Song of Solomon 4:16 KJV

Song of Solomon 4:16

"Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Awake, O north wind,.... These words, according to some (l), are the words of the church continued, praying for the spirit; to which sense the order and connection of the words seem to incline; though the language suits best with Christ, who has the command of the winds, and a right and property in the garden, the church: nor does it seem so agreeable, that the church should petition Christ to let loose the north wind upon her, if by that are meant afflictive dispensations of Providence; but agrees well enough with Christ, since these come not without his will and order, and by him made to work together for good; by which he nips the corruptions of his people, tries their graces, and causes them to come forth into exercise: though some (m) think this is a command to the north wind to remove, and be gone, and blow no longer, since it was spring, Sol 2:11 ; and would be harmful to the plants in the garden; and the verb "blow" is singular,

and only in construction with the south wind; and, besides, winds diametrically opposite (n) cannot blow together in the same horizon, with a continued blast: though others (o) are of opinion, that both winds are designed, being both useful to gardens; the one to scatter the clouds, and make the air clear and wholesome, and restrain the luxuriance of the plants; and the other, being moist and warming, of use to bring plants and fruits to maturity; and both may design the Spirit of God, in his different operations and effects, through the law and the terrors of it, and by the Gospel and its comforting doctrines; and come, thou south, blow upon my garden; the church, Christ's property, as she asserts in the latter part of the verse: the Spirit of God is intended by the "south", or south wind; who is compared to the "wind", because it blows like that, freely, and as he pleases, when, where, and on whom, and imperceptibly, powerfully, and irresistibly, Joh 3:8 ; and to the "south wind", because it is a warm wind, brings serenity, and makes fruitful with showers of rain: so the Spirit of God warms the cold heart of a sinner; thaws his frozen soul, and comforts with the discoveries of divine love; brings quietness and peace into the conscience; and makes fruitful in grace and good works, by causing the rain of Gospel doctrines to descend and distil upon men. The end to be answered is, that the spices thereof may flow out; the spices in the garden, the odoriferous plants, might emit a fragrant smell; though Virgil (p) represents the south wind as harmful to flowers; so it might be in Italy, where it dried them up, as Servius on the place observes; and yet be useful to them in Palestine, where it blew from the sea, and is sometimes so called, Psa 107:3 . Spices denote the graces of believers, rare, precious, and odorous; and their "flowing out" the exercise of them, their evidence, increase, and the ripening of them; when they diffuse a sweet odour to Christ and others, and make it delightful to walk in his garden; as it is to walk in one after a delightful shower of rain, and when the wind gently blows upon it. And hence what is prayed for being granted, the church speaks again, and invites Christ, saying; let my beloved come into his garden; which "coming" is to be understood, not of Christ's first, nor of his second coming; but of his spiritual coming, to visit his people, grant his presence, and manifest his love; which is very desirable by them; and, when granted, is reckoned a great favour, and is an instance of the condescending grace of Christ, Joh 14:22 ; the church is "his garden" by his own choice, his Father's gift, the purchase of his blood, and the power of his grace: and here he is invited to come, and eat his pleasant fruits; meaning either the graces of the Spirit, which are his fruits; and called Christ's, because they come from him, and are exercised on him, and he is the author and finisher of them: or the good works of believers, which are performed by virtue of union to him, and abiding in him; are done in his strength, and designed for his glory: and both are "pleasant", that is, well pleasing and acceptable to him; the graces of the Spirit, when in exercise, as appears from Sol 4:9 ; and good works, when done in faith, from a principle of love, and to his glory: and he may be said to eat them when he expresses his well pleasedness with them, and acceptation of them. (l) So Cocceius, Marckius, Michaelis. (m) Foliot, Sanctius, & Tig. Not. in loc. So Ambrose is Psal. i. 5. p. 686. (n) Aristot. Meteorolog. l. 2. c. 6. (o) Jarchi & Aben Ezra in loc. (p) "Floribus austrum perditus", Bucolic. Eclog. 2. v. 58. Next: Song of Solomon (Canticles) Chapter 5 Sacred Texts | Bible « Previous: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible: Song of Solom... Index Next: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible: Song of Solom... »

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (14 words)

H5782 עוּר

Definition:

2Baer Ginsb, and Qr van d. H., but Ktיעירנו(Hiph`il), Babylonian Masora (see Baerp. 58), so Ginsbmarginvan d. H.; read thus, orיְעוֺרְרֶנּוּ(Po`l.) Bu; > contracted form of Po`l. Ges§ 72ccDi; compare 2Baer Ginsb, and Qr van d. H., but Ktיעירנו(Hiph`il), Babylonian Masora (see Baerp. 58), so Ginsbmarginvan d. H.; read thus, orיְעוֺרְרֶנּוּ(Po`l.) Bu; > contracted form of Po`l. Ges§ 72ccDi; compare

