8:3–4

Here the author repeated what he said in 2:6 and 2:7. You should translate in the same way here. See the notes on 2:6–7 for translation advice.

This repetition suggests that the author carefully planned the Song to have a special structure called a “chiasm.” It is not arranged like a story, which tells events in the order they happened.

8:3a

His left hand is under my head: As in the Hebrew text for 2:6a, there is no verb in 8:3a. It is literally “his left hand under my head.” This clause probably indicates that the man supported the woman’s head with his left arm as she lay in his arms. Some other ways to translate it are:

His left arm/hand is the place where I rest my head
-or-
His left arm pillows my head

8:3b

and his right arm embraces me: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as embraces can refer generally to any embrace or specifically to a sexual caress. Most English versions translate it in a general way. Use an appropriate expression in your language. Some other ways to translate it are:

his right arm is round me. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
he holds me ⌊lovingly⌋ with his right arm.

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