For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Ver. 2. For I am jealous] q.d. My dear love to you puts me upon thus praising myself.
With a godly jealousy] Gr. with a zeal of God, called the flame of God, Song of Solomon 8:6, such as was that of Job over his children, for fear they should sin against God; not such as was that of the Pharisees over the Galatians, the hypocrisy of jealousy, Galatians 4:17 .
For I have espoused you] Gr. I have fitted you, as things that are pieced together are glued or soldered. ηρμοσαμην, Velut ea quae glutino aut ferrumine committuntur. (Erasm.)
To one husband] Here the cedar taketh the thistle to wife (tantus tantillos), and doth all the offices of a husband to her,2 Kings 14:9; Ezekiel 16:8; Ezekiel 1:1,28. He first loveth his Church, and then purifieth her, Ephesians 5:25,26. (Ahasuerus had the virgins first purified and perfumed before he took them to his bed.) 2. He puts upon her his own comeliness, as Eleazar put the jewels upon Rebecca (hence she is called Callah of the perfection of her attire, ornaments, and beauty, Jer 2:32). 3. He maketh love to her by his paranymphs, his ministers, who woo for him, and present her to Christ as a chaste virgin. 4. He cohabits with her; Song of Solomon 7:5; "The king is tied in the rafters." 5. He rejoiceth over her, Isaiah 62:4,5. Isaiah 62:6. He doth the marriage duty to her, and maketh her the mother of us all, Galatians 4:26; Romans 7:1; Romans 7:1,25. He nourisheth and cherisheth her,Ephesians 5:29; 8. He hateth putting away, Malachi 2:16, and provideth for her eternal welfare, Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:21,22 .