My dove, my perfect one, is the only one, the only one of her mother, pure to her who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines also, and they praised her.
The Bridegroom has been praising the bride's beauty feature by feature. Here He stops describing her looks and says what she is to Him: among all the queens and concubines, only one holds His heart.
From her beauty to herself
Earlier the Bridegroom listed her graces. Here He drops the list and names what she is to Him.
J. N. DarbyHe does not now repeat these things. He speaks of that which she is for Him. Having described her personal beauty, His heart dwells on what she is for Himself. "My dove, my perfect one, is the only one." His affection can see no other: none can be compared with her. There are many others, but they are not the one whom He loves. The person of the Lord fills the heart that has been brought back to Him.
The setting is private. What she has been telling others about Him, He now tells her about herself.
Hamilton SmithShe tells others what the Bridegroom is in her sight, but He tells the bride what she is in His sight. In secret He pours into her ear all the delight that she is to Him. He would have her to know, not only how beautiful she is in His sight, but how precious she is to His heart.
"The only one" — no second
The word "one" rules the verse. The New Testament says the same of Christ and the church.
The Bible TreasuryAt the end of chapter 5 we have two things said of the Church. It is the bride of Christ, and it is His body. Therefore, what is evident is, that there is but one, for Christ has not two bodies, nor two brides.
The only one of her mother
Commentators take "her mother" to be the nation Israel. The bride is a chosen part within a larger people.
Arno Clemens GaebeleinHe speaks of that which she is for Him. He owns that remnant as "the only one" of her mother (the nation Israel).
The same love reaches believers now, and not only Israel's godly remnant in a coming day.
Andrew MillerWhat a place she has in His heart! She is pre-eminent in His sight. None can be compared with her… "Pure to her who bore her" (older translations: "the choice one of her that bore her"). The nation is seen here as the mother, and the tribe of Judah as the bride. Such, O my soul, is the Bridegroom-love of Jesus! So will it be with the godly remnant of Judah in the latter day — so it is now, even now, with us in spirit.
Praised in public, not only loved in private
In the second half of the verse, others speak. The young women, the queens and the concubines all praise her. What He said in secret He now says in public.
Hamilton SmithHe is not content to assure the bride's heart of His unchanging love and appreciation. He goes further: He will vindicate her before others. All the world will know that He has loved her, and that she has a unique place in His affections. So will it be with restored Israel among the nations in a day to come. And so will it be when at last the wanderings of the church are over, according to those moving words of the Lord: "I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you." And is it otherwise with a restored soul? The Lord not only restores failing Peter in secret to communion with Himself; He also owns and honours him openly in His service.
Two circles of love
One writer sets the two circles side by side: the faithful remnant on earth, and the heavenly bride.
VariousThis faithful remnant has a special place in the Lord's affections, as the choice one among all the queens and concubines on the earth. But the heavenly bride will have a still closer place… Think of His wonderful grace. It has saved such poor sinners as we are. It has lifted us to such a high place — the bride of the Lamb, called to obtain His surpassing glory. Does that not fill our hearts with a deep desire and purpose to live wholly for Him? Ungrateful indeed is anyone whose heart does not respond to such love!
Summary
- One, not her graces. The Bridegroom stops listing her beauty. He speaks of what she is to Himself.
- One, with no rival. Many others are in view, yet His affection sees no second; Christ has neither two bodies nor two brides.
- One, out of many. "The only one of her mother" marks a chosen portion of a larger nation — the remnant owned as first in His heart.
- One, made known. What He whispers in secret He also declares in public. All the world will learn that He has loved her — as the Lord restored Peter in private, then honoured him openly.
- One, and ours now. What waits for the remnant in a coming day is already the believer's portion in spirit. The heavenly bride's place is closer still — a love that calls for a life lived wholly for Him.