1:3a
The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing: In Hebrew this clause more literally says, “For fragrance, your oils are good.” The phrase “for fragrance” is emphatic. It indicates that the odor of the oils was very pleasing. The word “good” was also used to describe the man’s name in 1:3b.
Some other ways to translate the clause are:
The smell of your perfume is pleasant (New Century Version)
-or-
The fragrance of your cologne is delightful (NET Bible)
-or-
Your ointments yield a sweet fragrance (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
perfume: In Israel and nearby countries at that time, people added sweet-smelling spices to olive oil to make perfume. Some of the spices were expensive, and both men and women used these fragrances. Your translation should emphasize the wonderful fragrance of the perfume, rather than how the oils were made.
In some cultures men do not use scented oil, spices or other types of scent on their bodies. If that is true in your language, you may focus on the pleasing odor of the man himself. For example:
You smell so sweet (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
You have a good fragrance
1:3b
In 1:3b there are special features of Hebrew poetic style. For example, in Hebrew the words for “perfume” (shemen) and “name” (shem) sound similar. This helps to show the connection between 1:3a and 1:3b.
Such use of similar sounds is common throughout the Song. However, these similar sounds usually cannot be translated into another language, so the Notes will not usually focus on them. However, it is good for you to consider special ways in your own language that could make your translation poetic or beautiful like a song.
your name is like perfume poured out: This statement is a simile. It indicates that the man’s name was as pleasing as the smell of the fragrant oil when it was poured from a container. In some languages this metaphor may be hard to understand. Other ways to translate it are:
• Use a metaphor. For example:
your name is oil poured out. (Revised Standard Version)
• Include the meaning of the comparison in the simile. For example:
your name is pleasant like expensive perfume. (New Century Version)
• Translate the comparison without using a figure of speech. This option can be used when a metaphor or simile would give a wrong meaning. For example:
How fragrant your cologne, and how pleasing your name! (New Living Translation (1996))
Use an appropriate option for your language.
your name: In Hebrew, the word name often represents the person himself, including the person’s character and reputation. So when the woman praised her beloved’s name here, she praised his wonderful character. She compared his good character to the good fragrance of cologne. Some other ways to translate your name here are:
your good reputation
-or-
your fine character
-or-
the good things you do and say
perfume poured out: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as perfume poured out is difficult to interpret. Some different interpretations are based on how scholars understand the Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as poured out. Here are the two main options:
(1) The phrase refers to the spreading fragrance of the oil. For example:
your name is like the spreading fragrance of scented oils. (New Living Translation (2004))
(2) The phrase refers to the quality of the oil. For example:
your name is like the finest perfume. (NET Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as more English versions do.
1:3c
No wonder: The phrase No wonder refers back to what the woman said about the man in 1:3b. It was because of his wonderful character and reputation that maidens loved him.
the maidens: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as maidens refers to young women who were old enough to be married. In the context of the Song, it probably refers to young women who were still virgins.
adore: The Hebrew word adore here is different from the word translated “love” in 1:2b. Here it means that the young women admired the man and were attracted to him. Express this type of admiration in a natural way in your language. Other ways to translate it are:
No woman could keep from loving you. (Good News Translation)
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