Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Song of Solomon 4:1
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Behold, thou [art] fair, my love; behold, thou [art] fair, etc.] The same as in (<220115>Song of Solomon 1:15); here repeated by Christ, to introduce the following commendation; to express the greatness of his love to his church; and show that he had the same opinion of her, and esteem for her, notwithstanding what had passed between that time and this; thou [hast] doves’ eyes within thy locks; the same comparison, (see Gill on “<220115>Song of Solomon 1:15”); only with this difference, here her eyes are said to be “within [her] locks”: which, whether understood of the ministers of the Gospel; or of the eyes of the understanding, particularly of, the eye of faith, as has been observed on the above place; do not seem so much to design the imperfection of the sight of the one or of the other, in the present state, as eyes within or under locks and in some measure covered with them, hinder the sight of them; as the modesty of either of them; locks being decently tied up, as the word signifiesf203, is a sign thereof, as the contrary is a sign of boldness and wantonness. Doves’ eyes themselves are expressive of modesty and humility, and, this phrase added to them, increases the idea; such ministers, who have the largest gifts, greatest grace, light, and knowledge, are the most humble, witness the Apostle Paul; and this phrase expresses the beauty of them, not only in the eyes of Christ, but in the eyes of those to whom they publish the good tidings of salvation: and so it may denote what an exceeding modest grace faith is, which receives all from Christ, and gives him all the glory, and takes none to itself; and what a beauty there is in it, insomuch that Christ is ravished with it, (<220409>Song of Solomon 4:9); and seems rather to be the sense here; thy hair [is] as a flock of goats; like the hair of goats, so Ben Melech. Hair adds much to the comeliness of persons, and is therefore frequently mentioned, both with respect to the bride and bridegroom, in this song, (<220501>Song of Solomon 5:1 <220605>Song of Solomon 6:5 <220705>Song of Solomon 7:5); and so in all poems of this kindf204; and one part of the comeliness of women lies in their hair; “let a woman, says Apuleiusf205, be adorned with ever such fine garments, and decked with gold and jewels, yet, without this ornament, she will not be pleasing; no, not Verus herself.” The womenf206 in Homer, are described by their beautiful hair; nor is it unusual to compare the hair of women, and represent it as superior to a fleece of the choicest flockf207. And here the church’s hair is said to be like the hair of goats, for that is the sense of the expression; and which is thought to be most like to human hair, (<091913>1 Samuel 19:13); and it is compared to that, not so much for its length and sleekness, as for its colour, being yellowish; which, with women formerly, was in esteem, and reckoned gracefulf208; this being the colour of the hair of some of the greatest beauties, as Helena, Philoxena, and others, whose hair was flaxen and yellow; hence great care was taken to make it look so, even as yellow as goldf209: the Jewish women used to have their perukes, or false hair, of goats’ hair, and still have in some places to this dayf210; and it should seem the Roman women also had, to which the poetf211 refers. And the church’s hair here is said to be like the hair of a flock of goats, that appear from Mount Gilead; or rather “on Mount Gilead”, as Noldius: Gilead was a mountain in the land o…
This public page shows a contextual excerpt from the locally available source text.
How to use this source
This excerpt is attributed to its named commentary. It is included as a historical study resource and should be evaluated in light of Scripture and other relevant evidence.
