Verses 8 and 9 are held together by an impressive inclusio or bracket consisting of three terms, queens, concubines, and maidens. Verse 8 sets the scene for a contrast that will be made in verse 9a between the young woman and all others. Sixty queens, … eighty concubines, and maidens … contrasts with “My dove, my perfect one is unique.” Because these verses are closely connected, they should be translated as a unit. For maximum effect verse 9 must be made to flow directly from verse 8.
There are sixty queens and eighty concubines …: many languages will have to follow Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version in supplying an introductory formula such as There are. Another solution is to say “A king has sixty queens, eighty concubines, ….” No actual group of people is described by this statement, although the terms refer to many women in a royal court. These expressions certainly link with the Solomon imagery, which is used much in the Song (1.5; 3.7, 11; 8.11). An explicit reference to Solomon should not be made here, however.
The expression is very general. The numerals have only representative function, indicating a relatively large number. The form of the statement resembles the numerical sayings found in Pro 30.15-16, 18-19, but is nevertheless slightly different in form and purpose. Sixty and eighty are multiples of the traditional “three … four” pattern and so represent large groups. Additionally in Hebrew the numbers sixty and eighty are short expressions, and their sound is rhythmic (shishshim … shemonim). But in many languages of the world, these numbers may be complex, “fifty plus ten.” Such lengthy numbers may reduce the poetic effect of the translation. If this is the case more general expressions may be substituted. In doing so, however, the second number or expression should be clearly higher than the first; for example, “There are many queens, and even more concubines….”
Queens and concubines have special associations with high society and the royal court. Here the wives of ancient kings were all called queens, while the young ladies or courtesans who served the king were known as concubines. Revised English Bible suggest “princesses” for queens, but this is not accurate and should not be followed. If there is no word for queen, we can simply say “wives of the king.” In many parts of the world there is a distinction between first or legal wives and secondary wives or mistresses. In some cultures concubines are simply known as junior wives. These terms can be used if appropriate. In cultures where such references are too offensive, a euphemism can be used for concubines, such as “women who serve the king.”
And maidens without number: maidens (Good News Translation “young women”) is regularly applied to women who have reached the age when they can marry. This phrase completes the threefold list of classes of women. Note that each of these categories of women is repeated in verse 9 below, though “daughters” replaces maidens there.
The phrase without number and the numerals sixty and eighty combine to present a picture of a very large number of women. This list provides the basis for the contrast, which is then completed in verse 9a. Without number is an idiom that means there are so many there is no way they can be counted, hence New English Bible “past counting.” We can simply say “too many to count.” Many languages will have similar idioms, such as “They are many. You can’t say” or “There are so many young women, you can’t count them.”
Some versions such as Revised English Bible make it clear that this statement is purely imaginary by using “may be”: “there may be queens, concubines….” Many West African languages have a convenient particle (oo) that introduces items to be compared. Such constructions fit the context will and are a perfect way to introduce the following verse: “Sixty queens, oo, eighty concubines, oo, young maidens without number, oo [verse 9] my dove is unique….” Good News Translation goes further, with the young man exclaiming “Let the king have….” While this does capture the spirit of the young man’s feelings, Good News Translation goes beyond what the text is saying—it does not suggest that the king should have many wives but rather raises a hypothetical situation.
In translation we can say something like:
• There may be sixty queens, eighty concubines, and so many unmarried women you can’t count them, but….
• Yes, a king might have sixty queens, eighty women to serve him, and unlimited maidens, but….
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 .