His eyes are more beautiful than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.
חַכְלִילִ֥י עֵינַ֖יִם מִיָּ֑יִן וּלְבֶן־שִׁנַּ֖יִם מֵחָלָֽב׃
11 Church Fathers comment on this verse
In this passage, through the symbols of wine and eyes, He aims to reveal His exaltation. The phrase “white teeth of milk” reflects the purity and splendor of the Righteous Judge. With the imagery of teeth and milk, He conveys that the judgment will be as clear and radiant as milk and teeth.
Despite His death and the scorn He faced from the Jewish leaders, along with relentless insults, He remained unfazed, having endured these trials for our benefit and securing the celestial realms. In fact, these experiences were a source of joy for Him and did not disturb His inherent serenity, as indicated by the phrase, "His eyes were bright with wine." This suggests, in a metaphorical sense, the delightful quality of His eternal joy and the unshakeable happiness of His divine nature. Just as those who have consumed wine exhibit a spirit of cheerfulness, free from distress, so too does He radiate joy. When His words pass forth, they are pure and illuminating, as they emerge from His mouth as a clear and holy message. Christ is never mistaken in His speech; rather, He speaks truthfully and candidly. Every word He shares is sacred, wondrous, and brings profound clarity to the hearts and minds of those who listen.
His eyes shine with the richness of wine, reflecting the spiritual intoxication from His cup, as the psalm declares, "My cup is full" (Psalm 22:5). His teeth are dazzlingly white, symbolizing the nourishment of the milk that the apostle speaks of, for the new believers partake of these words that sustain them, being unready for solid food (1 Cor. 3:2).
His gaze radiates more joy than wine, as the sincerity of his intentions surpasses even the finest vintage. His teeth shine brighter than the finest grain, for the teachings he imparts are both flawless and exalted.
Regarding the prophets and apostles, it is said that His eyes are filled with joy from wine, and His teeth sparkle like milk. The former, much like the eyes of Christ, predicted and proclaimed His arrival, as He Himself noted: Abraham, your ancestor rejoiced at the sight of My day (John 8:56). Additionally, one of the prophets declares: I saw the Lord of hosts (Isaiah 6:1), indicating that those who beheld Him were filled with divine joy. The apostles, purified by the Lord from their sinful impurities, became purer than milk; thereafter, they remained untainted. While milk is temporary, the apostles’ grace is everlasting, providing us with spiritual sustenance that nourishes our inner being.
There are also those who consider the commandments of the Lord, which originated from the divine, as being brilliantly white and akin to milk; by partaking in these, we access the heavenly bread (John 6:51). This is why Paul remarks: I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not ready (1 Cor. 3:2). The Corinthian believers are invited to begin with milk as they embark on their faith journey, while the saints, whose faith is renowned throughout the world, are fed with more substantial nourishment, having reached maturity in their spiritual growth.
He reveals the joy that arises from enduring trials. ‘His eyes were gladdened with wine’; for redemptive suffering brings delight to all creation. This understanding of suffering is affirmed by the Lord Himself, who states: ‘Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me’ (Matthew 26:39). Likewise, He asked the sons of Zebedee: ‘Can you drink the cup that I have drunk’ (Matthew 20:22)? Thus, the brightness of the eyes symbolizes joy following hardship; for after their suffering and resurrection, the disciples were commissioned to spread the message of salvation throughout the world. Moreover, the Patriarch compared the clarity and purity of the truth to the whitest of teeth, stating: ‘And his teeth are whiter than chaff’. The Patriarch prophesied much through his blessing of Judas.
Numerous terms are used to articulate the essence of the Word: sustenance, incarnate form, nourishment, bread, lifeblood, and spiritual milk. All of these elements belong to the Lord and are meant to be partaken by those who have faith in Him. It should not seem unusual to suggest that spiritual milk symbolizes the Lord's blood. After all, is this not also represented by wine? For it is written, He shall wash his garment in wine, and in the blood of the clusters his garment. This illustrates that the Lord will clothe the body of the Word in His blood, just as He will surely nourish those who seek the Word with His Spirit.
His eyes are more joyful than wine. What do the eyes of Christ represent but the blessed prophets? They, enlightened by the Spirit and foretelling the sufferings that were destined for Him, beheld Him in His glory with spiritual vision, rejoicing (John 8:56), made perfect through His Word and grace. The phrase “his teeth were whiter than milk” signifies the commandments that flowed from the sacred mouth of Christ, pure and nourishing as milk.
After revealing both His prophets and apostles, He states, “His eyes are merry with wine and his teeth whiter than milk.” Thus, the eyes of Christ manifested as the prophets, delighting in the power of the Spirit, prophesying the sufferings He would endure, which would benefit future generations, so that every individual who believes might attain salvation. When it is said, “His teeth were white as milk,” it refers to the apostles who were sanctified by the Word Himself and became like milk, providing us with spiritual sustenance. Alternatively, it also speaks of the commandments of the Lord, which emerged from His holy mouth, becoming milk for us, so that through their nourishment, we might partake of the Bread of Heaven (John 6:51).
