Your teeth are like a flock of ewes that have come up from the washing; all of them bear twins; not one among them has lost its young.
Earlier in this song the bride wandered away from the Bridegroom, and now she has returned. He praises her in almost the same words He used before — so why repeat them, and what do teeth like washed sheep picture?
Words He had said before
This line, and the ones on either side of it, repeat chapter 4 almost word for word. What has changed since then is the bride.
Andrew MillerThese same expressions occur in chapter 4, and yet we know the Holy Spirit uses no empty repetitions. Then why is this? In the fourth chapter the Bridegroom used these words for His bride; since then she has wandered and returned. By repeating to her what He said before, He assures her heart that her beauty in His sight is not spoiled. He says nothing about her having been away from Him. Yet these expressions of His unchanged admiration for her will now take a deeper hold on her heart than before.
The same silence is read as deliberate. He never mentions the absence.
Hamilton SmithIn spite of her wanderings the thoughts of the Bridegroom towards His bride have not changed. The same figures are used to describe her perfections as in a former canticle (4:1-3). She is thus assured there is no change in His heart.
Teeth are for feeding
Teeth can feed, or they can tear. One writer puts the gentle sheep beside the beast that uses its mouth as a weapon.
Early Christian HeraldOnly wild beasts use their teeth to tear their prey... the Christian should never use his mouth to snap and backbite at others and to tear and wound with sharp cutting words. The natural heart finds it so easy, and often does it without care or thought. Tusks that tear and wound belong in the mouth of savage beasts that prey on others. The Christian should have teeth like the gentle sheep, which never bites or snaps back. God never meant His children to use their mouth in that way. He gave them teeth to feed on the gospel feast that He has spread for them.
Washing before feeding
The sheep in the picture come up from the washing. One writer takes each part of the picture in turn, and keeps feeding and cleansing joined.
Early Christian HeraldThe sheep is a symbol of gentleness and meekness, and washing speaks of cleansing. Bearing twins means double fruitfulness. We must feed upon Christ, the bread of heaven, for life, nourishment and strength. But feeding on Christ always goes together with cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit by the water of the Word. It means laying aside hatred, anger, and so on, for that Christ-like spirit of gentleness and meekness, and bearing fruit in obedience to His will.
So how does that cleansing happen day by day?
Early Christian HeraldThe washing with water is a figure of the practical application of the Word of God to ourselves... As one reads and meditates upon God's Word he discovers what pleases and displeases Him. As we apply this precious knowledge to ourselves, we are cleansed more and more from what, in our ways and actions, does not please the Lord. Suppose someone neglects reading and meditating on the Word of God. Above all, suppose he neglects applying to himself what he reads. He will not be in a condition to enjoy feeding upon Christ.
Twins, and none barren
The flock is doubly fruitful and complete — no gaps, no failures. Applied to the believer, that second half of the verse is about whether knowledge turns into life.
Early Christian HeraldWe are not only to cleanse our way by taking heed to it according to God's Word, but are also to so absorb the Word in our hearts that it produces fruit in our lives. If our knowledge of the Word of God is only head knowledge and we remain barren and unfruitful, we will not be able to enjoy feeding upon Christ.
These writers quote an older translation of the line, "none is barren among them." The ESV reads, "not one among them has lost its young."
What He sees, and says
One writer takes the whole picture at once: washing, matching rows, nothing lacking. Then he points to who is saying it.
Andrew Miller"Coming up from the washing" — cleanness, whiteness. They have been washed in the fountain that removes all uncleanness. The upper and lower rows match exactly. They are "twins." "None is barren among them" — there is nothing lacking. The bride can now eat the bread of life... She is fully grown. The risen, exalted, glorified and coming Messiah is the food and nourishment of her soul. In the Lord's sight there is evenness, purity, fruitfulness, nothing lacking in the one He loves. What a mercy it is so, and that He tells us Himself, that it is so!
Summary
- Repeated — The words come straight from chapter 4. He says them again after she wandered and returned, to assure her that her beauty in His sight is not spoiled.
- Unchanged — He never mentions her absence. The same words show her that His admiration has not changed.
- Washed — The sheep come up from the washing. That is the Word of God applied to yourself, cleansing your ways so you can enjoy feeding on Christ.
- Feeding — Teeth are for feeding on Christ, the bread of heaven, not for biting and backbiting. The mouth that tears others belongs to a beast, not a sheep.
- Fruitful — Twins, and nothing lacking. Head knowledge is not enough; we take the Word in until it bears fruit in our lives.