16a His palate is sweets (sweetnesses),

       And he is altogether precious (lovelinesses).

The palate, חך, is frequently named as the organ of speech, Job 6:30; Job 31:30; Proverbs 5:3; Proverbs 8:7; and it is also here used in this sense. The meaning, "the mouth for kissing," which Bttch. gives to the word, is fanciful; חך ( equals ḥnk, Arab. ḥanak) is the inner palate and the region of the throat, with the uvula underneath the chin. Partly with reference to his words, his lips have been already praised, 13b; but there the fragrance of his breath came into consideration, his breath both in itself and as serving for the formation of articulate words. But the naming of the palate can point to nothing else than his words. With this the description comes to a conclusion; for, from the speech, the most distinct and immediate expression of the personality, advance is made finally to the praise of the person. The pluraliatant. ממתּקּים and מחמדּים designate what they mention in richest fulness. His palate, i.e., that which he speaks and the manner in which he speaks it, is true sweetness (cf. Proverbs 16:21; Psalm 55:15), and his whole being true loveliness. With justifiable pride Shulamith next says:

16b This is my beloved and this my friend,

       Ye daughters of Jerusalem!

The emphatically repeated "this" is here pred. (Luth. "such an one is" ...); on the other hand, it is subj. at Exodus 3:15 (Luth.: "that is" ...).

Song of Solomon 6:6 Parallel Commentaries

Songs 4:2 Your teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins...

Matthew 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said to it...

Matthew 25:30 And cast you the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.