Song of Solomon 2:14 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

O my dove - here expressing endearment: and the defenseless innocence of the Church (Psalms 74:19). Doves are noted for constant attachment emblems, also, in their soft, plaintive note, of softened penitents (Isaiah 59:11): other points of likeness are their beauty, typifying the change in the converted (Psalms 68:13); the dove-like spirit breathed into the saint by the Holy Spirit, whose emblem is the dove; the message of peace from God to sinful men, as Noah's dove, with the olive branch, intimated that the flood of wrath was past; timidity fleeing with fear from sin and self to the cleft Rock of Ages (margin, Isaiah 26:4); gregarious, flocking together to the kingdom of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 60:8); harmless simplicity (Matthew 10:16).

That art in the clefts - the refuge of doves from storm and heat (Jeremiah 48:28; contrast a different use of the "clefts" by the wicked Jeremiah 49:16). Gesenius translates the Hebrew from a different root, 'the refuges.' But see, for "clefts" (a different Hebrew term). Exodus 33:18-23. It is only when we are in Christ Jesus (Psalms 27:5; Isaiah 33:16) that our 'voice is sweet (in prayer, Song of Solomon 4:3; Song of Solomon 4:11; Matthew 10:20; Galatians 4:6: because it is His voice in us; also in speaking of Him, Malachi 3:16); and our countenance comely' (Exodus 34:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18). Contrast the clefts in which the proud hide themselves (Jeremiah 49:16).

Stairs (Ezekiel 38:20, margin) - a steep rock, broken into stairs or terraces. It is in "secret places" and rugged scenes that Jesus Christ woos the soul from the world to Himself (Micah 2:10). So Jacob amidst the stones of Bethel; Moses at Horeb; so Elijah (1 Kings 19:9-13); Jesus Christ with the three disciples on a "high mountain apart," at the transfiguration; John in Patmos. 'Of the eight beatitudes, five have an afflicted condition for their subject. As long as the waters are on the earth, we dwell in the ark; but when the land is dry, the dove itself will be tempted to wander' (Jeremy Taylor). Jesus Christ does not invite her to leave the rock, but in it (Himself), yet in holy freedom, to lay aside the timorous spirit, look up boldly as accepted in Him, pray, praise, and confess Him (in contrast to her shrinking from being looked at, Song of Solomon 1:6); still, though trembling, the voice and countenance of the soul in Jesus Christ are pleasant to Him. The Church found no cleft in the Sinaitic legal rock, though good in itself, wherein to hide; but in Jesus Christ stricken by God for us as the rock smitten by Moses, there is a hiding grace (Isaiah 32:2). She praised His "voice" (Song of Solomon 2:8; Song of Solomon 2:10): it is thus, that her voice also, though tremulous, is "sweet" to Him here.

Song of Solomon 2:14

14 O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.