Possible Meanings:

chaff (semantic_range)

H6828 צָפוֹן

Definition:

6north(as thehidden, dark; compare Thes LewyFremdw. 188 f.; perhaps Phoenicianצפלnorth); — absolute׳צJeremiah 26:26+,צָפֹ֫נָהnorthwardGenesis 13:14+, oftenerצָפ֫וֺנָהJeremiah 3:12+, alsoצָפ֫וֺנָה=צָפו 6north(as thehidden, dark; compare Thes LewyFremdw. 188 f.; perhaps Phoenicianצפלnorth); — absolute׳צJeremiah 26:26+,צָפֹ֫נָהnorthwardGenesis 13:14+, oftenerצָפ֫וֺנָהJeremiah 3:12+, alsoצָפ֫וֺנָה=צָפו

H0935 בּוֹא

Definition:

13+; 3 feminine singularבָּ֫אָהGenesis 15:17+; suffixבָּאַתְנוּPsalm 44:18; 2masculine singularבָּ֫אתָJoshua 13:1+,בָּ֫אתָה2 Samuel 3:7; 2feminine singularבָּאתְGenesis 16:8;Ruth 2:12,וּבָאתְconsecuti 13+; 3 feminine singularבָּ֫אָהGenesis 15:17+; suffixבָּאַתְנוּPsalm 44:18; 2masculine singularבָּ֫אתָJoshua 13:1+,בָּ֫אתָה2 Samuel 3:7; 2feminine singularבָּאתְGenesis 16:8;Ruth 2:12,וּבָאתְconsecuti

Possible Meanings:

come in (semantic_range)
come (semantic_range)
go in (semantic_range)
go (semantic_range)
come in (semantic_range)

H8486 תֵּימָן

Definition:

6south, south wind, chiefly poetic, P & Ezekiel (literallywhat is on the right(hand), i.e. as one faces east; see WetzstVerhandi. d. Berl. Anthrop. Ges. 1878, 390) — absolute׳תZechariah 9:146t. (׳הַתּ 6south, south wind, chiefly poetic, P & Ezekiel (literallywhat is on the right(hand), i.e. as one faces east; see WetzstVerhandi. d. Berl. Anthrop. Ges. 1878, 390) — absolute׳תZechariah 9:146t. (׳הַתּ

H6315 פוּחַ

Definition:

17;Songs 4:6untilthe day breathes, i.e. grows cool.Hiph`ilImperfect3masculine singularיָפִיחַPsalm 10:5+;יָפִחַProverbs 14:25;וְיָפֵחַHabakkuk 2:3, etc.;Imperativefeminine singularהָפִיחִיSongs 4:16; 17;Songs 4:6untilthe day breathes, i.e. grows cool.Hiph`ilImperfect3masculine singularיָפִיחַPsalm 10:5+;יָפִחַProverbs 14:25;וְיָפֵחַHabakkuk 2:3, etc.;Imperativefeminine singularהָפִיחִיSongs 4:16;

Possible Meanings:

blow (semantic_range)
cause (semantic_range)
to exhale (semantic_range)

H1588 גַּן

Definition:

12& (Genesis 2:15)feminineenclosure, garden(Late Hebrewid.,גַּנָּהArabic, EthiopicAssyrianginûCOTGloss, alsogannatuDlPr 84; Aramaicגִּנָּא,גִּנְתָּא,; Phoenicianפר אגנן אם צץ[צ] CISi, 165, 11 & p. 232 12& (Genesis 2:15)feminineenclosure, garden(Late Hebrewid.,גַּנָּהArabic, EthiopicAssyrianginûCOTGloss, alsogannatuDlPr 84; Aramaicגִּנָּא,גִּנְתָּא,; Phoenicianפר אגנן אם צץ[צ] CISi, 165, 11 & p. 232

H5140 נָזַל

Definition:

5;ImperfectיִזַּלNumbers 24:7etc;ParticipleנֹזְלִיםExodus 15:8 +, etc.; —1flowsubject water,Numbers 24:7(JE);Psalm 147:18; compareJeremiah 18:14; subject clouds,Job 36:28followed by rain as accusative 5;ImperfectיִזַּלNumbers 24:7etc;ParticipleנֹזְלִיםExodus 15:8 +, etc.; —1flowsubject water,Numbers 24:7(JE);Psalm 147:18; compareJeremiah 18:14; subject clouds,Job 36:28followed by rain as accusative

