Read the text of Shir Hashirim 4
Transcription
Welcome back to another NachDaily with Shir HaShirim, perek 4.
The pessukim in this profoundly deep and beautiful sefer are very
beautiful, and each speaks volumes. If you are not proficient in
Hebrew, I would strongly encourage you to take out an English
translation to see the outpouring of love emanating from this sefer
between Hashem and us.
The chapter opens with the man reciprocating his estranged wife’s
deep affection. In verses 1 through 5 he tells his wife that despite
their separation and her pain, her loveliness remains, describing her
physical beauty in detail.
Verse 1 says, “Hinach yaffa rayasi, hinach yafah ainayich yonim – My
dear, you are lovely, with your dove-like eyes.” The Metsudos
explains this as a metaphor for Hashem’s praise of our nation in exile.
Despite what we’ve been through, our beauty still remains
completely intact.
Every person should take this lesson to heart. No matter what you’ve
been through in life, there’s a part of you that remains completely
unscathed, completely pure and whole. Despite the difficulties of life
and your external circumstances, each person contains wisdom and
an inner resilience within which if gifted to us by God. This is what the
husband is telling his wife: despite all the pain and anguish, you are
still beautiful.
“Your eyes are like doves.” What is the comparison to a dove? Rashi
explains that a dove is loyal to its mate. So too we are loyal,
dedicated, and committed to serving God despite temptations to
do otherwise. Additionally, Rashi adds, when being slaughtered, a
dove sticks its neck straight out for the knife. The Jewish people
willingly sacrifice themselves for Hashem.
The Ramad Walli explains that the word yaffeh, beautiful, is used
twice to teach that the woman is beautiful both on the outside and
the inside in a penimi, hidden, way. He says that the reference to the
eyes is because they are the windows to the soul. Our souls peer out
through our eyes to search for God because we are as faithful to
Him as a dove, only looking for one Partner.
In verse 6 and onwards, the man continues to profess his love, saying
that he yearns for daytime, for the night to pass so that he can travel
to the mountain of myth and hill of frankincense. The Metsudos
explain this as waiting for the night of galus to pass. God promised
He will bring the final redemption and take us to Har Hamoriyah,
where the incense will be brought in the Beis Hamikdash.
In verse 7 we find another beautiful passuk, “Kulach yaffa ra’yasi
u’mum ain bach – Every part of you is lovely, my dear, you have no
blemish.” Listen to that! Hashem says that every part of you is lovely.
You are fine the way you are. You are perfect. No matter what you
are struggling with, Hashem still loves you. He thinks you are perfect,
beautiful, good. You have no blemish.
This cannot be overstated! Hashem searches for the good in us. Lo
hibit avon b’Yaakov. Hashem doesn’t look at our faults. He looks at
our good attributes and judges us favorably. God is not out to get us
or punish us. He loves you. He thinks you’re wonderful! You may
believe that you’re “messed up,” but that’s not how God thinks of
you. He thinks, u’mum ain bach – no blemish can be found on you!
From verses 9 through 11, the husband tells his wife things such as,
“You have won my heart,” Your love is better than wine,” “Your lips
are dripping with sweetness.”
From verses 12 through 16, which end the perek, he describes her
love as locked in a beautiful, sweet smelling garden, with fresh water
springs. He desires nothing more than to experience that love, for the
wind to blow her fragrance to him.
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily as we continue this
beautiful love song.
Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.
The pessukim in this profoundly deep and beautiful sefer are very
beautiful, and each speaks volumes. If you are not proficient in
Hebrew, I would strongly encourage you to take out an English
translation to see the outpouring of love emanating from this sefer
between Hashem and us.
The chapter opens with the man reciprocating his estranged wife’s
deep affection. In verses 1 through 5 he tells his wife that despite
their separation and her pain, her loveliness remains, describing her
physical beauty in detail.
Verse 1 says, “Hinach yaffa rayasi, hinach yafah ainayich yonim – My
dear, you are lovely, with your dove-like eyes.” The Metsudos
explains this as a metaphor for Hashem’s praise of our nation in exile.
Despite what we’ve been through, our beauty still remains
completely intact.
Every person should take this lesson to heart. No matter what you’ve
been through in life, there’s a part of you that remains completely
unscathed, completely pure and whole. Despite the difficulties of life
and your external circumstances, each person contains wisdom and
an inner resilience within which if gifted to us by God. This is what the
husband is telling his wife: despite all the pain and anguish, you are
still beautiful.
“Your eyes are like doves.” What is the comparison to a dove? Rashi
explains that a dove is loyal to its mate. So too we are loyal,
dedicated, and committed to serving God despite temptations to
do otherwise. Additionally, Rashi adds, when being slaughtered, a
dove sticks its neck straight out for the knife. The Jewish people
willingly sacrifice themselves for Hashem.
The Ramad Walli explains that the word yaffeh, beautiful, is used
twice to teach that the woman is beautiful both on the outside and
the inside in a penimi, hidden, way. He says that the reference to the
eyes is because they are the windows to the soul. Our souls peer out
through our eyes to search for God because we are as faithful to
Him as a dove, only looking for one Partner.
In verse 6 and onwards, the man continues to profess his love, saying
that he yearns for daytime, for the night to pass so that he can travel
to the mountain of myth and hill of frankincense. The Metsudos
explain this as waiting for the night of galus to pass. God promised
He will bring the final redemption and take us to Har Hamoriyah,
where the incense will be brought in the Beis Hamikdash.
In verse 7 we find another beautiful passuk, “Kulach yaffa ra’yasi
u’mum ain bach – Every part of you is lovely, my dear, you have no
blemish.” Listen to that! Hashem says that every part of you is lovely.
You are fine the way you are. You are perfect. No matter what you
are struggling with, Hashem still loves you. He thinks you are perfect,
beautiful, good. You have no blemish.
This cannot be overstated! Hashem searches for the good in us. Lo
hibit avon b’Yaakov. Hashem doesn’t look at our faults. He looks at
our good attributes and judges us favorably. God is not out to get us
or punish us. He loves you. He thinks you’re wonderful! You may
believe that you’re “messed up,” but that’s not how God thinks of
you. He thinks, u’mum ain bach – no blemish can be found on you!
From verses 9 through 11, the husband tells his wife things such as,
“You have won my heart,” Your love is better than wine,” “Your lips
are dripping with sweetness.”
From verses 12 through 16, which end the perek, he describes her
love as locked in a beautiful, sweet smelling garden, with fresh water
springs. He desires nothing more than to experience that love, for the
wind to blow her fragrance to him.
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily as we continue this
beautiful love song.
Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.