Fathers

Song of Solomon 1

Tap a verse to read the Fathers. Press and hold, then drag, to make a card.

The song of songs, which is Solomon's. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee. I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept. Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents. I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots. Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold. We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver. While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi. Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes. Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green. The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.

About · Privacy · Credits · Support VRSZ

What the Fathers say

Song of Solomon 1:13

Western Saints

Bede

A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, etc. And this, according to the letter, we read was fulfilled concerning our Savior when, after His passion was accomplished and His body taken down from the cross, Nicodemus came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds' weight. And they took His body and wrapped it in linen cloths with spices. …

Commentary on the Song of Songs ↗

Bernard of Clairvaux

1. "A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me; he shall abide between my breasts" (Song 1:12). Before he was king, now he is beloved; before on the royal couch, now between the breasts of the bride. Great is the power of humility, to which even the majesty of the Godhead so easily inclines itself. Quickly the name of reverence was changed into the word of friendship: and he who was far off was in a short time made near. "A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me." Myrrh, a bitter thing, signifies hard and harsh tribulations. …

Sermons on the Song of Songs, Sermon 43 ↗

Robert of Tombelaine

The bodies of the dead are customarily preserved with myrrh, lest they putrefy. Indeed, we apply myrrh to bodies lest they putrefy, when we restrain our members from the corruption of lust through their mortification after Christ's example; lest, if we leave them without seasoning, our bodies, dissolved by corruption, become food for eternal worms. …

Commentary on the Song of Songs, Chapter 1 ↗