Note that, while there are similes in surrounding verses, this verse contains two metaphors, bowl and wheat. However, there is no general agreement about what these metaphors mean. Some commentators see hidden references to the woman’s more private parts and to her fertility. In view of the wide range of interpretations, the best approach may be to give a rather literal rendering here. In many languages changing the metaphors to similes by inserting comparison words “like” or “as” may be helpful.

Your navel: the parts of the body considered most beautiful vary from one cultural group to another. In the Ancient Near East, as reflected in Egyptian sculpture, the navel was thought to be an especially attractive part of a woman’s body.

A rounded bowl is what he likens her navel to. The Hebrew term here refers to a wide, round bowl, usually with two handles. The adjective refers to something round, so New English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible suggest “goblet,” or wine glass. This is an acceptable solution if a more descriptive phrase “a round bowl” cannot convey the sense adequately. Good News Translation omits the reference to her navel and simply states “A bowl is there.” This is confusing and should not be used as a model.

That never lacks mixed wine: this clause is another example of an extended metaphor (see also 5.12-16). It adds to the description of the goblet, not of the woman’s navel. In most translations this clause is treated as a relative clause describing the bowl or goblet; it is always full of wine. However, the Hebrew negative particle found here is rarely used in indicative clauses; rather it expresses a negative in imperative or optative (wish) clauses. This clause seems to be a wish, then, rather than a simple statement. The young man’s wish is that the goblet will never lack mixed wine. New Jerusalem Bible expresses this as “Let mixed wine not be lacking!” In some languages it may be more natural to express it positively, “May it always be filled with mixed wine.”

The Hebrew word translated mixed wine occurs only here, though related forms are found elsewhere. It refers to wine mixed with water and probably spices. Hence Good News Translation and New English Bible give “spiced wine.” If such a product is not known, or if explaining it would result in too long a phrase, we can simply substitute the more general “wine.” In fact wine is not the focus of the passage, so we may be able to use a substitute such as “a goblet that should be filled to the brim.” On the problems of translating wine, see 1.2.

Even if we arrive at a satisfactory translation for this rather awkward text, we still may not be clear about its meaning. Of course we cannot rule out the possibility that the reference to wine is somehow connected to lovemaking.

We can say for this part of the verse:

• Your navel is like a rounded cup.
May it always be filled with spiced wine.

Your belly is a heap of wheat: that part of the woman’s body between her navel and thighs is what is meant by belly. In modern English belly is not an elegant term. “Stomach” is hardly better, but we may have little choice about the term to use. In describing it as (like) a heap of wheat, the imagery probably again suggests gentle roundness; it may also mean a golden color. Avoid Good News Translation “a sheaf of” wheat, as it does not adequately represent the sense of the text. The translator should again look for a term that is poetic. In English “mound” is more poetic than “heap,” for example. Wheat being the basic grain crop of the area, translators may need to use a local grain crop as a substitute if wheat is unknown. The basis of the comparison should be the same, however, pointing to the roundness of the heap or its golden color.

Encircled with lilies is a difficult phrase. We note that it is an extended metaphor, that is to say, it adds to the description of the mound of wheat and not the woman’s stomach. Her stomach is not surrounded by a bunch of flowers! After harvest the wheat was threshed, gathered into heaps, and left to dry. At such times it was protected, perhaps by a surrounding fence made of brambles. The problem is that, as an extended metaphor describing the wheat, lilies seems an inappropriate plant to encircle it. There seems, therefore, to be some mixing of metaphors here. Some commentators assume the lilies refer to a loose belt tied around the young woman’s hips. However, lilies may simply be speaking of the young woman herself, as they are always associated with her and with the image of the “garden” (4.5; 5.13; 6.2-3), where her lover is welcome to come. Since the sense of the author is not at all clear here, a literal translation may be our only possibility.

For translation we suggest:

• Your navel is like a beautiful cup,
may it always be overflowing with wine!
Your stomach, round and golden,
is like a mound of wheat surrounded by lilies.

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 .