Show Bible Commentary For A Bible Verse

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Selected Verse: Song of solomon 2:3 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
So 2:3	Strong Concordance	As the apple tree [08598] among the trees [06086] of the wood [03293], so is my beloved [01730] among the sons [01121]. I sat [03427] down under his shadow [06738] with great delight [02530], and his fruit [06529] was sweet [04966] to my taste [02441].
	King James	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.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Her reply. apple--generic including the golden citron, pomegranate, and orange apple (Pro 25:11). He combines the shadow and fragrance of the citron with the sweetness of the orange and pomegranate fruit. The foliage is perpetual; throughout the year a succession of blossoms, fruit, and perfume (Jam 1:17). among the sons--parallel to "among the daughters" (Sol 2:2). He alone is ever fruitful among the fruitless wild trees (Psa 89:6; Heb 1:9). I sat . . . with . . . delight--literally, "I eagerly desired and sat" (Psa 94:19; Mar 6:31; Eph 2:6; Pe1 1:8). shadow-- (Psa 121:5; Isa 4:6; Isa 25:4; Isa 32:2). Jesus Christ interposes the shadow of His cross between the blazing rays of justice and us sinners. fruit--Faith plucks it (Pro 3:18). Man lost the tree of life (Gen 3:22-23). Jesus Christ regained it for him; he eats it partly now (Psa 119:103; Joh 6:55, Joh 6:57; Pe1 2:3); fully hereafter (Rev 2:7; Rev 22:2, Rev 22:14); not earned by the sweat of his brow, or by his righteousness (Rom. 10:1-21). Contrast the worldling's fruit (Deu 32:32; Luk 15:16).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Her reply. apple--generic including the golden citron, pomegranate, and orange apple (Pro 25:11). He combines the shadow and fragrance of the citron with the sweetness of the orange and pomegranate fruit. The foliage is perpetual; throughout the year a succession of blossoms, fruit, and perfume (Jam 1:17).

among the sons--parallel to "among the daughters" (Sol 2:2). He alone is ever fruitful among the fruitless wild trees (Psa 89:6; Heb 1:9).

I sat . . . with . . . delight--literally, "I eagerly desired and sat" (Psa 94:19; Mar 6:31; Eph 2:6; Pe1 1:8).

shadow-- (Psa 121:5; Isa 4:6; Isa 25:4; Isa 32:2). Jesus Christ interposes the shadow of His cross between the blazing rays of justice and us sinners.