The vision of Christ serves as the source of illumination for the entire body, as articulated in the Gospel: The eye is the lamp for the body (Matthew 6:22). These visionary insights are imbued with grace, for the message of wisdom is enriched with understanding (Col. 4:6) to impart grace to those who listen. Therefore, an individual is deemed graceful not only because they possess this message filled with grace, but also due to their ability to convey grace to others. Indeed, it is stated: when the wise man hears this, he will become wiser (Proverbs 1:5). His eyes are blessed with the richness of wine, for the message of wisdom is neither diluted nor tepid.
It resembles wine that invigorates the spirit of humanity (Psalm 104:15) and is applied to the wounds of the afflicted (Luke 10:30, 34). Therefore, the injuries of those who receive the message, particularly sinners, are soothed by the gentleness of the oil, while simultaneously being cleansed by the robustness of the wine (Psalm 51:9).
Previously, we have discussed the structure and importance of the members within the body of Christ, making it excessive to reiterate in this context. His teeth, whiter than snow, are designed to chew and break down the solid and substantial teachings of the Word of God. The apostle mentions in his Epistle to the Hebrews, ‘But solid food is for the mature, those whose faculties have been trained by practice to discern good from evil’ (Hebrews 5:14). In contrast, he remarks about the Corinthians: I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready, and indeed, you still are not (1 Cor. 3:2). Thus, his teeth are purer than those of those who only consume milk; those able to partake in and digest complete nourishment are superior to those who remain reliant on milk, much like children. Additionally, the Law specifies that animals which regurgitate their cud—reprocessing the food they have consumed—are considered clean (Leviticus 11:3). Accordingly, it is fitting to assert that his teeth are most pure. All who are perfected, who accurately interpret the sustenance of the Scriptures, and deliver a clear and meaningful understanding deemed spiritual to the body of the Church, must themselves be pure, spotless, and without deficiency, lest it be said of them, How can you teach others while failing to teach yourself? (Romans 2:21).
After outlining the future of Judah through a temporal lens, James ultimately relates it to a geographical context, foretelling that his eyes will glisten with the wine that brings joy to the heart, while his mouth will be filled with chaff, reminiscent of infants whose mouths remain white when they sample it. ‘His eyes shall be darkened with wine, and his teeth shall be bright with chaff.’ In the season of grace and redemption, his eyes will radiate the wine of spiritual delight, and his mouth will overflow with the nourishing milk suited for his young; in the time of judgment and retribution, he will awaken as from slumber, vigorous and lively with wine (Psalm 77:65). His eyes will blaze like flames of fire (Rev. 1:14).
These verses assure Judah, represented through his descendants, of external prosperity in the promised land. When the territory of Canaan was distributed, it was to Judah that an inheritance overflowing with grapes would be allotted, with livestock tied to the very vines and branches, ensuring that even the animals might inadvertently damage them. During the harvest of grapes, the garments of those gathering would become stained with the deep red juice, resembling they had been washed in blood. Indeed, within Judah were regions that yielded the finest wine grapes throughout all Israel, notably in the wilderness of Engedi, Hebron, Bethlehem, and the valley of Eshcol.
The spies sent forth by Moses returned from this valley with a cluster of grapes so substantial it required two men to carry it on a pole (Num. 13:25). "His eyes are more joyful than wine and his teeth whiter than milk." If the people of the tribe of Judah appear joyful, more so than those who have savored the wine that delights the soul, and if their smiles reveal teeth that shine brighter than milk, this will signify their vitality and beauty.
During the Feast of Vaius, it is essential to recite the appointed paremia, as its themes closely relate to the celebration's focus. In this paremia, Judah is portrayed receiving adoration and commendation from his brothers, fierce and imposing to his foes, likened to a lion. Similarly, the Lord Jesus Christ, entering Jerusalem upon a donkey, flanked by His disciples and a jubilant crowd, is depicted receiving veneration from His earthly kin, as a sovereign and the conqueror over death and the adversaries of His Church. This is indeed the triumphant ‘Lion of the tribe of Judah’ referenced in Revelation (Rev. 5:5-6). The prophecy of Jacob heralds the Messiah from Judah’s lineage, calling Him ‘The Feast of Tongues.’ According to this prophecy, the Lord Jesus, when entering Jerusalem, chose to ride on a young donkey, untouched by a yoke, symbolizing the Gentiles who had not known the law, living instead according to their own desires, and had long awaited the Savior. “The king’s sitting upon the donkey foretold,” as per the Church’s teachings, “the transformation of the Gentiles from unbelief to faith” (see the verses for the Feast of Vaius, in “Lord, I have cried”). A similar prophetic significance can be attributed to the imagery of tying the donkey to the vine as described in Jacob’s prophecy. Is not the master who secures the donkey to the vine an emblem of the Lord Jesus, who leads the Gentiles into His spiritual vineyard, that is, His Church, and binds them to Himself as the true vine that imparts life (John 15:1)?
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS