Song of Songs 4:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Then, as those who have died to their bodies, we will heed the teachings now offered, turning away from what appeals to carnal senses. The one who has died to desires and passions will interpret these teachings in a way that aligns with purity and incorruptibility, focusing on the heights "where Christ is seated at the right hand of God" (Col. 3:1), in whom there is no passion, while the mundane and earthly concerns fade from memory. Let us then receive the Divine messages through which the Word illustrates the beauty of the immaculate bride, approaching them as if we have transcended flesh and blood and have been transformed into spiritual existence.

"What is your beloved more than another beloved, O fairest among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved that you thus adjure us?" Those who carry out God's will are considered "brother" and "sister and mother" to the Lord (Matt. 12:49), and it is evident that the innocent virgin who unites with Him to partake in the pure bridal chamber is truly called a bride, evident to anyone who is not blind to the insights of Sacred Scripture. However, as I delve into the meaning of these Divine phrases, I perceive not merely a commendation of the bride by the Word; rather, I assert that the Bridegroom reveals the reasons behind the bride’s increasing beauty. She would not receive the nourishment from good teaching, metaphorically referred to as "teats," had she not first become a sister to the Lord through righteous deeds. Renewed to virginity through rebirth, she now stands as the betrothed and bride of Him who is joined to her. Thus, He who recognizes her as sister and bride elucidates why her teats have transformed into something greater and more magnificent; they no longer yield milk for the nourishment of infants but rather exquisite wine that brings joy to the perfect.

In these words of the Bridegroom, we find a reflection of the mutual delight between the spouses, as they express affection in a certain manner. The Bridegroom honors the Church with similar language to that by which she once celebrated His beauty at the outset. In her initial expressions, desiring that the divine utterance be tasted, she alludes to it with the term "lips," indicating her earnestness for the "good things of His mouth," which abundantly surpass the essence of wine and all worldly fragrances: "Your good things are sweeter than wine, and the fragrance of Your garments is better than all spices" (Song of Songs 1:1-2).

Moreover, through varying passages of Scripture, we learn this truth of Divine wisdom: God remains for us as we choose to be before Him by our own volition (that He is gracious to the righteous, as David proclaims in the psalm (Ps. 72:1), and harsh towards the wayward, as depicted by another prophet (Hosea 13:7-8)). This reveals a mystery concerning His goodness toward us, as portrayed through names that hint at the Gospel doctrines. Those positioned at the right hand receive different attributes in the words of the King than those on the left; for some, these words are kind and affirming, while for others they are frightening and severe, depending on the defendant's disposition. Thus, the Word bestows an appropriate tribute to the bride: as she has glorified the Lord's beauty, so too He honors her. He acknowledges the improvement in her actions, noting that, rather than nourishing with milk, the teats now yield divine wine that brings joy to the hearts of the mature, having left infancy behind, enabling them to partake from the cup of wisdom.

Having praised her teats for the generous outpouring of wine, the Word commends the bride for her fragrance, stating: "the fragrance of your garments is better than all spices." We must derive this understanding from Holy Scripture, familiarizing ourselves with what is termed fragrant within it. Each delightful aroma pleases our sense of smell, and thus we learn that the Word regards as fragrant whatever Scripture identifies as such. For instance, Noah's sacrifice was referred to as "the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma" (Genesis 8:21), establishing that sacrifices are deemed fragrant to God. Following this, the law prescribes various offerings to God for atonement, gratitude, salvation, purification, and sin, all considered aromas. This includes whole burnt offerings, parts of sacrifices, and the offerings of flour mixed with oil, incense, and all else presented to God by flame, among which are classified as aromatic.

Thus, when we recognize that the fragrance of the bride is esteemed above all, we understand that the truth of this sacrament, manifested through the doctrine of the Gospel, holds unique fragrance before God, standing above all lawful offerings, as it is no longer shrouded in imagery but exudes the fragrance of truth. If previous sacrifices were so regarded by the Lord as "pleasing aromas," their value was not based merely on what appeared outwardly but also on their inner significance. This is underscored by the prophet's declaration: "I will not accept bulls from your house, nor goats from your folds. Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?" (Psalms 49:9, 13). Even though many animals have been sacrificed, the intention behind the act is to symbolically slay the passions within. As expressed: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise" (Psalms 50:19). Thus, our offerings of praise glorify Him who senses such a fragrant aroma.

Since the seal grants security to what it protects, safeguarding against theft and ensuring all that remains is impervious to harm, this commendation highlights the highest virtue of the bride: her mind, kept pure and free of passions, remains beyond the reach of her adversaries. Her Lord adorns this spring with beauty, ensuring that no impure thoughts disturb the clarity and lightness of her heart.

It is also wise to securely lock your door at night, preventing anyone from gaining easy access. The Bridegroom desires it to remain shut even as He knocks. The door signifies your mouth, which should be opened only for Christ: do not let it open until the Divine Word prompts you. As scripture states, “A locked garden, my sister bride, a locked garden, a sealed spring” (Song of Solomon 4:12); thus, you should refrain from speaking lightly or engaging in frivolous chatter. You should even be cautious about discussing divine matters unless prompted by the Divine Word. What do you have in common with others? Speak solely to Christ and converse only with Him. Indeed, if it is written (1 Corinthians 14:34) that women should remain silent in the Church, how much more inappropriate is it for a virgin to open her door, or for a widow to lift her gates? The tempter of purity will intrude immediately, snatching away the Word you wished to express. Had Eve kept her door secured, Adam would not have been led astray, and she would not have answered the serpent (Genesis 3:2). Death found its entry through the window (Jeremiah 9:21), which illustrates how the adversary can also breach your defenses through your words, particularly if you speak untruths or engage in shameful discourse, or even converse when you ought to be silent. Thus, ensure that the doors of your mouth remain shut and your throat remains closed; only open them when you hear the voice of God or the Word of God.

