Song of Solomon 4:11 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.

Drop - always ready to fell, being full of honey, though not always actually dropping (Song of Solomon 5:13; Deuteronomy 32:2).

Honey-comb - (Proverbs 16:24.)

Honey and milk (are) under thy tongue - not always on but under, the tongue, ready to fall: not deceitful, as Psalms 55:21. Contrast her former state, "adder's poison is under their lips" (Psalms 140:3). "Honey and milk" were the glory of the good land. The change is illustrated in the penitent thief. Contrast Matthew 27:44 with Luke 23:30, etc. It was literally with 'one' eye, a sidelong glance of love "better than wine," that he refreshed Jesus Christ (Song of Solomon 4:9-10). "Today shalt thou be with me (cf. Song of Solomon 4:8) in Paradise" (Song of Solomon 4:12), is the only joyous sentence of His seven utterances on the cross.

Smell of ... garments - which are often perfumed in the East (Psalms 45:8). The perfume comes from Him on us (Psalms 133:2). We draw nigh to God in the perfumed garment of our older brother (Genesis 27:27; see Jude 1:23).

Lebanon - abounding in odoriferous tress.

Song of Solomon 4:11

11 Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.