Song of Solomon 5:14 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

His hands; the instruments of action and of distribution, which may design the actions of Christ, and particularly his distributing gifts and graces to his members. As gold rings set with the beryl; beautiful and precious, and richly adorned, as it were with gold rings set with precious stones. His belly; which seems to be here used, either,

1. Metonymically for the bowels, which are contained in the belly. Or rather,

2. Synecdochically, for the whole body, reaching from the neck, to the bottom of the belly, which is distinguished from the face and the joints, which are described in the other clauses. For he speaks here of those parts which are visible to the eye. And thus here is a complete description of Christ's beauty in all parts, from his head to his feet. As bright ivory overlaid with sapphires; of a pure and bright white colour, intermixed with blue veins; for some sapphires are of a bright blue colour.

Song of Solomon 5:14

14 His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.