The burst of new life combines with the description of springtime. The fig tree is one of the three most important fruit trees of the Middle East. It produces two crops each year, but it is the first of those which is the best and sweetest. Our poet describes spring as just beginning, so we presume that he refers to the first crop of sweet figs. This normally is in June. Fig tree is here a singular form but it has collective meaning, so it may be translated as a plural.

There are many parts of the world where the fig tree does not grow. As references to this tree appear many times in the Old and New Testaments, we need to consider a way of handling this problem in translation. Some languages may use a transliterated form, with a note in the glossary explaining more fully what kind of a tree it is. It is helpful if the word chosen for the translation occurs with the word “tree” or otherwise has a marker attached that indicates this sense. An expression such as “the tree they call ‘fig’ ” should be avoided as it is too long and not poetic. In some regions there are trees which look very much like the fig tree, and which do bear fruit. But if the fruit cannot be eaten, such a substitution is not recommended. If no satisfactory solution can be found, we can generalize and indicate only that it is a fruit tree: “the fruit trees are putting forth their fruit.”

Puts forth is actually the verb “sweeten.” The active verb speaks of the tree sweetening itself, so “ripen” may be the best verb to use. This gives a translation “the fig trees ripen their fruit,” or “figs on the trees grow ripe.”

The vines are in blossom: it is the grape vines that are indicated, and they are in blossom. Here we meet a term that may mean either the bud, or the blossom that emerges from the bud. The following reference to their fragrance seems to suggest that the buds have already opened to flower. This we can indicate by “The [grape] vines are flowering.”

They give forth fragrance: the pronoun they indicates the vines, although it can also refer to the figs as well. Perhaps it is more correct, however, to link the phrase with the vines, as it is the nearest subject. We can translate line by line as Revised Standard Version does, or combine the two clauses: “Vine blossoms give forth their fragrance.” A more idiomatic rendering is “they smell so sweet.”

It is also possible that there is a deeper meaning to this passage. As some commentaries point out, traditionally the ripening of figs is a figurative way of speaking of a maturing young woman (though others see the reference to figs as a hidden reference to the young man). Compare the English expression “a ripe young woman.” The figurative meaning of the word “vineyard” has already been discussed. So this verse may have a double meaning; the springtime has come, but the young woman, too, is “ripe,” ready for marriage. Again, these sorts of double meanings can be mentioned in the introduction.

Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away: this clause is almost identical to the one in 2.10. See the discussion there. It seems to form a bracket around this short poem on springtime. It is good to use exactly the same words here as in 2.10. Indenting the words may also draw attention to this feature.

We can suggest as a translation:

• Figs [or, Fruit] are ripening on the tree,
And vine blossoms give their sweet fragrance.
Come, my darling, my lovely one,
Come with me….

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Zogbo, Lynell. A Handbook on the Book of Song of Songs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1998. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .