Matthew Poole Commentary - Song of Solomon 7:1 - 7:1

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Matthew Poole Commentary - Song of Solomon 7:1 - 7:1


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SONG OF SOLOMON CHAPTER 7



A further description of the church’ s graces, Son_7:1-7. This design to visit the church, with the blessed effect thereof, Son_7:8,9. She professeth her faith and desire, Son_7:10. She inviteth him to communion with her, Son_7:11. The end thereof, Son_7:12,13.



The Bridegroom, who spake the last words, here continueth his speech, and breaks forth into an elegant and particular description and commendation of the spouse, partly from the parts of her body, and partly from her ornaments; in which the same thing is to be observed which was noted concerning her description of the Bridegroom, that there is no necessity of a distinct application of every parcel of it, the design being only this, to describe the beauty and glory of the church under the representation of a beautiful and noble woman. This also is observable, that in the description of Christ she begins at the head, and so goeth downward, Son_5:11, &c., but Christ in the description of the spouse proceedeth from the feet upwards.



Feet being the chief instrument of our motion from place to place, is oft used metonymically for the motion itself, and so may here signify either the inward motions, the workings of the affections, or the outward motions, the steps or actions of the life, both which are right and amiable in believers.



Shoes were anciently evidences of a free and comfortable state, whereas slaves and mourners use to go barefoot, 2Sa_15:30 Isa_20:4, which also in women of high quality were adorned with gold and other ornaments; of which see Isa_3:18. These may also signify that the feet of believers should be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, Eph_6:15. Prince’s daughter, both by birth, being born of God, and by disposition and deportment agreeable to that quality.



The joints of thy thighs; either,



1. The hollow place in which the hip or thigh-bone moveth and turneth itself; or rather,



2. The hip or thighbone which moveth there; for this is more fitly compared to a jewel well set. Some understand this of some ornaments worn by women upon those parts; for the word rendered joints may signify girdles, or any ornament which encompasseth any part of the body, and the same words which signify thighs are both in Hebrew and other languages sometimes used concerning the legs; which being admitted, this might seem to be understood of the bride’s garters, about her legs, which not unfitly follows the shoes upon her feet last mentioned. But this sense seems not to suit so well with the following comparison as the former doth.



Like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman; like jewels orderly and excellently set by a skillful artist. So this signifies the uprightness and decency of her going, which depends very much upon the right situation of the hip or thigh-bone, which when it is dislocated or disordered causeth a lameness or uncomeliness in going; whereby he understands the orderliness and amiableness of her conversation.