Song of Solomon 8:13
Song of Solomon 8:13
Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.
I once thought, as some have,[4314] that these words were the words of the church of Christ, whose dwelling-place is in his gardens, the churches; to whose voice in the everlasting gospel, the companions, or young converts, Listen with great attention and affection; which the church observing, stirred up in her earnest desires to hear the same with more power and efficacy, life and liveliness: but having considered the original text, I find it will by no means bear this sense; for the word translated, "thou that dwellest," is in the feminine gender, and so regards the bride, and may well be rendered, "O thou inhabitress of the gardens"[4315] I though the Septuagint and Ambrose render it in the masculine gender,[4316] but wrongly, for the word is certainly feminine: hence it appears, that the words are the words of Christ, directed unto his bride, the church. In which may be considered,
I. The title and appellation which is given her; "thou that dwellest in the gardens."
II. The notice which the companions take of her; "the companions hearken to thy voice."
III. The request which Christ makes unto her; "cause me to hear it."