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Selected Verse: Song of solomon 5:15 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| So 5:15 |
Strong Concordance |
His legs [07785] are as pillars [05982] of marble [08336], set [03245] upon sockets [0134] of fine gold [06337]: his countenance [04758] is as Lebanon [03844], excellent [0977] as the cedars [0730]. |
| |
King James |
His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
pillars--strength and steadfastness. Contrast man's "legs" (Ecc 12:3). Allusion to the temple (Kg1 5:8-9; Kg1 7:21), the "cedars" of "Lebanon" (Psa 147:10). Jesus Christ's "legs" were not broken on the cross, though the thieves' were; on them rests the weight of our salvation (Psa 75:3).
sockets of fine gold--His sandals, answering to the bases of the pillars; "set up from everlasting" (Pro 8:22-23). From the head (Sol 5:11) to the feet, "of fine gold." He was tried in the fire and found without alloy.
countenance--rather, "His aspect," including both mien and stature (compare Sa2 23:21, Margin; with Ch1 11:23). From the several parts, she proceeds to the general effect of the whole person of Jesus Christ.
Lebanon--so called from its white limestone rocks.
excellent--literally, "choice," that is, fair and tall as the cedars on Lebanon (Eze 31:3, &c.). Majesty is the prominent thought (Psa 21:5). Also the cedars' duration (Heb 1:11); greenness (Luk 23:31), and refuge afforded by it (Eze 17:22-23). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
| His countenance - Or, his appearance (his whole port and mien, but especially head and countenance) "is as the Lebanon." |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
15a His legs white marble columns,
Set on bases of fine gold.
If the beauty of the living must be represented, not by colours, but in figurative language, this cannot otherwise be done than by the selection of minerals, plants, and things in general for the comparison, and the comparison must more or less come short, because dead soulless matter does not reach to a just and full representation of the living. Thus here, also, the description of the lower extremity, which reaches from the thighs and the legs down to the feet, of which last, in the words of an anatomist,
(Note: Hyrtl's Lehrbuch der Anat. des Menschen, sec. 155.)
it may be said that "they form the pedestal for the bony pillars of the legs." The comparison is thus in accordance with fact; the שׁוקים (from שוק = Arab. saḳ, to drive: the movers forward), in the structure of the human frame, take in reality the place of "pillars," and the feet the place of "pedestals," as in the tabernacle the wooden pillars rested on small supports in which they were fastened, Exo 26:18. But in point of fidelity to nature, the symbol is inferior to a rigid Egyptian figure. Not only is it without life; it is not even capable of expressing the curvilinear shape which belongs to the living. On the other hand, it loses itself in symbol; for although it is in conformity with nature that the legs are compared to pillars of white (according to Aquila and Theod., Parian) marble, - שׁשׁ = שׁישׁ, Ch1 29:2 (material for the building of the temple), Talm. מרמרא, of the same verbal root as שׁוּשׁן, the name of the white lily, - the comparison of the feet to bases of fine gold is yet purely symbolical. Gold is a figure of that which is sublime and noble, and with white marble represents greatness combined with purity. He who is here praised is not a shepherd, but a king. The comparisons are thus so grand because the beauty of the beloved is in itself heightened by his kingly dignity.
(Note: Dillmann proposes the question, the answer to which he desiderates in Ewald, how the maiden could be so fluent in speaking of the new glories of the Solomonic era (plants and productions of art). Bttcher answers, that she had learned to know these whilst detained at court, and that the whole description has this ground-thought, that she possessed in her beloved all the splendour which the women of the harem value and enjoy. But already the first words of the description, "white and ruddy," exclude the sunburnt shepherd. To refer the gold, in the figurative description of the uncovered parts of the body, to this bronze colour is insipid.)
15b His aspect like Lebanon,
Distinguised as the cedars.
By בּחוּר the Chald. thinks of "a young man" (from בּחר = בּגר, to be matured, as at Psa 89:20); but in that case we should have expected the word כּארז instead of כּארזים. Luther, with all other translators, rightly renders "chosen as the cedars." His look, i.e., his appearance as a whole, is awe-inspiring, majestic, like Lebanon, the king of mountains; he (the praised one) is chosen, i.e., presents a rare aspect, rising high above the common man, like the cedars, those kings among trees, which as special witnesses of creative omnipotence are called "cedars of God," Psa 80:11 [10]. בּחוּר, electus, everywhere else an attribute of persons, does not here refer to the look, but to him whose the look is; and what it means in union with the cedars is seen from Jer 22:7; cf. Isa 37:24. Here also it is seen (what besides is manifest), that the fairest of the children of men is a king. In conclusion, the description returns from elevation of rank to loveliness. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Marble - White, and strait, and well shaped and strong. Gold - His feet are compared to gold, for their singular brightness, for which they are compared to fine - brass, Rev 1:15. Countenance - Heb. his aspect or appearance, his form or person. Lebanon - In respect of its cedars, tall, and upright, and stately. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
His legs are as pillars of marble - Exquisitely turned and well-shaped; the sockets of gold may refer to his slippers. On these a profusion of gold and ornaments are still lavished in Asiatic countries.
His countenance is as Lebanon - As Lebanon exalts its head beyond all the other mountains near Jerusalem, so my beloved is tall and majestic, and surpasses in stature and majesty all other men. He is also as straight and as firm as the cedars. |
22 Thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069]; I will also take [03947] of the highest branch [06788] of the high [07311] cedar [0730], and will set [05414] it; I will crop off [06998] from the top [07218] of his young twigs [03127] a tender one [07390], and will plant [08362] it upon an high [01364] mountain [02022] and eminent [08524]:
23 In the mountain [02022] of the height [04791] of Israel [03478] will I plant [08362] it: and it shall bring forth [05375] boughs [06057], and bear [06213] fruit [06529], and be a goodly [0117] cedar [0730]: and under it shall dwell [07931] all fowl [06833] of every wing [03671]; in the shadow [06738] of the branches [01808] thereof shall they dwell [07931].
