Song of Solomon 4:3

“Thy lips [are] like a thread of scarlet, etc.] To a “thread” for thinness, to “scarlet” for colour; thin red lips being beautiful, as well as white teeth; so the beautiful Aspasia had red lipsf220, and teeth whiter than snow; hence we read of red and purple lipsf221. Now as lips are the instruments of speech, the words of the church, and of all true believers, may be designed; what is said by them in their prayers, which are filled, not with great swelling words of vanity, exalting themselves, and magnifying their works, like the Pharisee; but with humble confessions of sin, and acknowledgments of their unworthiness of mercy; and they are constant, like one continued thread, they go on…”

“Thy speech is comely - Perhaps, “thy mouth,” i. e., the organ of speech. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Thy speech - Which is added as another ingredient of an amiable person; and to explain the foregoing metaphor. The discourse of believers is edifying and comfortable, and acceptable to God, and to serious men. Temples - Under which he comprehends the cheeks. Pomegranate - In which there is a lovely mixture of red and white. Song of Solomon (Canticles) 4:4”

“4:3 Pomegranates have a rosy appearance and are one of the lushest Middle Eastern fruits.”

“lips: Sol 4:11, Sol 5:13, Sol 5:16, Sol 7:9; Psa 37:30, Psa 45:2, Psa 119:13; Pro 10:13, Pro 10:20, Pro 10:21, Pro 16:21-24; Mat 12:35; Luk 4:22; Co2 5:18-21; Eph 4:29; Col 3:16, Col 3:17, Col 4:6 scarlet: Lev 14:4, Lev 14:6, Lev 14:49-52; Num 4:8, Num 19:6; Jos 2:18; Pro 31:26; Heb 9:19 thy temples: Sol 6:7; Gen 32:10; Ezr 9:6; Eze 16:63 Song of Solomon (Canticles) 4:4”

“The mouth is next praised: 3a Like a thread of crimson thy lips, And thy mouth is lovely, As distinguished from red-purple, ארגּמן, שׁני (properly, shining, glistening; for this form has an active signification, like נקי, as well as a passive, like עני) - fully, שׁני תּולעת - signifies the kermes or worm-colour; the karmese, the red juice of the cochineal. מדבּרך (מדבּריך) is translated by the lxx "thy speech;" Jerome, eloquium; and the Venet. "thy dialogue;" but that would be expressed, though by a ἁπ. λεγ., by מדבּר דבּוּרך is here the name of the mouth, the naming of which one expects; the preform. is the mem instrumenti: the mouth, as the instrument of speech, as the organ by which the…”