The Bridegroom Praises The Bride

Commentary

Chapter four is a description of Solomon and his bride’s wedding night. As onlookers, we might feel a bit embarrassed as we read this intensively private and intimate exchange of their love. Verses 1-7 describe the maiden’s physical charms and verses 8-16 describe her character. The fact that Solomon called her my bride (my beloved) five times in verses 8-12 also confirms that this chapter depicts their wedding night.

Solomon praised eight parts of his bride’s body: her eyes (v. 1), hair (v. 1), teeth (v. 2), lips (v. 3), mouth (v. 3), temples (v. 3), neck (v. 4), and breasts (v. 5). His total attention was focused on his bride and her beauty. The imagery he used in praising her was taken from a pastoral setting of comparing eyes – doves (v. 1), hair – goats (v. 1), teeth – sheep (v. 2), lips – thread (v. 3), temple – pomegranates (v. 3), neck – tower (v. 4), and breasts – fawns (v. 5). These may not seem complimentary to us in our society, but they were to Solomon’s bride who was raised in the country and understood and appreciated these images.

Beginning in verse 8 Solomon praised his bride’s physical expression of love and its effect on him. The effect of his bride’s love was so powerful that even a glance from her beautiful eyes was enchanting to Solomon (v. 9). Her physical expressions of love had a more refreshing and intoxicating effect on him than wine (v. 10). Even her perfume added to the excitement of their love (v. 11). The senses of sight, touch, smell and sound were involved in their love making. The garden locked up, the spring enclosed and sealed fountain (v. 12) suggest the king was praising his bride’s virginity. She had kept herself ‘sealed’ from all others and preserved her purity for her husband.

Application

Sex is wonderful within marriage, but sinful and disgraceful outside of marriage. I covenant with the Lord  to keep me from temptation and to remain faithful to my wife.