fruit--Faith plucks it (Pro 3:18). Man lost the tree of life (Gen 3:22-23). Jesus Christ regained it for him; he eats it partly now (Psa 119:103; Joh 6:55, Joh 6:57; Pe1 2:3); fully hereafter (Rev 2:7; Rev 22:2, Rev 22:14); not earned by the sweat of his brow, or by his righteousness (Rom. 10:1-21). Contrast the worldling's fruit (Deu 32:32; Luk 15:16).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The bride's answer: "As the 'tappuach' with its fragrant fruit excels the barren trees of the wild wood, so my beloved his associates and friends etc." תפוח tappûach may in early Hebrew have been a generic name for apple, quince, citron, orange etc. Sol 2:4 His banner - As the standard is the rallying-point and guide of the individual soldier, so the bride, transplanted from a lowly station to new scenes of unaccustomed splendor, finds support and safety in the known attachment of her beloved. His "love" is her "banner." The thought is similar to that expressed in the name "Jehovah-nissi" (see the Exo 17:15 note). Sol 2:5 Flagons - More probably cakes of raisins or dried grapes (Sa2 6:19 note; Ch1 16:3; Hos 3:1). For an instance of the reviving power of dried fruit, see Sa1 30:12. Sol 2:6 Render as a wish or prayer: "O that his left hand were under my head, and that his right hand did embrace me!" Let him draw me to him with entire affection. Compare Deu 33:27; Pro 4:8. Sol 2:7 Render: "I adjure you ... by the gazelles, or by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up nor awaken love until it please." The King James Version, "my love," is misleading. The affection or passion in itself, not its object, is here meant. This adjuration, three times significantly introduced as a concluding formula (marginal references), expresses one of the main thoughts of the poem; namely, that genuine love is a shy and gentle affection which dreads intrusion and scrutiny; hence the allusion to the gazelles and hinds, shy and timid creatures. The complementary thought is that of Sol 8:6-7, where love is again described, and by the bride, as a fiery principle.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
3a As an apple-tree among the trees of the wood, So is my beloved among the sons. The apple-tree, the name of which, תּפּוּח, is formed from נפח, and denominates it from its fragrant flower and fruit, is as the king among fruit trees, in Shulamith's view. יער (from יער, to be rough, rugged, uneven) is the wilderness and the forest, where are also found trees bearing fruit, which, however, is for the most part sour and unpalatable. But the apple-tree unites delicious fruit along with a grateful shade; and just such a noble tree is the object of her love. 3b Under his shadow it delighted me to sit down; And his fruit is sweet to my taste. In concupivi et consedi the principal verb completes itself by the co-ordinating of a verb instead of an adv. or inf. as Isa 42:21; Est 8:7; Ewald, 285. However, concupivi et consedi is yet more than concupivi considere, for thereby she not only says that she found delight in sitting down, but at the same time also in sitting down in the shadow of this tree. The Piel חמּד, occurring only here, expresses the intensity of the wish and longing. The shadow is a figure of protection afforded, and the fruit a figure of enjoyment obtained. The taste is denoted by חך = חנך, from חנך, to chew, or also imbuere; and that which is sweet is called מתוק, from the smacking connected with an agreeable relish. The usus loq. has neglected this image, true to nature, of physical circumstances in words, especially where, as here, they are transferred to the experience of the soul-life. The taste becomes then a figure of the soul's power of perception (αἰσθητικόν); a man's fruit are his words and works, in which his inward nature expresses itself; and this fruit is sweet to those on whom that in which the peculiar nature of the man reveals itself makes a happy, pleasing impression. But not only does the person of the king afford to Shulamith so great delight, he entertains her also with what can and must give her enjoyment.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
The apple - tree - Whose fruit is very pleasant and wholesome. The trees - Which are barren. I sat - I confidently reposed myself under his protection. His fruit - The benefits which I received by him, remission of sins, faith, grace, and assurance of glory.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
As the apple tree - The bride returns the compliment, and says, As the apple or citron tree is among the trees of the wood, so is the bridegroom among all other men. I sat down under his shadow - I am become his spouse, and my union with him makes me indescribably happy.

Top

¹⁶ And [2532] he would fain [1937] have filled [1072] his [846] belly [2836] with [575] the husks [2769] that [3739] the swine [5519] did eat [2068]: and [2532] no man [3762] gave [1325] unto him [846].

³² For their vine [01612] is of the vine [01612] of Sodom [05467], and of the fields [07709] of Gomorrah [06017]: their grapes [06025] are grapes [06025] of gall [07219], their clusters [0811] are bitter [04846]:

¹⁴ Blessed [3107] are they that do [4160] his [846] commandments [1785], that [2443] they [846] may have [2071] right [1849] to [1909] the tree [3586] of life [2222], and [2532] may enter [1525] in through the gates [4440] into [1519] the city [4172].

² In [1722] the midst [3319] of the street [4113] of it [846], and [2532] on either [2532] side [1782] [1782] of the river [4215], was there the tree [3586] of life [2222], which bare [4160] twelve [1427] manner of fruits [2590], and yielded [591] her [846] fruit [2590] every [2596] [1538] [1520] month [3376]: and [2532] the leaves [5444] of the tree [3586] were for [1519] the healing [2322] of the nations [1484].

