This text can be interpreted in two ways. Revised Standard Version, along with New Jerusalem Bible, takes it almost as an aside, as if the young woman is talking to herself or giving excuses to her listeners. On the other hand this passage can be part of the reported conversation between herself and her lover. The verse consists of parallel clauses in which the first half describes her state, and the second half uses a rhetorical question.

I had put off my garment describes her state. She is undressed (so Good News Translation). Garment refers to an undergarment, namely a long shirt-like robe worn by both men and women. Having removed it she would have been naked. A general expression, as in English “I have already taken off my clothes,” is quite acceptable. Words for long robes such as were worn at that time are also appropriate (Jerusalem Bible “tunic”; New Jerusalem Bible “robe”). Revised Standard Version had implies that she had gotten undressed before his arrival. In many languages it will be more natural to use the equivalent of a present perfect verb form, as Good News Translation “I have already undressed.”

How could I put it on? is a rhetorical question meaning that she is not willing to put it on again. If she was half asleep, getting dressed may be difficult. She would apparently need to cover herself if she were to get up and let her lover in. We must look behind this question for something other than the obvious meaning. She appears to be teasing her loved one.

I had bathed my feet: foot washing was a regular necessity for those walking the dusty roads of Israel. On entering a home it was customary to wash your feet. So the woman says she has already washed her feet, having prepared to go to bed. However, the word “feet” is a euphemism for the genital region (see 2 Sam 11.8, 11), and it is possible that there is a double meaning here. If this is the case the young woman may mean that she has bathed in preparation for meeting her lover. Note again that a present perfect “have” will probably be more natural than a form like had.

How could I soil them? is the second rhetorical question. The verb soil occurs only here, but it is known in Aramaic with the same meaning.

In translating these questions we want to convey the young woman’s irony. While she appears to say she is unwilling to let him in, the real intent of the words is just the opposite! In some languages these rhetorical questions will be understood perfectly well, while in others they will have to be modified. In English, for example, we can effectively convey the teasing tone of the young woman by saying “I couldn’t possibly soil them again, could I?” In other languages a “Why?” question may be more effective, as in Good News Translation “Why should I get dressed again?” or “Why should I get them dirty again?” Some languages may wish to add “You don’t expect me to get dressed again, do you?” In some cases we may need to eliminate the interrogative form altogether. In Bible en français courant, for example, these questions are rendered as negatives: “I have taken off my clothes. I’m not going to get dressed again! I’ve just washed my feet. I’m not going to dirty them again!”

For the whole verse, we can propose:

• I’ve already undressed.
I can’t get dressed again[, can I?].
I’ve just washed by feet
I can’t get them dirty again[, can I?].

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Zogbo, Lynell. A Handbook on the Book of Song of Songs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1998. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .