Commentary - Song of Solomon 5:10-16

Bird's-eye view

In this portion of the Song, the Bride, having been asked by the daughters of Jerusalem what makes her beloved so special, responds with an overflowing, poetic description of his physical and personal glories. This is not a detached, clinical inventory; it is the enraptured praise of a woman deeply in love. She moves from head to toe, using the most precious and striking images from the created world to describe his excellence. Her praise is comprehensive, detailed, and climactic, culminating in the declaration that he is not just handsome, but "wholly desirable."

While this is, first and foremost, a glorious celebration of marital love between a man and a woman, we must not stop there. As with the entire book, this passage is a type, a living picture, of a greater reality. The love and admiration the Shulamite has for her husband is a shadow of the love and adoration the Church has for her Beloved, the Lord Jesus Christ. Every element of her praise finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of the Savior. This is the Church, filled with the Spirit, answering the world's question: "What is so great about your Jesus?" The answer is a portrait of Christ in His divine majesty, His human perfection, His kingly authority, and His tender compassion. He is, to His people, the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely.

Outline

Context In Song of Solomon

This passage is the Bride's answer to the question posed by the daughters of Jerusalem in verse 9: "What is your beloved more than another beloved...?" The context is one of temporary separation. The Bride had delayed in opening the door to her beloved (5:2-3), and when she finally did, he was gone (5:6). In her distressed search for him, she encounters the city watchmen, who strike her, and then the daughters of Jerusalem, whom she implores for help. Their question is the pivot point. It forces her to stop focusing on her loss and to start focusing on the one she has lost. The act of describing his glories rekindles her own love and serves as a powerful testimony to the onlookers. Her detailed praise demonstrates the depth of her love and knowledge of him, and it provides the fuel for her continued search, which will ultimately be successful.

Key Issues

The Chiefest Among Ten Thousand

When the world asks the Church why we make such a fuss about Jesus, this passage is our template for an answer. The daughters of Jerusalem are not asking a hostile question; it is a question of genuine curiosity. "What makes your man so special?" And the Bride's response is not a dry, systematic theology. It is a torrent of heartfelt, poetic, and deeply personal praise. This is how our witness ought to be. We do not just present a set of doctrines about Christ; we present Christ Himself, in all His beauty and desirability.

Notice that her praise is a direct result of her pain. In the darkness of her search, her love is refined and her testimony is sharpened. It is often in our seasons of spiritual dryness or trial, when we feel distant from the Lord, that we are forced to recall who He is. The discipline of praise, of recounting His glories, is a potent remedy for a downcast soul. As she describes him to others, she is reminding herself of why he is worth seeking. This is a profound lesson for every believer. When your spiritual affections grow cold, do not wallow in your coldness. Open your mouth and begin to declare the excellencies of Christ, and you will often find the fire rekindled in the very act of testifying.

Verse by Verse Commentary

10 “My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, Lifted up as a banner among ten thousand.

She begins with a summary statement of his overall appearance and status. He is dazzling and ruddy. Dazzling, or white, speaks of purity, glory, and righteousness. Ruddy, the color of blood and health, speaks of life, vitality, and humanity. In one phrase, she captures the paradox of our Lord: He is both divine in His perfect holiness and truly human, the ruddy son of Adam. This is not an anemic, pale savior, but one who is vibrant and full of life. He is "lifted up as a banner among ten thousand." A banner was a rallying point for an army, a standard that identified the king or the tribe. Christ is our standard. He is the one to whom we rally. And He is utterly preeminent. Place him among ten thousand of the best and brightest, and He stands out, unique and supreme. There is no one like him.

11 His head is like gold, fine gold; His locks are like clusters of dates And black as a raven.

Moving from the general to the specific, she starts at the top. His head is like gold, fine gold. Gold in Scripture consistently represents divinity, glory, and incorruptible perfection. This points directly to the divine nature and the supreme authority of Christ. He is the head of the Church, and His headship is one of pure, divine glory. His locks are lush and black, a sign of youthful vigor and undiminished strength. There is no hint of decay or weakness in him. While men's hair may gray and thin with age, our Beloved is eternally in His prime, His strength and vitality forever new.

