Section 8:5–14

Love has great power

In this final section, there are many key words and statements that repeat themes from earlier parts of the Song. For example, 8:5a mentions the woman coming up from the wilderness, as in 3:6. The author also repeats the themes of vineyard (8:12; 1:6), orchard (8:5; 2:3), and garden (8:13; 4:12–5:1). In the final verse of the Song, the author repeats the theme of a gazelle on the mountains, which was mentioned in 2:17. This final section also contains what many scholars consider a climax of the Song in 8:6–7.

Some other headings for this section are:

Homecoming (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
The Young Woman’s Love for Her Beloved

8:5–7 The woman spoke about the power of love

In this unit the speakers, location, and topic change (from the previous unit 8:1–4). But it is uncertain exactly how 8:5 relates to 8:6–7 and the rest of the Epilogue.

8:6–7 is a climax and conclusion of the Song, as it describes the great power of love.

8:5a–b The women of Jerusalem spoke

The women of Jerusalem probably spoke in 8:5a–b. Since both the man and the woman were coming up from the wilderness, it is unlikely that either of them was the speaker.

8:5a

Who is this coming up from the wilderness: In Hebrew the clause here in 8:5a is identical to 3:6a. The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this is feminine and refers to the woman. For example:

Who is this young woman coming from the wilderness? (God’s Word)

See the notes on 3:6a for further discussion. As with the question in 3:6, this question is probably rhetorical. It helps to draw attention to the woman. In some languages it is more natural to translate this rhetorical question as a statement or exclamation. For example:

What a ⌊wonderful⌋ woman this is who is coming up from the wilderness…!
-or-
Look at this ⌊beautiful⌋ woman coming from the wilderness!

this: The word this refers here to the woman, as it did in 3:6. In 3:6 she was coming as a bride to her wedding, so some versions may refer to her there as a bride. Since the focus is different here in 8:5, it is good to refer to her in a more general way in this verse. For example:

this young woman (God’s Word)

coming up from the wilderness: The phrase coming up from the wilderness may refer back to 7:11–13. Those verses indicate that the woman wanted the man to go with her to the countryside. The text may imply that they went there and now in 8:5 they are returning to their home. However, this is not certain. In most languages it is fine to translate this phrase as you did in 3:6a.

8:5b

leaning on her beloved: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as leaning on her beloved implies that the woman trusts the man and depends on him. It also implies that the man and woman love each other.

In some languages a phrase like leaning on may wrongly imply that the woman was tired or injured, so she needed to lean on the man. If that is true in your language, use a different phrase that will not imply that. For example:

walking close to her beloved
-or-
with her arm around her beloved (God’s Word)

In some languages there is a special way to describe this. For example:

arm in arm with her lover (Good News Translation)

Use a natural way in your language to describe a couple walking affectionately together.

leaning: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as leaning occurs only here. Scholars are not certain exactly what it means, but it implies here that the woman walked with the man in a way that showed trust and affection. Use a natural way to imply that in your language.

8:5c–7 The woman spoke to the man

Scholars have different views about who spoke in 8:5c–7. Some versions identify the speaker with a heading. Some other versions do not identify the speaker. The main interpretations are:

(1) The woman spoke. For example, the New International Version identifies the speaker as:

Beloved (New International Version)

(2) The man spoke. For example, the New Jerusalem Bible identifies the speaker as:

Lover (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). The Hebrew text indicates that someone was speaking to a male, which implies that the woman was speaking to the man. She and he were the ones whom the crowd mentioned in 8:5a–b.

8:5c

I roused you under the apple tree: This clause implies that the man was under an apple tree, and the woman woke him up. The word roused may have two meanings here. It may indicate that she woke the man from sleep, and it may also imply that she caused him to have feelings of love for her. Some ways to translate the clause are:

• Use a general phrase that can imply either that she woke him from literal sleep or that she caused him to feel romantic love for her. For example:

I aroused you.
-or-
I awakened you ⌊to love⌋.

• Use a specific phrase that implies that she aroused the man’s desire to express love toward her. For example:

I stirred up your passions. (Contemporary English Version)

Use a natural way in your language to imply that the woman caused the man to realize that he felt romantic love for her. (Also see the discussions of the verbs “arouse” and “awaken” in 2:7c–d and 8:4.)

the apple tree: In this verse it is likely that the apple tree is a symbol for love. It may also refer to a literal apple tree. The fragrance and sweetness of the apple and other fruits are often associated with love in the Song. In 2:3a–b, the woman compared the man to an apple tree.

An apple tree is mentioned three other times in the Song (2:3, 5; and 7:8). It only occurs two other times in the whole OT. You should use the same term to refer to the apple tree in all of these verses.

8:5d

there your mother conceived you: There are two ways to interpret the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as conceived in 8:5d:

(1) It refers to the effort (labor) and pain that a woman experiences in giving birth to a child. For example:

There your mother was in labor with you. (English Standard Version)

(2) It refers to conceiving a child. For example:

there your mother conceived you (New International Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with a majority of English versions. See the following note on 8:5e for translation examples.

8:5e

there she travailed and brought you forth: The phrase brought you forth refers to “your mother” in 8:5d. However, it makes explicit that her labor pains were successful and she gave birth to him.

Some ways to translate 8:5d–e are:

It was there that the pains of childbirth came to your mother and she gave birth to you.
-or-
where your mother gave you birth, where in great pain she delivered you. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
There your mother went into labor with you. There she went into labor and gave birth to you! (God’s Word)

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