Lexical Summary milleth: To fill, to fulfill, to complete Original Word: מִלֵּאת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fitly From male'; fulness, i.e. (concretely) a plump socket (of the eye) -- X fitly. see HEBREW male' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom male Definition perhaps setting or border, rim NASB Translation setting (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִלֵּאת noun feminine dubious: only ׳ישְׁבוֺת עַלמֿ Songs 5:12 of lover's eyes; AE De BaeKau setting, perhaps better border, rim, Öttli Wild fulness, abundance, of surrounding of eye. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imagery In the single canonical appearance of מִלֵּאת (Song of Solomon 5:12), the term pictures a setting that is filled to perfection: “His eyes are like doves by the water streams, washed in milk, mounted like jewels” (Berean Standard Bible). The word evokes the precision of a jeweler who embeds precious stones so completely that nothing is lacking and nothing protrudes. The beloved’s eyes are not merely beautiful; they are perfectly set, suggesting symmetry, wholeness, and unblemished beauty. Canonical Context Song of Solomon as a whole celebrates covenant love within marriage, portraying it with language that also hints at the covenantal relationship between the Lord and His people (Isaiah 54:5; Ephesians 5:31-32). In this context, מִלֵּאת underscores how the bride perceives the groom: flawlessly fashioned and fully satisfying. The image anticipates the wider biblical theme that what the Lord fashions He fills (Genesis 1:2; Exodus 40:34-35). Historical and Cultural Background Ancient Near Eastern artisans prided themselves on inlay work—gold, silver, and gems pressed into wood or ivory, flush with the surface. A flawlessly “filled” setting proved both the craftsman’s skill and the object’s value. By drawing on that craftsmanship, the Song invites the reader to see marital affection as a handiwork of God, expertly fashioned and utterly complete. Theological Themes 1. Divine Fullness: מִלֵּאת belongs to the semantic field of “fullness” that recurs throughout Scripture (Psalm 24:1; John 1:16). God’s creative and redemptive acts always move from emptiness to fullness, from void to completion. Practical Ministry Implications • Marriage Enrichment: Counselors may draw on this image to portray how husband and wife are to regard one another—valuing the God-given beauty that is “perfectly set” rather than obsessing over shortcomings. Christological Foreshadowing In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the One in whom “all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9). The Old Testament picture of a perfect setting anticipates the incarnate Son, flawlessly embodying divine glory. Just as the jewel’s beauty is displayed only when firmly set, so the glory of God is most vividly displayed in the incarnate, crucified, and risen Christ (John 1:14). Worship and Devotional Use Meditation on Song of Solomon 5:12 can lead worshipers to thank God for the meticulous care with which He forms both creation and His people. In devotional practice, the verse serves as a reminder that the Lord not only imparts beauty but also secures it, holding His own “like jewels in a crown” (Zechariah 9:16). Forms and Transliterations מִלֵּֽאת׃ מלאת׃ mil·lêṯ milLet millêṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Songs 5:12 HEB: יֹשְׁב֖וֹת עַל־ מִלֵּֽאת׃ NAS: [And] reposed in [their] setting. INT: reposed Beside in setting 1 Occurrence |
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