Geneva Study Bible O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised. O {a} that thou wert as my brother, that was nourished at the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee outside, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.
(a) The Church called of the Gentiles speaks thus to the Church of Jerusalem. I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate. I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.
His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me. {b} His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.
(b) Read So 2:6. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please. {c} I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not, nor awake my love, until he please.
(c) Read So 3:5. Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee. Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. {d} Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals of it are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
(d) The spouse desires Christ to be joined in perpetual love with him. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? {e} We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
(e) The Jewish Church speaks this of the Church of the Gentiles. If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar. {f} If she is a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she is a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
(f) If she is sure and fast, she is fit for her husband to dwell in. I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour. {g} I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.
(g) The Church promises fidelity and constancy. Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. {h} Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard to keepers; every one for the fruit of it was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.
(h) This is the vineyard of the Lord hired out, Mt 21:33. My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred. My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.
Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it. Thou that dwellest in the {i} gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.
(i) Christ dwells in his Church, whose voice the faithful hear. Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices. {k} Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of spices. (k) The Church desires Christ that if he depart from them, yet he would haste to help them in their troubles. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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