31 For [3754] if [1487] they do [4160] these things [5023] in [1722] a green [5200] tree [3586], what [5101] shall be done [1096] in [1722] the dry [3584]?
11 They [846] shall perish [622]; but [1161] thou [4771] remainest [1265]; and [2532] they all [3956] shall wax old [3822] as [5613] doth a garment [2440];
5 His glory [03519] is great [01419] in thy salvation [03444]: honour [01935] and majesty [01926] hast thou laid [07737] upon him.
3 Behold, the Assyrian [0804] was a cedar [0730] in Lebanon [03844] with fair [03303] branches [06057], and with a shadowing [06751] shroud [02793], and of an high [01362] stature [06967]; and his top [06788] was among the thick boughs [05688].
23 And he slew [05221] an Egyptian [04713], a man [0376] of great stature [04060], five [02568] cubits [0520] high; and in the Egyptian's [04713] hand [03027] was a spear [02595] like a weaver's [0707] beam [04500]; and he went down [03381] to him with a staff [07626], and plucked [01497] the spear [02595] out of the Egyptian's [04713] hand [03027], and slew [02026] him with his own spear [02595].
21 And he slew [02026] an Egyptian [04713], a goodly [04758] man [0376]: and the Egyptian [04713] had a spear [02595] in his hand [03027]; but he went down [03381] to him with a staff [07626], and plucked [01497] the spear [02595] out of the Egyptian's [04713] hand [03027], and slew [05221] him with his own spear [02595].
11 His head [07218] is as the most [03800] fine gold [06337], his locks [06977] are bushy [08534], and black [07838] as a raven [06158].
22 The LORD [03068] possessed [07069] me in the beginning [07225] of his way [01870], before [06924] his works [04659] of old.
23 I was set up [05258] from everlasting [05769], from the beginning [07218], or ever [06924] the earth [0776] was.
3 The earth [0776] and all the inhabitants [03427] thereof are dissolved [04127]: I bear up [08505] the pillars [05982] of it. Selah [05542].
10 He delighteth [02654] not in the strength [01369] of the horse [05483]: he taketh not pleasure [07521] in the legs [07785] of a man [0376].
21 And he set up [06965] the pillars [05982] in the porch [0197] of the temple [01964]: and he set up [06965] the right [03233] pillar [05982], and called [07121] the name [08034] thereof Jachin [03199]: and he set up [06965] the left [08042] pillar [05982], and called [07121] the name [08034] thereof Boaz [01162].
8 And Hiram [02438] sent [07971] to Solomon [08010], saying [0559], I have considered [08085] the things which thou sentest [07971] to me for: and I will do [06213] all thy desire [02656] concerning timber [06086] of cedar [0730], and concerning timber [06086] of fir [01265].
9 My servants [05650] shall bring them down [03381] from Lebanon [03844] unto the sea [03220]: and I will convey [07760] them by sea [03220] in floats [01702] unto the place [04725] that thou shalt appoint [07971] me, and will cause them to be discharged [05310] there, and thou shalt receive [05375] them: and thou shalt accomplish [06213] my desire [02656], in giving [05414] food [03899] for my household [01004].
3 In the day [03117] when the keepers [08104] of the house [01004] shall tremble [02111], and the strong [02428] men [0582] shall bow [05791] themselves, and the grinders [02912] cease [0988] because they are few [04591], and those that look out [07200] of the windows [0699] be darkened [02821],
24 By [03027] thy servants [05650] hast thou reproached [02778] the Lord [0136], and hast said [0559], By the multitude [07230] of my chariots [07393] am I come up [05927] to the height [04791] of the mountains [02022], to the sides [03411] of Lebanon [03844]; and I will cut down [03772] the tall [06967] cedars [0730] thereof, and the choice [04005] fir trees [01265] thereof: and I will enter [0935] into the height [04791] of his border [07093], and the forest [03293] of his Carmel [03760].
7 And I will prepare [06942] destroyers [07843] against thee, every one [0376] with his weapons [03627]: and they shall cut down [03772] thy choice [04005] cedars [0730], and cast [05307] them into the fire [0784].
11 She sent out [07971] her boughs [07105] unto the sea [03220], and her branches [03127] unto the river [05104].
20 I have found [04672] David [01732] my servant [05650]; with my holy [06944] oil [08081] have I anointed [04886] him:
2 Now I have prepared [03559] with all my might [03581] for the house [01004] of my God [0430] the gold [02091] for things to be made of gold [02091], and the silver [03701] for things of silver [03701], and the brass [05178] for things of brass [05178], the iron [01270] for things of iron [01270], and wood [06086] for things of wood [06086]; onyx [07718] stones [068], and stones to be set [04394], glistering [06320] stones [068], and of divers colours [07553], and all manner of precious [03368] stones [068], and marble [07893] stones [068] in abundance [07230].
18 And thou shalt make [06213] the boards [07175] for the tabernacle [04908], twenty [06242] boards [07175] on the south [05045] side [06285] southward [08486].
15 And [2532] his [846] feet [4228] like [3664] unto fine brass [5474], as [5613] if they burned [4448] in [1722] a furnace [2575]; and [2532] his [846] voice [5456] as [5613] the sound [5456] of many [4183] waters [5204].