Song of Solomon 1:15

“Behold, thou [art] fair, my love, etc.] These are the words of Christ, commending the beauty and comeliness of the church, expressing his great affection for her, and his high esteem of her; of her fairness and beauty, (see Gill on “<220105>Song of Solomon 1:5”), (see Gill on “<220108>Song of Solomon 1:8”); of the title of Christ’s love, as given her by him, (see Gill on “<220109>Song of Solomon 1:9”); a “behold” is prefixed to this account her, as a note of attention, to consider her complete comeliness in Christ, and not pore on her own blackness; and as a note of admiration, that she who was so black and uncomely in herself should be so fair and beautiful in his eyes, through his blood,…”

“Behold - This is the speech of Christ. The words are doubled to manifest his fervent affection for her. Doves eyes - Which are mild and harmless, chaste and faithful. And by the eyes he seems to design both her outward behaviour, and the inward disposition of her mind. Song of Solomon (Canticles) 1:16”

“1:15–2:7 The couple exchange adoring descriptions of each other that honor her incomparable beauty and praise his stalwart protection and provision for her. 1:15 The comparison of the woman’s eyes with doves (see also 4:1; 5:12) is not clear. The metaphor may be commenting on their color or on a softness of expression.”

“thou art fair: Sol 1:8, Sol 4:1, Sol 4:7, Sol 4:10, Sol 5:12, Sol 7:6 my love: or, my companion, Mal 2:14 thou hast: Sol 4:1, Sol 5:12; Co2 11:2, Co2 11:3; Eph 1:17, Eph 1:18 Song of Solomon (Canticles) 1:16”

“In this ardour of loving devotion, she must appear to the king so much the more beautiful. 15 Lo, thou art fair, my love. Lo, thou art fair; thine eyes are doves. This is a so-called comparatio decurtata, as we say: feet like the gazelle, i.e., to which the swiftness of the gazelle's feet belongs ( Hab 3:19); but instead of "like doves," for the comparison mounts up to equalization, the expression is directly, "doves." If the pupil of the eye were compared with the feathers of the dove (Hitz.), or the sprightliness of the eye with the lively motion hither and thither of the dove (Heiligst.), then the eulogium would stand out of connection with what Shulamith has just said. But it stands in…”