Be vigilant, then, lest your spirit's strength be diminished by the allure of carnal desire. Should you be taken by this temptation, it could compromise the sanctity that requires vigilant protection: for the garden is enclosed, the well is sealed. A weakened mind allows physical desires to spill forth—destructive and potentially leading to dire consequences—which could have stayed in check had the active mind been alert and watchful. The bride is praised for being a garden that exudes the fragrance of a rich field, of which Isaac remarks: "The aroma of my son is like the scent of a rich field" (Genesis 27:27). Indeed, the soul of the righteous carries the fragrance of righteousness. Perhaps the field symbolizes the patriarch, while the garden represents someone's soul as part of that field. The sealed garden represents vigilance that prevents intruders, and the sealed well represents one who has cleansed her sins while maintaining her commitment to purity. Understanding this illustrates the beauty of virginity, cherished within a garden of joy, where spiritual fruits are received without toil: the souls of the patriarchs provide her with their fruits from labor, allowing her to sample eternal delight. She is rightly called a sealed spring, for the image of the invisible God is reflected in her (Colossians 1:15). Additionally, they extol the gifts of the soul that are presented to the Bridegroom, through which she approaches Him. The offerings of the virtuous soul consist of incense: myrrh, aloes, and saffron, which waft the fragrance of gardens while dispelling the odor of sin.

A locked garden signifies a space safeguarded by a wall of purity; a sealed spring embodies virginity's origin of honor, preserved by the sacred seals of holiness, where the image of God shines forth, as the purity of body complements the purity of spirit.

Thus, exercise caution lest the robustness of your spirit be dulled, jeopardized by the simplistic allure of bodily pleasures, leading to a breach of all defenses. Safeguard your spring, keeping it closed and secure through diligent work and mental vigilance. For when the spirit’s vigor declines, bodily sensations become overwhelming and dangerous, but these could be contained if the spirit remains vigilant.

In such gardens, where the image of God is manifested through signs, the clear stream of a pure spring glistens, ensuring that even the waters tainted by spiritual beasts may remain uncontaminated. Here, chastity is fortified by a spiritual barrier, rendering it inaccessible to violation. Just as a garden, secure from thieves, produces the fragrance of vines, aromatic trees, and resplendent roses, so too should the spiritual garden cultivate piety in place of vines, peace in place of oil trees, and the chastity of consecrated virginity instead of roses.

The divine sacraments are not given to the uninitiated but to those who have undergone initiation, and they are not bestowed upon those who return to sin after receiving initiation, but rather to those who uphold a righteous way of life or have cleansed themselves through repentance.

The aroma of your garments is akin to the scent of frankincense (cf. Song of Songs 4:11). We previously mentioned that the Bridegroom Himself has become her garment; the blessed Paul affirms this when he writes, "All ye that were baptised into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). The Bridegroom embodies both the eternal God and man, born in the latter days of the Blessed Virgin; while remaining unchanged, He united our nature to Himself, clothing the bride who was previously bare. Hence, the statement that "the fragrance of your garment is like the fragrance of frankincense" signifies that she has donned Christ, who is both divine and human. Frankincense, offered to God under the Old Covenant, serves as a representation of theology.

What does your nourishment, O sister of my daughter-in-law, consist of? What could be more nourishing for your suckling than wine, and what fragrance of your garments is more delightful than all fragrances? Your breast, symbolizing the sources of doctrine, draws from the wine of the spiritual cup of mystery and provides more satisfaction. Your robes are splendid because you have clothed yourself in Me. Their incense is "more fragrant than all fragrances," indicating that it surpasses lawful virtue, which is represented by various scents. When inquiring about the nourishment of her suckling, He refers to her as sister, bride, and neighbor—sister because she and He come from the same origin; bride because, through receiving His teachings, she bears the fruits of godliness; and neighbor because she expresses, "My soul clings to Thee" (Psalm 62:9). The Bridegroom further commends her in Song of Songs 4:11: "The honey and the milk under thy tongue, and the fragrance of thy vestures is like the fragrance of Lebanon." According to Paul, the Church is akin to a body comprising many parts (Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 12:27). Some individuals fulfill the roles of the eyes, ears, and mouth. Thus, when the Bridegroom states, "A honeycomb of honey and milk under thy tongue," He is referring to the Church's teachers, who eloquently share the doctrine of godliness, imparting its sweetness to others. They offer not only honey but also milk, nourishing each age with appropriate sustenance (cf. 1 Cor. 3:2, Heb. 5:12). "And the fragrance of your vesture is as the fragrance of Lebanon," as previously explained.

The locked garden and sealed spring (Song of Songs 4:12) signifies her as protected and fortified, bearing various fruits of holiness and virtue. She is safeguarded from harm, for "the gates of hell shall not prevail against her" (Matt. 16:18). She differs from what emerged from Egypt, which was vulnerable to every passerby, but is instead fortified like enclosed grapes, reserved for the worthy. Access to her waters is granted not to the worldly but to those who have been instructed in divine truths, not to those who, after being cleansed, remain trapped in sin, but rather to those who live righteously and embrace repentance.