Quotes & Notes
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John Wesley Notes:
Set me-These are undoubtedly the words of the bride. Let thy
heart be constantly set upon me. He seems to allude to the engraven
tablets which are frequently worn upon the breast, and to the signet on
a man's arm or hand, which they prized at a more than ordinary rate, and
which are continually in their sight. For love-My love to thee.
Jealousy-Or, zeal; my ardent love to thee. Cruel-Heb. hard, grievous and
terrible, and sometimes ready to overwhelm me; therefore have pity upon
me, and do not leave me. Fire-It burns and melts my heart like fire.
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Family Bible Notes:
A seal; a signet-ring, which is the symbol of inseparable union and
solicitous care. Jer 22:24; Hag 2:23
For love is strong as death; she pleads for this on the ground of his
unconquerable and jealous love towards her.
Nothing is so strong as the love of Christ for his people. It overcomes
all hinderances, and brings them safe home to heaven through floods of
temptation within, and distress and persecution without. Ro 8:35-39
- Jamieson-Faucett-Brown:
Implying approaching absence of the Bridegroom.
seal--having her name and likeness engraven on it. His Holy Priesthood
also in heaven (Ex 28:6-12,15-30; Heb 4:14); "his heart" there answering
to "thine heart" here, and "two shoulders" to "arm." (Compare Jer 22:24;
Hag 2:232:23|). But the Holy Ghost (Eph 1:13,14). As in Song 8:5, she
was "leaning" on Him, that is, her arm on His arm, her head on His
bosom; so she prays now that before they part, her impression may be
engraven both on His heart and His arm, answering to His love and His
power (Ps 77:15; see Ge 38:18; Isa 62:3).
love is strong as death-- (Ac 21:13; Ro 8:35-39; Re 12:11). This their
love unto death flows from His (Joh 10:15; 15:13).
jealousy ... the grave--Zealous love, jealous of all that would come
between the soul and Jesus Christ (1Ki 19:10; Ps 106:30,31; Lu 9:60;
14:26; 1Co 16:22).
cruel--rather, "unyielding" hard, as the grave will not let go those
whom it once holds (Joh 10:28).
a most vehement flame--literally, "the fire-flame of Jehovah" (Ps 80:16;
Isa 6:6). Nowhere else is God's name found in the Song. The zeal that
burnt in Jesus Christ (Ps 69:9; Lu 12:49,50) kindled in His followers
(Ac 2:3; Ro 15:30; Php 2:17).
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Adam Clarke Commentary:
Set me as a seal upon thine heart] It was customary in the
Levant and other places to make impressions of various kinds upon the
arms, the breast, and other parts. I have seen these often: some slight
punctures are made, and the place rubbed over with a sort of blue powder
that, getting between the cuticle and cutis, is never discharged; it
continues in all its distinctness throughout life. The figures of young
women are frequently thus impressed on the arms and on the breasts. If
the bride alludes to any thing of this kind, which is very probable, the
interpretation is easy. Let me be thus depicted upon thine arm, which
being constantly before thy eyes, thou wilt never forget me; and let me
be thus depicted upon thy breast, the emblem of the share I have in thy
heart and affections. Do this as a proof of the love I bear to thee,
which is such as nothing but death can destroy; and do it to prevent any
jealousy I might feel, which is as cruel as the grave, and as deadly as
fiery arrows or poisoned darts shot into the body.
A most vehement flame.] hytbhlv shalhebethyah, "the flame of God;" for
the word is divided hy tbhlv shalhebeth Yah, "the flame of Jehovah," by
one hundred and sixteen of Dr. Kennicott's MSS., and by one hundred and
fourteen of those of De Rossi. It may mean the lightning; or, as our
text understands it, a most vehement or intense fire.
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
* as a seal. Ex 28:9-12,21,29,30; Isa 49:16; Jer 22:24; Hag 2:23; Zec
3:9 2Ti 2:19
* love. Song 5:8; Ps 42:1; 63:1; 84:2; Joh 21:15-19; Ac 20:24; 21:13 2Co
5:14,15; Php 1:20-23; Re 12:11
* jealousy. Nu 5:14; 25:11; De 32:21; Pr 6:34; 2Co 11:2
* cruel. Heb. hard. the coals. Ps 120:4; Pr 25:22; Ro 12:20
- 1599 Geneva Study Bible
Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm: for love is
strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals of it are
coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
(d) The spouse desires Christ to be joined in perpetual love with him.
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