Song of Songs 4:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

An illustration of this can be seen in the following scenario: Inform the listener that those who live holy lives and embody moral excellence are integral to Christ’s Church, working to eliminate superstitions from those who come from different beliefs. By emulating the virtuous deeds of these holy individuals, who become genuine members of the Church, such people, as devoted servants of the true God, set aside worldly concerns and come to the sacred waters of Baptism, where through the Holy Spirit they continually bear fruit. Present this message to your audience, and you may find it fails to engage them. However, convey the same idea through a metaphorical passage from the Song of Songs, which calls the Church a beautiful bride and states, “Thy teeth are as a flock of shorn sheep coming out of the pool, of which every one has a pair of lambs, and there is not a barren one among them.” This metaphorical approach will likely resonate more with the listener. Why is this the case? Does the thought conveyed through metaphors and illustrations communicate anything different from the same idea stated plainly and clearly? Not at all; nevertheless, I find myself more drawn to the saints when I perceive them as the teeth of the Church, who separate and liberate individuals from error, softening their hardness and integrating them into the body of the Church as if they were nourishing food. Moreover, I cherish the image of the saints as shorn lambs, who have shed the burdens of worldly life, rising from the baptismal waters, embodying the fulfillment of the two commandments of love, bearing no lack of the sacred fruit of love.

What does it mean that thy teeth (Song of Songs 6:6)? We should understand them as the teeth of the Church, through which she proclaims her message. What symbolizes thy teeth? Like a flock of sheep that has been sheared (Song of Songs 4:2). Why are they sheared? Because they have renounced worldly gains. Are those sheep not the very ones I just mentioned, who were sheared at God’s summons, which urged them, “Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me” (Matthew 19:21)? They responded to this call, coming forth shorn of all that held them back. What do we learn about those who were baptized in Christ's name? Those who emerged from the pool (Song of Songs 4:2) — signifying those who underwent purification. Each possesses a pair of lambs (Ibid.). What does this pair of lambs represent? Those two commandments upon which all of the law and the prophets rest (Matthew 22:40).

Teeth receive praise for their strength and elegant form, held firmly in place by the gums, arranged in a graceful row. The analogy of teeth to flocks emerging from the font, each representing twin births scattered across hilly terrain, presents a perplexing image at first glance. Teeth are aligned next to one another, whereas the goats are separated, each looking for sustenance from the pasture. Furthermore, since teeth are naturally exposed and do not possess a covering like that of fleece, one might question the rationale behind this comparison between the elegance of teeth and the appearance of two-fruited flocks, from which the fleece is shorn, and the impurities of the body are washed away.

Thus, what can we deduce about this reasoning? Those who articulate the Divine truths more clearly break down the spiritual sustenance to render it suitable for the Church, embodying the role of teeth. They digest the firm and compact bread of God's Word and present it in a way that nourishes the souls of the faithful. For instance, the Apostle Paul first presents a command from the law simply and without embellishment, stating, “Let not the mouth of the threshing ox be obstructed” (1 Cor. 9:9). He then elaborates, clarifying the intent of the law with the question, “Is God pleased to eat of the will? Or is it written for our sake” (1 Cor. 9:10)? There are numerous passages that follow this pattern, such as, “Abraham had two sons, one from a slave, and the other from a free woman” (Gal. 4:22). Here lies the unfermented bread! Yet, the Apostle, after breaking it down, makes it more digestible for the faithful and transitions this teaching into a discussion of the two Covenants, “one... which begets into slavery,” and the other which liberates from bondage (Gal. 4:24-26).

Moreover, the entire law—though we need not explore every detail—can be viewed through this lens, as the Apostle takes it, as if it were a purified entity, and transforms it, rendering it spiritual rather than merely carnal. He states, “We see that the law is spiritual” (Rom. 7:14). Therefore, what we observe in Paul’s discourse, who replaces the need for teeth within the Church by elucidating the doctrines with precision, can also be echoed by all those, in imitation of Paul, who unveil the mystery to us. Those who soften and make palatable to us the pure grains of Divine revelations serve as teeth for the Church.

Just as the Divine Apostle illustrates the qualities expected of those aspiring to “the good works of the episcopate” (1 Tim. 3:1), detailing the attributes of a priest, it also follows that those appointed in the Church for this ministry—serving as teeth—must first be cleansed of all worldly encumbrances. They should then be purified in the font of their conscience, free from all forms of uncleanness in body and spirit. Furthermore, they should consistently excel and never regress, embracing the richness of good deeds, thereby ensuring that in every virtuous endeavor, they exemplify fruitful duality. The concept of duality alludes to what should shape our mental imagery, yielding teeth that bear dual fruits—cultivating both detachment from harmful desires in the soul and virtuous living in the physical realm.

The Church is compared to this flock because she embodies numerous virtues found in many souls who, through the act of purification, cleanse themselves of sinful excess, uphold their hidden faith and virtuous conduct through Christ, and venerate the Cross of our Lord Jesus.

It is as if the Bridegroom intends to say: You navigate earthly matters with admirable discernment, reminiscent of a flock of goats that thrive on the heights of Mount Gilead, renowned for its steepness. Your lips, devoid of deceit, mockery, slander, falsehoods, and impiety, are so pristine that they mirror those of the freshly shorn goats that emerge from the washing. The flocks of the shorn symbolize those who, through baptism, have had their transgressions washed clean, aligning with the Apostle's words, "that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word" (Eph. 5:26). Thus, you resemble those who have been recently baptized. Furthermore, "they shall be barren, and those that do not conceive shall not inhabit them." I do not compare you to individuals who, after receiving the grace of baptism, regress into sin; instead, I liken you to those who preserve the bestowed grace and continue to flourish in both intellect and moral conduct.