Song of Solomon 8:6

“Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm, etc.] These are still the words of the church, speaking to Christ as she walked along with him, as the affixes in the Hebrew text show; in which she desires to have a fixed abiding place in his heart; to continue firmly in his love, and to have further manifestations of it; to be always remembered and supported by him; to be ever on his mind, and constantly under his care and protection; and to have a full assurance of interest in his love, and in his power, which is the sealing work of his Spirit, (<490113>Ephesians 1:13 <490430> Ephesians 4:30). The allusion seems to be to the high: priest, a type of Christ, who had the names of…”

“The bride says this as she clings to his arm and rests her head upon his bosom. Compare John 13:23; John 21:20. This brief dialogue corresponds to the longer one Song of Solomon 4:7-1, on the day of their espousals. Allegorical interpreters find a fulfillment of this in the close of the present dispensation, the restoration of Israel to the land of promise, and the manifestation of Messiah to His ancient people there, or His Second Advent to the Church. The Targum makes Song of Solomon 8:6 a prayer of Israel restored to the holy land that they may never again be carried into captivity, and Song of Solomon 8:7 the Lord’s answering assurance that Israel henceforth is safe. Compare Isaiah…”

“Set me - These are undoubtedly the words of the bride. Let thy heart be constantly set upon me. He seems to allude to the engraven tablets which are frequently worn upon the breast, and to the signet on a man's arm or hand, which they prized at a more than ordinary rate, and which are continually in their sight. For love - My love to thee. Jealousy - Or, zeal; my ardent love to thee. Cruel - Heb. hard, grievous and terrible, and sometimes ready to overwhelm me; therefore have pity upon me, and do not leave me. Fire - It burns and melts my heart like fire. Song of Solomon (Canticles) 8:7”

“8:6 seal over your heart . . . on your arm: In ancient Israel a seal was used for identification or to show ownership by pressing the face of a ring into soft wax. The wife wants her husband to mark her with his identity, privately upon her heart, and publicly upon her arm as well. • love is as strong as death: Though death is inevitable, the bond of love is resolute, unshakable, and broken only in death. • The energy of jealousy moves to protect an exclusive relationship such as that of husband and wife or between God and his people (Nah 1:2; Zech 1:14-17). • as the grave: Hebrew as Sheol. In the Old Testament, Sheol is the abode of the dead. It is not necessarily associated with…”

“as a seal: Exo 28:9-12, Exo 28:21, Exo 28:29, Exo 28:30; Isa 49:16; Jer 22:24; Hag 2:23; Zac 3:9; Ti2 2:19 love: Sol 5:8; Psa 42:1, Psa 42:2, Psa 63:1, Psa 84:2; Joh 21:15-19; Act 20:24, Act 21:13; Co2 5:14, Co2 5:15; Phi 1:20-23; Rev 12:11 jealousy: Num 5:14, Num 25:11; Deu 32:21; Pro 6:34; Co2 11:2 cruel: Heb. hard the coals: Psa 120:4; Pro 25:22; Rom 12:20 Song of Solomon (Canticles) 8:7”

“After Solomon has thus called to remembrance the commencement of their love-relation, which receives again a special consecration by the reference to Shulamith's parental home, and to her mother, Shulamith answers with a request to preserve for her this love. 6 Place me as a signet-ring on thy heart, As a signet-ring on thine arm! For strong as death is love; Inexorable as hell is jealousy: Its flames are flames of fire, A flame of Jah. 7 Mighty waters are unable to quench such love, And rivers cannot overflow it. If a man would give All the wealth of his house for love, - He would only be contemned. The signet-ring, which is called חותם (חתם, to impress), was carried either by a string on…”