Geneva Study Bible I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. As the lily among thorns, so is my {a} love among the daughters.
(a) Thus Christ prefers his Church above all other things. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. {b} As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
(b) The spouse testifies her great desire toward her husband, but her strength fails her, and therefore she desires to be comforted, and felt it. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please. {c} I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not, nor awake my love, till he please.
(c) Christ charges them who have to do in the Church as it were by a solemn oath, that they trouble not the quietness of it. The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. {d} The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
(d) This is spoken of Christ who took on our nature to come to help his Church. My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice. My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he {e} standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, gazing himself through the {f} lattice.
(e) For as his divinity was hidden under the cloak of our flesh. (f) So that we cannot have full knowledge of him in this life. My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; For, lo, the {g} winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
(g) That is, sin and error is driven back by the coming of Christ, who is here described by the springtime, when all things flourish. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. O my dove, that art in the {h} clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
(h) You who are ashamed of your sins, come and show yourself to me. Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. Take for us the foxes, the {i} little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
(i) Suppress the heretics while they are young, that is, when they begin to show their malice, and destroy the vine of the Lord. My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies. My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether. Until the day shall break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a {k} roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether. (k) The church desires Christ to be most ready to help her in all dangers. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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