pâr : The margin of Song of Solomon 4:2 (but not of the parallel Song of Solomon 6:6 ) reads, "which are all of them in pairs," while the text has, "whereof every one hath twins." The Hebrew מתאימות , math'ı̄mōth , is from the root, tā'am , "to be double," and is perhaps susceptible of either meaning. But the description is of sheep, and the margin gives no comprehensible figure, while the text points to the exceedingly sleek and healthy appearance. "Pairs" seems to result from confusing the figure with the thing figured - the teeth, where each upper is paired with the corresponding lower.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) was edited by James Orr, John Nuelsen, Edgar Mullins, Morris Evans, and Melvin Grove Kyle and was published complete in 1939. This web site includes the complete text.
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