6:12
The meaning of the Hebrew text of this verse is uncertain. There are no explicit connectors in the Hebrew verse, and scholars have different views about how the meanings of the words and phrases are connected. There are also different ways to interpret the verse as a whole.
Because scholars are not certain about the meaning of the Hebrew text here, it is helpful to include a footnote in your translation, as several English versions do. For example:
The meaning of the Hebrew text of 6:12 is uncertain.
The Notes recommends that translators follow the interpretation of the Berean Standard Bible in this verse. It has good support among scholars and fits the context well.
6:12a
Before I realized it: The phrase Before I realized it implies that what the woman described in 6:12b happened suddenly. She did not think about it in advance or plan for it. Other ways to translate this meaning are:
Before I was aware (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
suddenly (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Before I knew it (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
6:12b
In the Song, the author often described dreams, as well as events. In 6:12 also, he probably referred to a dream or to something the woman imagined. The Contemporary English Version makes this explicit:
But in my imagination (Contemporary English Version)
I was suddenly riding
on a glorious chariot.
The verse implies that the woman took a walk to the garden. (6:11). Then while she was there, she imagined herself riding in the chariot with her beloved (6:12).
my desire had set me among the royal chariots of my people: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as my desire had set me is more literally “my soul put me.” The phrase probably indicates that the woman imagined the event in 6:12b. It implies that her desire for her beloved caused her to imagine being in a chariot with him.
Some other ways to translate the clause are:
I imagined that I was in a chariot of my people
-or-
in my mind/heart I was suddenly riding in a chariot of my people
Use a natural way in your language to describe an event that someone imagines. Many languages have idioms to describe this type of imagined event. For example:
I found myself in the royal chariot with my beloved.
among the royal chariots: A “chariot” was a cart with two-wheels. The cart was partly open and partly enclosed and was pulled by a horse or horses. The driver and passenger stood in it as they rode. Chariots were used for different purposes in times of peace and also for warfare. Here the chariot that the woman imagined was probably beautiful and decorated. Use an appropriate word or phrase in your language.
of my people: In Hebrew this phrase literally says: “of-my-people noble.” There are different ways to interpret the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as of my people.
(1) It means “my prince.” For example:
in a chariot beside my prince. (New Revised Standard Version)
(2) It is used as a proper name, “Amminadib,” as in some ancient Hebrew manuscripts and ancient versions. For example:
the chariots of Amminadib (New Jerusalem Bible)
(3) Other interpretations include: “among the royal chariots of my people” (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version); “in the royal chariot” (New Living Translation (2004)); “chariots of my noble people” (God’s Word, New American Standard Bible); and daughter of my princely people (NET Bible).
Scholars are uncertain about the meaning of the phrase. It is recommended that you follow option (1), which is a fairly literal translation of the Hebrew phrase. You may want to include a footnote to list some of the other possible meanings in options (2) and (3).
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