1. How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns.'" (Isaiah 52:7, Rom. 10:15)

2. Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies.

The navel is a place of strength.

3. Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins.

Her nurturing is soft and gentle.

4. Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.

The thighs represent spiritual strength which comes from years of spiritual discipline and training. Jacob's thigh was thrown out of joint when he wrestled with the angel of the Lord at Peniel, showing that our spiritual strength must not come from natural strength, i.e., from the flesh. The references here indicate inner fruitfulness and fecundity. Inner creativity ("beingness") is the specialty of the fairer sex. Men think themselves better at outward expressions of "doingness" — invention, warfare, building, hunting, thrusting and ranging. A nose compared to a tower is a strange compliment. "Nose" represents discernment and an intuition of things. Damascus was historically the enemy of Israel. She can sniff our trouble coming and can recognize when the enemy is near. This was something Eve had had to deny in order to fall, since she was given the capacity to discern at her creation.

5. Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries.

The king is held in the galleries. The meaning here is that the king is enslaved to her. "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." John 14:14. In the Scriptures some kings have boasted that they would give half their kingdom. Our king says He gives it all.

6. How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!

7. This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.

And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without. (1 Kings 6:29). The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. (Psalms 92:12). The palm represents righteousness and spiritual success which stands tall and may be seen a great way off. 

8. I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples;

9. And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.

The woman finds her lover again. After being rebuked by the prophet and entreating the other daughters to help her look, she hears the wooing of her soul mate. He praises her and delights in her. It might be noted that in her failings, her lover was never the one to chastise her. That was the watcher's work. The chastisement that came from her lover was only that she had lost him. Whenever he was found, it was always the experience of in-love for her.

10. I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.

This desire is as a man toward a woman. He is attracted to her.

11. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages.

12. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.

13. The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.

She knows she is accepted of him and wants to go everywhere with him. She now resides in the wilderness place feeding with her lover. The woman of Revelation 12 will never be moved from his side now. Whatever they do they do together. They are as one.

— Submitted by "Faithful"

To Song of Solomon - Chapter Eight

Posted on 7-20-00