she tells them where he was gone, and for what purpose he went thither, and what he was …
514 wordsSECTION 56Song of Solomon 6:2
Song of Solomon 6:2 Ver. 2. My beloved is gone down into his garden,.... Which may be said by Solomon, in allusion to what he himself was wont to do, as Josephus {q} relates; who used to go very early in a morning in great pomp to Etham, about two miles from Jerusalem, a pleasant place, abounding with gardens and flow…
606 wordsSECTION 57Song of Solomon 6:3
Song of Solomon 6:3 Ver. 3. I [am] my beloved's, and my beloved [is] mine,.... Expressive of interest in Christ, and union to him, and of her faith therein; which still continued, notwithstanding her unbecoming behavior toward Christ, and her many infirmities, So 5:2. Aben Ezra connects the words with the preceding, "…
155 wordsSECTION 58Song of Solomon 6:4
Song of Solomon 6:4 Ver. 4. Thou [art] beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah,.... These are the words of Christ, who had been absent for some time, and till now silent; but, like another Joseph, could not refrain any longer, but makes himself known to his church, and bursts out in strong expressions of love to her, and in h…
778 wordsSECTION 59Song of Solomon 6:5
Song of Solomon 6:5 Ver. 5. Turn away thine eyes from me,.... Her eyes of faith and love; not through dislike of them, but as ravished with them; his passions were so struck by them, and his heart pierced with them, that he could stand it out no longer against her; see So 4:9. Some render the words, "turn about thine …
503 wordsSECTION 60Song of Solomon 6:6
Song of Solomon 6:6 Ver. 6. Thy teeth [are] as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof everyone beareth twins, and [there is] not one barren among them]. See Gill on "So 4:2".…
39 wordsSource & rights
Public domain; John Gill (1697–1771). Source item is marked Public Domain on Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.