Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire.
they were more ruddy in body than rubies; or rather "than precious stones"; and particularly "than pearls", which Bochart q proves at large are designed by the word used, which are white, and not red; and the word should be rendered, "clearer" or "whiter than pearls", as it is by Lyra and others r; and the word in the Arabic language signifies white and clear s, as pearls are; and so the phrase is expressive of the beauty and comeliness of these persons: and Ludolphus t says, that in the Ethiopic language it signifies "beautiful"; and he translates the whole, "they were more beautiful than pearls"; denoting the clearness of their skins, and the goodness of their complexion: