5:10 My beloved. This remarkable description of her “beloved,” with all due allowance for exaggeration because of her love for him, certainly indicates that Solomon was, at this time, a most elegant and handsome young man. At the same time, we are also able to see in her description a wonderful recital of the spiritual beauties of the heavenly bridegroom, as seen through the spiritual eyes of His future bride, the church.

5:10 ruddy. “White and ruddy” is, literally, “dazzling white and red.” As applied to Christ, this phrase must speak of both His sinlessness and His blood offered in sacrifice for us who are sinners.

5:10 chiefest. This was a common expression meaning “greatest of all,” a description applicable for a while to the great King Solomon, but applicable always to Jesus Christ, King of kings, and Lord of lords.

5:11 black as a raven. The regal appearance of Solomon’s head was appropriate for a king; his wavy black hair likewise. We know nothing of the features of Jesus, as the gospel writers are silent concerning his physical appearance. The prophet, however, predicted that, outwardly, He would have “no form nor comeliness” and “no beauty” (Isaiah 53:2). However, after His resurrection and glorification, we are told that, instead of black hair speaking of youthful vigor, “His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow” (Revelation 1:14), speaking of Him as “the Ancient of days” (Daniel 7:9).

5:12 eyes of doves. In His human incarnation, Jesus’ eyes were often wet with tears; in His body of glory, “His eyes [were] as a flame of fire” (Revelation 1:14; 19:12).

5:13 His cheeks. In Christ’s humiliation, “His visage was so marred more than any man” (Isaiah 52:14), as His cheeks were given “to them that plucked off the hair” (Isaiah 50:6), bearing little resemblance to “a bed of spices and sweet flowers.” But when He comes in glory, we shall see “His face as the appearance of lightning” (Daniel 10:6).

5:13 myrrh. “Never man spake like this man,” they said of Jesus (John 7:46), even as Solomon was famed for His wisdom of speech. The day will come, however, when men will hear “His voice as the sound of many waters” (Revelation 1:15) and “like the voice of a multitude” (Daniel 10:6).

5:14 His hands. Jesus’ hands blessed little children and healed the sick, but then they were nailed with cruel spikes to the cross. In His reigning hand, He will hold the “seven stars” representing the angels guarding and guiding all His churches.

5:14 his belly. His “body” (better than “belly”) was so wounded and beaten that “His form” was disfigured “more than the sons of men” (Isaiah 52:14). But “He bare our sins in His own body on the tree” (I Peter 2:24), and He now has a “glorious body” (Philippians 3:21).

5:15 His legs. In the coming day, His legs and feet will be “like unto fine brass” and will be set astride both land and sea (Revelation 1:15; 10:2).

5:15 fine gold. “His countenance,” when He comes in power, will be “as the sun shineth in his strength” (Revelation 1:16).

5:16 most sweet. In the days of His flesh, “grace was poured into thy lips” (Psalm 45:2). When He returns in judgment, “out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations” (Revelation 19:15).

5:16 altogether lovely. In His humanity, He was altogether lovely, with no fault in Him, and so will He be throughout eternity to all who love Him. But all who reject or ignore him will one day cry in vain for the very rocks and mountains of the earth to “fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:16).