12 His eyes are like doves Beside streams of water, Washed in milk, And sitting in their setting.

His eyes are not like those of a predator, but like doves. This speaks of gentleness, tenderness, and purity. They are eyes of peace. They are "beside streams of water," suggesting they are clear, life-giving, and full of the Spirit. The image of being "washed in milk" conveys a soft, radiant purity. And they are "sitting in their setting," which means they are perfectly placed, fit, and proportioned. This is a picture of the Lord's perception and vision. He sees all things with perfect clarity and purity. His gaze upon His people is not one of harsh scrutiny but of tender, dove-like affection. He sees us, and His vision is life-giving.

13 His cheeks are like a bed of spices, Towers of sweet-scented herbs; His lips are lilies Dripping with liquid myrrh.

His cheeks, the place where a man's strength and character are often displayed, are like a fragrant garden. To be near him is to be in a place of delightful aroma. This speaks of the sheer pleasure of His presence. His very being gives off a spiritual fragrance that delights the soul. His lips are lilies, a symbol of purity and beauty, and they drip with liquid myrrh. Myrrh was a precious perfume, an ingredient in the holy anointing oil, and a substance used in embalming. This points to the words of Christ. His words are beautiful, pure, and precious. They are words of grace, "seasoned with salt." And they are words that have come through death, bringing life to us. The gospel He speaks is a sweet, life-giving perfume.

14 His hands are rods of gold Set with beryl; His abdomen is a plate of ivory Inlaid with sapphires.

His hands are not weak or idle. They are rods of gold, signifying that His actions and works are both powerful (rods) and divine (gold). They are "set with beryl," a precious stone, indicating the beauty and preciousness of all He does. This is the Christ whose hands healed the sick, cleansed the leper, and were pierced for our transgressions. Every work of His hands is a perfect, divine, and beautiful work. His abdomen, or body, is like polished ivory, speaking of its flawless purity and nobility. It is inlaid with sapphires, a stone often associated with the heavens and the throne of God. This points to the perfect, sinless humanity of our Lord, a body prepared by God, in which the fullness of deity was pleased to dwell.

15 His legs are pillars of marble Set on bases of fine gold; His appearance is like Lebanon Choice as the cedars.

His legs are not reeds shaken in the wind. They are pillars of marble, representing immense strength, stability, and permanence. He is the one who can bear the full weight of God's wrath and the full weight of His own glorious government. These pillars are set on "bases of fine gold," meaning His walk and His ways are founded upon His divine nature. He does not stumble. His path is perfect. His overall appearance, his stature, is like Lebanon, known for its majestic and towering cedar trees. He is strong, noble, and magnificent. There is nothing small or unimpressive about our King.

16 His mouth is full of sweetness. And he is wholly desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”

She concludes her description with a summary that moves from the physical to the essential. His mouth, the source of his words, is not just sweet-smelling, but is sweetness itself. The Hebrew is plural, "sweetnesses." His every word, his every communication, is grace and truth. Then comes the ultimate summation: "he is wholly desirable." Every part of him, every attribute, every action, is lovely. There is no flaw in him, no defect, nothing that is not worthy of adoration. After this breathtaking description, she concludes with a simple, powerful, personal claim. This magnificent being is not an abstract concept. "This is my beloved, and this is my friend." She has a personal, covenantal relationship with him. He is her magnificent Lord, and He is also her dearest friend. This is the heart of the Christian faith: to know this glorious Christ not just as an idea, but as our own beloved Savior and friend.

Application

First, every Christian marriage should have this quality of mutual admiration at its heart. Husbands and wives ought to be able to praise one another, to see and celebrate the glories God has placed in the other. This kind of specific, heartfelt praise is a foundational element of a healthy marriage. It is a weapon against the contempt and familiarity that can poison a relationship. Learn to speak this way to and about your spouse.

Second, this is the great task of the Church: to hold up Christ to the world. We are constantly being asked, "What is your beloved more than another?" The world offers a thousand other lovers, a thousand other saviors. Our answer must be to paint a portrait of Christ in all His glory. We must know Him well enough to describe Him. This requires more than a superficial acquaintance. It requires a deep, loving study of His person and work as revealed in the Scriptures. Our evangelism should be saturated with this kind of affectionate exaltation of Jesus.

Finally, this passage is a personal call to worship. Read through this description and apply each element to the Lord Jesus. Meditate on His divine headship, His pure vision, His powerful works, His stable ways, and His sweet words. Let this portrait of the Beloved fill your heart with love and adoration for him. When you feel distant from Him, follow the Bride's example. Begin to recount His excellencies. Make your own list. Speak of His glory to yourself, to God in prayer, and to others. For in beholding Him, we are changed into His image, and our love for Him grows deeper. He is, after all, wholly desirable.