Song of Songs 4:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Word refers not only to the mouths as symbols of ‘faithfulness’ but also incorporates a notion of goodness, whereby the mouths of the Church are embellished with both elements, resembling faithfulness on one side and scarlet on the other. This faith nurtures unity within the Church, culminating in one collective faith, a harmonious bond woven from diverse perspectives; and by the scarlet's likeness, the Church is motivated to contemplate the Blood through which we are redeemed, perpetually proclaiming the confession of Him who saved us by His Blood. Through these two aspects, the brilliance of the Church's mouth reaches its zenith: when faith leads to confession and when love partners with faith. Should we articulate this image through definition, let us declare that ‘the scarlet cord’ symbolizes ‘faith made alive by love’ (Galatians 5:6), revealing the scarlet through faith and interpreting the cord through love. The truth attests to the adornment of the bride’s mouth with these qualities. The phrase ‘thy conversation is red’ requires no further examination or interpretation, as the Apostle has previously clarified that this discourse represents ‘the word of faith, which we preach: if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation’ (Romans 10:8-10). This ‘red conversation’ allows the mouth of the Church, akin to a scarlet cord, to flourish gloriously! The Bridegroom, too, is graced with the beauty of the lips and the blush of the cheeks. This aspect of the face is customarily referred to as an apple, though the term is misused. Therefore, the Word compares the apple of the cheek to ‘the sprinkling of the thorn,’ highlighting its splendor with the phrase: ‘as the sprinkling of the thorn of thy cheek, save thy silence.’ One can easily infer that this modesty is being lauded from the context of what is observed. By personifying the Church as a bride and segmenting the virtues according to the application of beauty in the face, the Word, under the pretense of a blush adorning the palate, fittingly commends chastity by adorning bashfulness with the enigmatic term ‘thorn,’ since this fruit is often found to be sour and is encased in an inedible exterior. Thus, this evaluation rightly highlights the virtue of chastity. The astringent taste of ‘the sprinkling of the thorn’ nourishes and preserves the sweetness of the contained fruit; similarly, a life characterized by moderation, self-discipline, and sacrifice safeguards the tenets of chastity. Furthermore, the praise of this virtue is directed solely at the purity of life and the excellence of unwavering mentality, for, as the Apostle observes, ‘praise is not from man, but from God’ (Romans 2:29). This outward shame shines through works and is thus recognized; however, this acknowledgment does not extend to the concealed and hidden wonders, which are visible only to the One who discerns the secrets of the heart.