Possible Meanings:

trickle (semantic_range)
drop (semantic_range)
distil (semantic_range)

H1314 בֶּשֶׂם

Definition:

10spice, balsam, balsam-tree(Arabic, Aramaicבּוּסְמָא,, Greekβάλσαμον; compare Löw53) —׳בIsaiah 3:24+,בֶּ֫שֶׂםExodus 30:23see below,בְּשָׂמִיSongs 5:1(as if fromבָּשָׂם); pluralבְּשָׂמִיםExodus 25:618 10spice, balsam, balsam-tree(Arabic, Aramaicבּוּסְמָא,, Greekβάλσαμον; compare Löw53) —׳בIsaiah 3:24+,בֶּ֫שֶׂםExodus 30:23see below,בְּשָׂמִיSongs 5:1(as if fromבָּשָׂם); pluralבְּשָׂמִיםExodus 25:618

H0935 בּוֹא

Definition:

Possible Meanings:

come in (semantic_range)
come (semantic_range)
go in (semantic_range)
go (semantic_range)
come in (semantic_range)

H1730 דּוֹד

Definition:

2beloved, love(plural), uncle (Late Hebrewid., Syriac; AssyriandâduDlHA 19) — absoluteדּוֺדSongs 5:9(twice in verse); constructדּוֺד1 Samuel 10:143t.;דֹּדLeviticus 10:4;Esther 2:15; suffixדּוֺדִיIsaia 2beloved, love(plural), uncle (Late Hebrewid., Syriac; AssyriandâduDlHA 19) — absoluteדּוֺדSongs 5:9(twice in verse); constructדּוֺד1 Samuel 10:143t.;דֹּדLeviticus 10:4;Esther 2:15; suffixדּוֺדִיIsaia

Possible Meanings:

pot (semantic_range)
jar (semantic_range)
pot (semantic_range)
kettle (semantic_range)
basket (semantic_range)

H1588 גַּן

Definition:

H0398 אָכַל

Definition:

28+;אָֽכְלָהNumbers 21:28+; etc.ImperfectיאֹבַלGenesis 49:27+;וַיּאֹ֫כַלGenesis 25:34+;וַיּאֹכַ֑לGenesis 3:6+;יאֹכֵ֑לLeviticus 21:22+;אֹכַלGenesis 24:33+;וָָֽאֹכַ֫לGenesis 27:33;וְאֹכֵ֑לIsaiah 44:19;ו 28+;אָֽכְלָהNumbers 21:28+; etc.ImperfectיאֹבַלGenesis 49:27+;וַיּאֹ֫כַלGenesis 25:34+;וַיּאֹכַ֑לGenesis 3:6+;יאֹכֵ֑לLeviticus 21:22+;אֹכַלGenesis 24:33+;וָָֽאֹכַ֫לGenesis 27:33;וְאֹכֵ֑לIsaiah 44:19;ו

Possible Meanings:

eat (semantic_range)
devour (semantic_range)

H6529 פְרִי

Definition:

9fruit; — absolute׳פHosea 9:16+,מֶּ֑רִיJeremiah 12:12+; especially constructמְּרִיGenesis 4:3+; suffixמִּרְיִיProverbs 8:19,מֶּרְיְךָHosea 14:9,מִּרְיוֺGenesis 3:6+,וּפֶרְיְכֶםEzekiel 36:8,מְּרִיהֶםAm 9fruit; — absolute׳פHosea 9:16+,מֶּ֑רִיJeremiah 12:12+; especially constructמְּרִיGenesis 4:3+; suffixמִּרְיִיProverbs 8:19,מֶּרְיְךָHosea 14:9,מִּרְיוֺGenesis 3:6+,וּפֶרְיְכֶםEzekiel 36:8,מְּרִיהֶםAm

Possible Meanings:

fruit of the ground (semantic_range)
offspring (semantic_range)

H4022 מֶגֶד

Definition:

134t.Deuteronomy 33; pluralמְגָדִיםCant 4:13; Song 7:14; suffixמְגָדָיוCant 4:16 —excellence:excellent or choice things; always of gifts of nature:שָׁמַיִם׳מDeuteronomy 33:13i.e. (natural) gifts of he 134t.Deuteronomy 33; pluralמְגָדִיםCant 4:13; Song 7:14; suffixמְגָדָיוCant 4:16 —excellence:excellent or choice things; always of gifts of nature:שָׁמַיִם׳מDeuteronomy 33:13i.e. (natural) gifts of he

Interlinear data not available for this verse yet.

---

Get the daily verse delivered free

Create Free Account

Automatic daily verse emails after signup

← Chapter 4 All Chapters