⁷ He that hath [2192] an ear [3775], let him hear [191] what [5101] the Spirit [4151] saith [3004] unto the churches [1577]; To him [846] that overcometh [3528] will I give [1325] to eat [5315] of [1537] the tree [3586] of life [2222], which [3739] is [2076] in [1722] the midst [3319] of the paradise [3857] of God [2316].

³ If so be [1512] ye have tasted [1089] that [3754] the Lord [2962] is gracious [5543].

⁵⁷ As [2531] the living [2198] Father [3962] hath sent [649] me [3165], and I [2504] live [2198] by [1223] the Father [3962]: so [2532] he that eateth [5176] me [3165], even he [2548] shall live [2198] by [1223] me [1691].

⁵⁵ For [1063] my [3450] flesh [4561] is [2076] meat [1035] indeed [230], and [2532] my [3450] blood [129] is [2076] drink [4213] indeed [230].

¹⁰³ How sweet [04452] are thy words [0565] unto my taste [02441]! yea, sweeter than honey [01706] to my mouth [06310]!

²² And the LORD [03068] God [0430] said [0559], Behold [02005], the man [0120] is become as one [0259] of us, to know [03045] good [02896] and evil [07451]: and now, lest he put forth [07971] his hand [03027], and take [03947] also of the tree [06086] of life [02416], and eat [0398], and live [02425] for ever [05769]:
²³ Therefore the LORD [03068] God [0430] sent him forth [07971] from the garden [01588] of Eden [05731], to till [05647] the ground [0127] from whence he was taken [03947].

¹⁸ She is a tree [06086] of life [02416] to them that lay hold [02388] upon her: and happy [0833] is every one that retaineth [08551] her.

² And a man [0376] shall be as an hiding place [04224] from the wind [07307], and a covert [05643] from the tempest [02230]; as rivers [06388] of water [04325] in a dry place [06724], as the shadow [06738] of a great [03515] rock [05553] in a weary [05889] land [0776].

⁴ For thou hast been a strength [04581] to the poor [01800], a strength [04581] to the needy [034] in his distress [06862], a refuge [04268] from the storm [02230], a shadow [06738] from the heat [02721], when the blast [07307] of the terrible ones [06184] is as a storm [02230] against the wall [07023].

⁶ And there shall be a tabernacle [05521] for a shadow [06738] in the daytime [03119] from the heat [02721], and for a place of refuge [04268], and for a covert [04563] from storm [02230] and from rain [04306].

⁵ The LORD [03068] is thy keeper [08104]: the LORD [03068] is thy shade [06738] upon thy right [03225] hand [03027].

⁸ Whom [3739] having [1492] not [3756] seen [1492] [1492], ye love [25]; in [1519] whom [3739], though now [737] ye see [3708] him not [3361], yet [1161] believing [4100], ye rejoice [21] with joy [5479] unspeakable [412] and [2532] full of glory [1392]:

⁶ And [2532] hath raised us up together [4891], and [2532] made us sit together [4776] in [1722] heavenly [2032] places in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424]:

³¹ And [2532] he said [2036] unto them [846], Come [1205] ye [5210] yourselves [846] apart [2596] [2398] into [1519] a desert [2048] place [5117], and [2532] rest [373] a while [3641]: for [1063] there were [2258] many [4183] coming [2064] and [2532] going [5217], and [2532] they had no [3761] leisure [2119] so much as [3761] to eat [5315].

¹⁹ In the multitude [07230] of my thoughts [08312] within [07130] me thy comforts [08575] delight [08173] my soul [05315].

⁹ Thou hast loved [25] righteousness [1343], and [2532] hated [3404] iniquity [458]; therefore [1223] [5124] God [2316], even thy [4675] God [2316], hath anointed [5548] thee [4571] with the oil [1637] of gladness [20] above [3844] thy [4675] fellows [3353].

⁶ For who in the heaven [07834] can be compared [06186] unto the LORD [03068]? who among the sons [01121] of the mighty [0410] can be likened [01819] unto the LORD [03068]?

² As the lily [07799] among thorns [02336], so is my love [07474] among the daughters [01323].

