Movatterモバイル変換

Exodus 15:6
Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

Psalm 44:4-7
Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob…

Psalm 99:4
The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

his belly

Song of Solomon 7:2
Thy navelis like a round goblet,which wanteth not liquor: thy bellyis like an heap of wheat set about with lilies.

Exodus 24:10
And they saw the God of Israel: andthere was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven inhis clearness.

Isaiah 54:11
O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest,and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

His body is polished ivory bedecked with sapphires.
Ivory, known for its smoothness and rarity, signifies purity and value. In ancient times, ivory was a luxury item, often used in royal settings, indicating the beloved's esteemed status. The polished nature of the ivory suggests refinement and perfection. Sapphires, another precious stone, are associated with heavenly realms and divine favor (Ezekiel 1:26). The combination of ivory and sapphires in this description highlights the beloved's beauty and worth, both physically and spiritually. This can be seen as a reflection of Christ's purity and the heavenly nature of His kingdom. The imagery evokes a sense of awe and reverence, akin to the church's view of Christ as the perfect and divine bridegroom.

Picture arms that gleam like solid gold—strong, untarnished, and precious. Gold in Scripture often signals purity, enduring worth, and royalty (1 Kings 10:18–20;Revelation 1:13). Here the bride delights in a husband whose strength is both protective and priceless. Beryl, a brilliant gem, adds sparkle to the image. Think of:

•Exodus 28:20, where beryl is fixed into the high priest’s breastpiece, symbolizing dignity and intercession.

•Isaiah 40:10, “See, the Lord GOD comes with power, and His arm rules for Him”. The groom’s “golden” arms mirror the Lord’s mighty, saving arm—strength exercised for the beloved’s good.

For marriage, this calls husbands to wield strength that is valuable, not oppressive; for believers, it points to Christ whose power is pure, protective, and infinitely precious.

Ivory is prized for its smoothness, whiteness, and rarity. A body “polished” suggests flawless beauty, deliberately cared for and fully exposed to the bride without blemish. Compare:

•Ephesians 5:27, where Christ presents the church to Himself “without spot or wrinkle.”

•Psalm 45:8, a messianic wedding psalm describing the King whose robes are fragrant, emphasizing both attractiveness and holiness.

Ivory does not decay quickly; it keeps its luster. The groom’s physique hints at enduring vitality, foreshadowing Christ whose resurrected body can never see corruption (Acts 2:31). For a believing couple, it urges physical honor, valuing each other’s God-given bodies without shame.

Sapphires, with their deep blue hue, evoke the heavens and royal majesty.Exodus 24:10 notes that under God’s feet the pavement “was like a sapphire stone, clear as the sky itself”;Revelation 21:19 lists sapphire as a foundation stone of the New Jerusalem. Draping the polished ivory with sapphires highlights:

• Majestic beauty—an outward splendor that matches inward purity.

• Heavenly orientation—the bride sees something of eternity in her husband, just as the church sees heaven’s glory in Christ.

• Covenant depth—the groom’s beauty is not fleeting fashion but jewel-anchored stability, echoing God’s unbreakable promises (Isaiah 54:11–12).

Song of Solomon 5:14 paints a husband whose strength is as valuable as gold, whose purity is as smooth and enduring as polished ivory, and whose beauty reflects heavenly sapphire splendor. Literally, it celebrates the delight, honor, and security a wife finds in her beloved. Spiritually, it points to Jesus Christ—powerful yet pure, flawless yet approachable, regal yet relational—inviting believers to adore Him and to let His character shape every marriage and every heart.

Beryl.--Heb.tarshish; LXX.??????.Possibly "stones of Tarshish," and if so, either chrysolite or topaz, both said to have been first found in Tartessus, an ancient city of Spain, between the two mouths of the B?tis (Guadalquiver). Mentioned as one of the precious stones in the breastplate of the High Priest (Exodus 28:20;Exodus 39:13). The LXX. adopt the various renderings????????? =?,??????,????? ????????,or, as here, keep the original word.

Bright ivory.--Literally,a work of ivory, i.e.,achef-d'?uvrein ivory.

Sapphires.--It is doubtful whether the sapphire of Scripture is the stone so called now, or the lapis-lazuli. The former best suitsExodus 28:18 andJob 28:6, because lapis-lazuli is too soft for engraving. The comparison in the text either alludes to theblue veinsshowing through the white skin or to the colour of some portion of dress. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...