Others ask about the bride: 'Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?' The verse employs escalating cosmic imagery: 'morning' (shachar, שַׁחַר) suggests dawn's first light; 'fair as the moon' (yaphah khalevanah, יָפָה כַלְּבָנָה) indicates reflected beauty; 'clear as the sun' (barah kachamah, בָּרָה כַּחַמָּה) describes brilliant radiance; 'terrible as an army with banners' (ayummah kanidgalot, אֲיֻמָּה כַּנִּדְגָּלוֹת) suggests awesome, overwhelming power. The progression moves from gentle beauty to overwhelming glory. This verse celebrates the bride's comprehensive excellence—she is beautiful, radiant, and formidable. The combination of attractiveness and strength models complete femininity. Church fathers saw the Church as both beautiful (adorned in Christ's righteousness) and terrible (victorious over Satan and sin through Christ's triumph).
Historical Context
Ancient peoples marveled at celestial beauty—dawn's gentle light, moon's soft radiance, sun's blazing glory. Military imagery ('terrible as an army with banners') adds unexpected dimension: the beautiful bride also possesses awesome strength. This combination challenged ancient stereotypes limiting women to weakness. The Church's application emphasizes that Christ's bride is both lovely and victorious—beautiful in holiness yet triumphant in spiritual warfare. The Reformers saw the Church as simul pulchra et bellicosa—simultaneously beautiful and militant. Puritan poets celebrated this: the Church adorns herself as bride while battling as warrior. Modern readers recover biblical femininity's fullness—combining beauty, strength, grace, and courage rather than settling for one-dimensional caricatures.
Questions for Reflection
How does this verse challenge reductionist views of femininity that emphasize either beauty or strength but not both?
In what ways is the Church meant to be both 'fair as the moon' (attractive, beautiful) and 'terrible as an army' (formidable, victorious)?
Analysis & Commentary
Others ask about the bride: 'Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?' The verse employs escalating cosmic imagery: 'morning' (shachar, שַׁחַר) suggests dawn's first light; 'fair as the moon' (yaphah khalevanah, יָפָה כַלְּבָנָה) indicates reflected beauty; 'clear as the sun' (barah kachamah, בָּרָה כַּחַמָּה) describes brilliant radiance; 'terrible as an army with banners' (ayummah kanidgalot, אֲיֻמָּה כַּנִּדְגָּלוֹת) suggests awesome, overwhelming power. The progression moves from gentle beauty to overwhelming glory. This verse celebrates the bride's comprehensive excellence—she is beautiful, radiant, and formidable. The combination of attractiveness and strength models complete femininity. Church fathers saw the Church as both beautiful (adorned in Christ's righteousness) and terrible (victorious over Satan and sin through Christ's triumph).