Song Of Solomon 5:12

His eyes [are] as [the eyes] of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, [and] fitly set.

His eyes {H5869} are as the eyes of doves {H3123} by the rivers {H650} of waters {H4325}, washed {H7364} with milk {H2461}, and fitly set {H3427}{H4402}.

His eyes are like doves by running streams, bathed in milk and set just right.

His eyes are like doves beside the streams of water, bathed in milk and mounted like jewels.

His eyes are like doves beside the water-brooks, Washed with milk, and fitly set.

Commentary on Song of Solomon 5:12 (KJV)

Song of Solomon 5:12 is a vibrant expression of admiration, where the Shulamite woman passionately describes the captivating beauty of her beloved's eyes. This verse is part of a detailed, poetic description of his physical attributes, revealing the depth of her affection and the idealized nature of her love.

Context

This verse is found within a dream sequence in Song of Solomon chapter 5, where the Shulamite recounts her beloved's visit and her subsequent search for him. After failing to find him, she is questioned by the "daughters of Jerusalem" about what makes her beloved so special. In response, she launches into an elaborate and highly descriptive praise of his physical beauty, starting with his head and hair, and here, moving to his eyes. This detailed portrait serves to articulate her profound love and admiration, painting a picture of an ideal lover through rich, natural imagery common in ancient Near Eastern love poetry.

Key Themes

  • Idealized Beauty and Purity: The description of the eyes as "doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk" evokes images of serene beauty, innocence, and remarkable clarity. Doves were often symbols of gentleness and purity, while milk represented whiteness and nourishing richness.
  • Refreshing and Life-Giving Gaze: The phrase "by the rivers of waters" suggests a refreshing, vital quality, implying that his gaze is not only beautiful but also invigorating and life-giving.
  • Perfect Composition: "Fitly set" (from the Hebrew *millē’t* meaning 'full' or 'set as a jewel') indicates that his eyes are perfectly placed and proportioned, sparkling with a complete and captivating beauty, like precious stones expertly mounted.
  • Deep Affection and Admiration: The elaborate and tender imagery used throughout this passage, including this verse, underscores the Shulamite's intense love and profound admiration for her beloved. Her detailed praise is a testament to the powerful emotional bond they share.

Linguistic Insights & Symbolism

The imagery of "doves" (יוֹנִים, *yonim*) is consistently used in the Bible to symbolize innocence, gentleness, and purity, as seen in Matthew 10:16 or the descent of the Holy Spirit like a dove in Matthew 3:16. Here, it suggests eyes that are soft, pure, and perhaps filled with deep affection. The "rivers of waters" add to the sense of freshness and vitality, while being "washed with milk" conveys a pristine, luminous quality, suggesting eyes that are clear, bright, and perhaps even soothing to look upon. The term "fitly set" implies perfection in their placement and appearance, like jewels perfectly embedded in a setting.

Practical Application

This verse, while highly poetic, offers insights into the nature of deep, affectionate relationships. It highlights the importance of truly seeing and appreciating the unique beauty of one's beloved, both physically and spiritually.

  • Appreciating Inner and Outer Beauty: It encourages us to look beyond superficialities and to admire the qualities that truly make a person beautiful—qualities like gentleness, purity, and depth of character, which can be reflected in one's eyes.
  • Expressing Adoration: The Shulamite's detailed praise serves as a model for expressing love and admiration in our own relationships, fostering intimacy and connection.
  • Spiritual Reflection: Allegorically, some traditions interpret the beloved as Christ and the Shulamite as the Church or the individual believer. In this light, Christ's eyes might represent His pure, gentle, and all-seeing gaze of love and understanding towards His people, a gaze that is both refreshing and perfectly knowing. This echoes the concept of God's eyes seeing all things clearly.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Song Of Solomon 4:1

    ¶ Behold, thou [art] fair, my love; behold, thou [art] fair; thou [hast] doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair [is] as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.

  • Song Of Solomon 1:15

    Behold, thou [art] fair, my love; behold, thou [art] fair; thou [hast] doves' eyes.

  • Hebrews 4:13

    Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
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