2:3–6 The woman praised the man

In these lines the woman answered the man in a way that is parallel to what he said in 2:2, where he compared a lily to thistles. In 2:3 the woman compared him to a fruitful apple tree, which is better than other trees that do not produce fruit. This contrast is like the contrasts between the woman and other young women (2:2b), and between the man and other young men (2:3b).

In 2:3 the woman spoke directly to the man, but she used indirect forms (like “so is my beloved”). In many languages it is more natural to use direct forms (like “you, my beloved”) to indicate clearly that the woman spoke directly to him. For example:

And you, my love, are an apple tree among trees of the forest. Your shade brought me pleasure; your fruit was sweet. (Contemporary English Version)

It may also be more natural to use direct forms throughout 2:3–6. (In Hebrew only 2:5 uses direct address.) In 2:3–6 the woman described her longings. Probably she did not describe actual events that happened when she was with her beloved. The verse tells how she felt about him, as she thought about being with him.

2:3a–b

Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men: Here the woman implied that the apple tree is the best type of tree in the wood. Then she implied that her beloved is the best man among all the other young men. Some other ways to translate this verse are:

Compared to other young men, my beloved is like a ⌊fruitful⌋ apple tree in a forest of trees ⌊without fruit⌋.
-or-
Like an apple tree among the other trees, my love is ⌊more delightful⌋ than all the other young men.

It is good to translate this verse in a similar way as you translated 2:2.

2:3a

apple tree: Scholars are not sure exactly what type of tree the Hebrew text refers to here. It is not certain that the tree was the same tree that people call apple tree in English. The important facts for a translator to consider are that the tree had edible fruit and a pleasant scent.

If the apple tree is unknown in your language, some other ways to translate it are:

• Use a general term to describe a tree that bears fruit that is good to eat. For example:

fruit tree

• Use a word for another edible fruit tree with a pleasant smell. For example:

apricot tree
-or-
mango tree

The apple tree was a symbol for romantic love. If people in your culture do not think of an apple tree or any other fruit tree as a symbol for love, you may include a footnote with this information. For example:

In the Hebrew culture, this kind of tree was a symbol for romantic love.

among the trees of the forest: The apple tree is located among the other trees in a forest. It is near them but it is different from them. It is delicious and fragrant compared to the other forest trees.

trees of the forest: The phrase trees of the forest refers to the other common trees of the forest that do not produce fruit. The word forest does not refer to a tree farm or orchard. The trees in this verse were uncultivated trees.

2:3b

is my beloved among the young men: The woman’s words here are parallel to what she said in 2:2b. There she compared the apple tree with forest trees. Here she compared the man to other men in a similar way. Just as the apple tree was better than the other trees, so her beloved was better than other young men. He was the most desirable among all of them. It is good to translate this statement in a similar way as you translated 2:2b.

General Comment on 2:3a–b

In some languages it may be necessary to change the order of the clauses. For example:

3b Among the young men, my lover is 3a like an apple tree in the woods! (New Century Version)

2:3c

I delight to sit in his shade: The statement I delight to sit in his shade is a figure of speech. It indicates that the man refreshed the woman, as if she were sitting in the shade of an apple tree (see 2:3a). In the climate of Israel, people need shade so that they can have relief from the hot sun. When the woman was with the man, he refreshed her, just as sitting in the shade of an apple tree refreshes people and pleases them with its coolness.

Some other ways to translate this are:

I sit in his delightful shade (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
I love/want to sit resting in his shade

The word sit can also have the general meaning “to be in the presence of.” Another way to translate the meaning is:

Your shade brought me pleasure (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Sitting near him is a delight to me.

Use an option that is natural in your language.

in his shade: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in his shade can refer to the man’s shadow or to the shade of the tree. This sort of ambiguity is common in the Song, and the author probably had a poetic purpose for it.

In some languages it is confusing or impossible to translate the ambiguity. If that is true in your language, you can indicate that the man is the focus of the comparison, not the tree. Most English versions follow this option.

shade: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as shade refers here to the cool shade under a tree. It also has figurative meanings. It is a metaphor for “protection,” and it can also mean “refreshment.” Here the meaning “refreshment” is probably in focus.

In some languages a word like shade implies a wrong meaning. It is important to use a natural way in your language to speak about the coolness and refreshment that trees provide.

2:3d

and his fruit is sweet to my taste: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as his fruit is ambiguous in this context. There are two ways to interpret it here:

(1) It means his fruit (it refers to something sweet or desirable about the man himself). For example:

His fruit tastes sweet to me. (God’s Word)

(2) It means “its fruit” (it refers to the tree’s fruit). For example:

…and its fruit is sweet to my taste. (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with almost all English versions. It is the man who is in focus, not the tree.

his fruit: The phrase his fruit is a metaphor. It refers to something about the man that is “delicious” or “refreshing” like fruit. It does not refer to edible fruit that belongs to the man. In this context his fruit may imply the man’s kisses. But it probably refers more generally to various ways that he showed his love for the woman.

In some languages the metaphor may not be understood. If that is true in your language, some other ways to translate it are:

• Use a simile. For example:

He is like sweet/delicious fruit to me.

• Use a simile and indicate the meaning in some way. For example:

He is ⌊desirable/wonderful⌋ to me like sweet fruit.
-or-
Like sweet fruit, he ⌊delights⌋ me.

is: Here the Hebrew text does not have a verb like is. The woman referred to her present feelings about the man, and that agrees with her statement in 2:3c. Use a natural way in your language to describe present or ongoing feelings.

sweet to my taste: The phrase sweet to my taste describes something that is pleasant to a person when he tastes it. In this context it is used as a metaphor. It means that the man’s characteristics pleased the woman. Be sure that your translation of the phrase does not only refer to tasting sweet but can refer in general to the pleasure that the man gives the woman. For example:

pleases me very much.
-or-
fills me with delight.

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