¹⁷ Every [3956] good [18] gift [1394] and [2532] every [3956] perfect [5046] gift [1434] is [2076] from above [509], and cometh down [2597] from [575] the Father [3962] of lights [5457], with [3844] whom [3739] is [1762] no [3756] variableness [3883], neither [2228] shadow [644] of turning [5157].

¹¹ A word [01697] fitly [0212] [0655] spoken [01696] is like apples [08598] of gold [02091] in pictures [04906] of silver [03701].

⁶ Set [07760] me as a seal [02368] upon thine heart [03820], as a seal [02368] upon thine arm [02220]: for love [0160] is strong [05794] as death [04194]; jealousy [07068] is cruel [07186] as the grave [07585]: the coals [07565] thereof are coals [07565] of fire [0784], which hath a most vehement flame [07957].
⁷ Many [07227] waters [04325] cannot [03201] quench [03518] love [0160], neither can the floods [05104] drown [07857] it: if a man [0376] would give [05414] all the substance [01952] of his house [01004] for love [0160], it would utterly [0936] be contemned [0936].

⁷ I charge [07650] you, O ye daughters [01323] of Jerusalem [03389], by the roes [06643], and [0176] by the hinds [0355] of the field [07704], that ye stir not up [05782], nor awake [05782] my love [0160], till he please [02654].

⁸ Exalt [05549] her, and she shall promote [07311] thee: she shall bring thee to honour [03513], when thou dost embrace [02263] her.

²⁷ The eternal [06924] God [0430] is thy refuge [04585], and underneath are the everlasting [05769] arms [02220]: and he shall thrust out [01644] the enemy [0341] from before [06440] thee; and shall say [0559], Destroy [08045] them.

⁶ His left hand [08040] is under my head [07218], and his right hand [03225] doth embrace [02263] me.

¹² And they gave [05414] him a piece [06400] of a cake [01690] of figs, and two [08147] clusters of raisins [06778]: and when he had eaten [0398], his spirit [07307] came again [07725] to him: for he had eaten [0398] no bread [03899], nor drunk [08354] any water [04325], three [07969] days [03117] and three [07969] nights [03915].

¹ Then said [0559] the LORD [03068] unto me, Go [03212] yet, love [0157] a woman [0802] beloved [0157] of her friend [07453], yet an adulteress [05003], according to the love [0160] of the LORD [03068] toward the children [01121] of Israel [03478], who look [06437] to other [0312] gods [0430], and love [0157] flagons [0809] of wine [06025].

³ And he dealt [02505] to every one [0376] of Israel [03478], both man [0376] and woman [0802], to every one [0376] a loaf [03603] of bread [03899], and a good piece of flesh [0829], and a flagon [0809] of wine.

¹⁹ And he dealt [02505] among all the people [05971], even among the whole multitude [01995] of Israel [03478], as well to the women [0802] as men [0376], to every one [0376] a [0259] cake [02471] of bread [03899], and a good piece [0829] of flesh, and a flagon [0809] of wine. So all the people [05971] departed [03212] every one [0376] to his house [01004].

⁵ Stay [05564] me with flagons [0809], comfort [07502] me with apples [08598]: for I am sick [02470] of love [0160].

¹⁵ And Moses [04872] built [01129] an altar [04196], and called [07121] the name [08034] of it Jehovahnissi [03071]:

⁴ He brought [0935] me to the banqueting [03196] house [01004], and his banner [01714] over me was love [0160].

⁷ Then the king [04428] Ahasuerus [0325] said [0559] unto Esther [0635] the queen [04436] and to Mordecai [04782] the Jew [03064], Behold, I have given [05414] Esther [0635] the house [01004] of Haman [02001], and him they have hanged [08518] upon the gallows [06086], because he laid [07971] his hand [03027] upon the Jews [03064].

²¹ The LORD [03068] is well pleased [02654] for his righteousness [06664]' sake; he will magnify [01431] the law [08451], and make it honourable [0142].