Song of Songs 4 in the early church
[also Song of Solomon; Vulgate: Canticle of Canticles]
170 passages quote, allude to, or echo Song of Songs 4, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16
Song of Songs 4:1
How beautiful you are, my darling—how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song 4:1–2 | Catechetical Lecture 3.17 · Cyril of Jerusalem | quotation, high confidence | ca. 350 |
| Song 4:1 | Exposition of Psalm 118 16.20.1 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Song 4:1 | Exposition of Psalm 118 16.23.1 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Song 4:1 | Exposition of Psalm 118 16.25.1 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Song 4:1 | On the Mysteries 7 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387–391 |
| Song 4:1–3 | Homily 15 · Gregory of Nyssa | quotation, high confidence | ca. 390–394 |
| Song 4:1 | Letters 23.27 · Paulinus of Nola | quotation, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| Song 4:1 | Formulae of Spiritual Understanding 4 · Eucherius of Lyon | quotation, high confidence | ca. 420-430 |
Song of Songs 4:2
Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep coming up from the washing; each has its twin, and not one of them is lost.
Song of Songs 4:3
Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon, and your mouth is lovely. Your brow behind your veil is like a slice of pomegranate.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song 4:3 | Commentary on the Song of Songs, Armenian fragment (Song 1:5-5:1) · Hippolytus of Rome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 202-235 |
| Song 4:3 | Fragments on the Song of Songs, chapter 4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Song 4:3 | Exposition of Psalm 118 15.14.1 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Song 4:3 | Exposition of Psalm 118 18.22.1 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Song 4:3 | Hexameron (Exameron) 3.56 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Song 4:3 | On the Mysteries 7 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387–391 |
| Song 4:3 | Tractates on Matthew 12.5 · Chromatius of Aquileia | quotation, high confidence | ca. 388–407 |
Song of Songs 4:4
Your neck is like the tower of David, built with rows of stones; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song 4:4 | Commentary on the Song of Songs, Armenian fragment (Song 1:5-5:1) · Hippolytus of Rome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 202-235 |
| Song 4:4 | Fragments on the Song of Songs, chapter 4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Song 4:4 | Exposition of Psalm 118 4.5.1 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
Song of Songs 4:5
Your breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle grazing among the lilies.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song 4:5 | Commentary on the Song of Songs, Armenian fragment (Song 1:5-5:1) · Hippolytus of Rome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 202-235 |
| Song 4:5 | Fragments on the Song of Songs, chapter 4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
Song of Songs 4:6
Before the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will make my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song 4:6 | Commentary on the Song of Songs, Armenian fragment (Song 1:5-5:1) · Hippolytus of Rome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 202-235 |
| Song 4:6 | Homily 8 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390–394 |
| Song 4:6–9 | Against Jovinianus 1.30 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 393 |
Song of Songs 4:7
You are altogether beautiful, my darling; in you there is no flaw.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song 4:7 | Commentary on the Song of Songs, Armenian fragment (Song 1:5-5:1) · Hippolytus of Rome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 202-235 |
| Song 4:7 | Commentary on Romans 9.1 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Song 4:7 | Homilies on the Psalms 29.5 · Basil of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360-378 |
| Song 4:7 | Letter 54.3 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Song 4:7 | Book of Rules 2 · Tyconius | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Song 4:7 | On Virgins 1.7 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 377 |
| Song 4:7 | Second Apology of David 43 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 384-397 |
| Song 4:7 | On the Mysteries 7 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387–391 |
| Song 4:7 | Homily 8 · Gregory of Nyssa | quotation, high confidence | ca. 390–394 |
| Song 4:7 | Homily 11 · Gregory of Nyssa | quotation, high confidence | ca. 390–394 |
| Song 4:7 | Homily 12 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390–394 |
Song of Songs 4:8
Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon! Descend from the peak of Amana, from the summits of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards.
Song of Songs 4:9
You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your neck.
Song of Songs 4:10
How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! Your love is much better than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than all spices.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song 4:10 | Fragments on the Song of Songs, chapter 4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Song 4:10 | On Virgins 1.7 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 377 |
| Song 4:10 | On the Mysteries 9 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387–391 |
| Song 4:10–15 | Homily 9 · Gregory of Nyssa | quotation, high confidence | ca. 390–394 |
| Song 4:10 | Against Jovinianus 1.30 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 393 |
| Song 4:10 | Tractates 9 · Gaudentius of Brescia | quotation, high confidence | ca. 397-410 |
Song of Songs 4:11
Your lips, my bride, drip sweetness like the honeycomb; honey and milk are under your tongue, and the fragrance of your garments is like the aroma of Lebanon.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song 4:11 | Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 805 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Song 4:11 | Fragments on the Song of Songs, chapter 4 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Song 4:11 | Letter 78.27 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Song 4:11 | On Virgins 1.7 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 377 |
| Song 4:11 | On Virgins 1.8 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 377 |
| Song 4:11 | Exposition of Psalm 118 13.23.1 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Song 4:11 | Exposition of Psalm 118 13.25.1 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Song 4:11 | Exposition of Psalm 118 13.27.2 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Song 4:11 | Exposition of Psalm 118 22.17.2 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Song 4:11 | On the Mysteries 9 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387–391 |
| Song 4:11 | Letters 40.2 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
Song of Songs 4:12
My sister, my bride, you are a garden locked up, a spring enclosed, a fountain sealed.
Song of Songs 4:13
Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates with the choicest of fruits, with henna and nard,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song 4:13 | Commentary on the Song of Songs, Armenian fragment (Song 1:5-5:1) · Hippolytus of Rome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 202-235 |
| Song 4:13 | Commentary on the Song of Songs 2.166 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410) |
| Song 4:13 | Commentary on the Song of Songs 2.167 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410) |
| Song 4:13 | On Jacob and the Happy Life 2.3 · Ambrose | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 386-390 |
| Song 4:13 | Letter 187.6 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| Song 4:13 | Against Jovinianus 1.31 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 393 |
| Song 4:13 | Literal Commentary on Genesis 12.28 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 401–415 |
| Song 4:13 | Formulae of Spiritual Understanding 3 · Eucherius of Lyon | quotation, high confidence | ca. 420-430 |
Song of Songs 4:14
with nard and saffron, with calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of frankincense tree, with myrrh and aloes, with all the finest spices.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song 4:14 | Commentary on the Song of Songs, Armenian fragment (Song 1:5-5:1) · Hippolytus of Rome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 202-235 |
| Song 4:14 | Commentary on the Song of Songs 2.166 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410) |
| Song 4:14 | Commentary on the Song of Songs 2.167 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410) |
| Song 4:14 | Catechetical Lecture 14.11 · Cyril of Jerusalem | quotation, high confidence | ca. 350 |
| Song 4:14 | Letter 65.14 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
Song of Songs 4:15
You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water flowing down from Lebanon.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song 4:15 | Commentary on the Song of Songs, Armenian fragment (Song 1:5-5:1) · Hippolytus of Rome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 202-235 |
| Song 4:15 | Letter 69.2 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | 249/250–258 |
| Song 4:15 | Catechetical Lecture 14.4 · Cyril of Jerusalem | allusion, high confidence | ca. 350 |
| Song 4:15 | Three Letters to Sympronianus 3.21 · Pacian of Barcelona | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360-390 |
| Song 4:15 | Exposition of Psalm 118 17.33.1 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Song 4:15 | Exposition of Psalm 118 17.33.2 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Song 4:15 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.87 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
Song of Songs 4:16
Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind. Breathe on my garden and spread the fragrance of its spices. Let my beloved come into his garden and taste its choicest fruits.