What is that…?: the Hebrew interrogative is “Who,” not What, so Revised Standard Version changes the focus of the question. That (Hebrew zoth) is actually a feminine singular demonstrative, which many commentators understand as a reference to the bride, or at least to the bride’s group, arriving for her marriage to King Solomon. However, there is no other term suggesting the presence of a young woman in the carriage, let alone a bride. Furthermore verse 7 provides a very straightforward answer: “It is Solomon’s litter!” The Hebrew noun “litter” is feminine, so we prefer to understand that to refer to the carriage and those traveling inside or alongside it.

Many versions adopting this interpretation translate the opening interrogative as “what” instead of the literal “who?” The form we choose will vary according to the needs of our own language. In some languages “Who?” is general enough to cover a group of people or a caravan seen in the distance.

Coming up from the wilderness describes the caravan as it appears on the horizon. Coming up is a participle, and although it can be used of movement from a southerly direction, the context does not give any indication of where the group is traveling from or where it is headed. We suggest a general translation, “traveling from” or “coming out of.”

Wilderness: the sparsely vegetated area east of Jerusalem and Hebron, as well as the drier region south of Hebron. It is a dry area with little rain and is where sheep and goats are kept. “Desert” (Good News Translation and others) is a term to be reserved for truly desert areas. “Uninhabited” is one of the components of meaning of the term wilderness, but the fact that there is only limited and seasonal vegetation is also important. Translators may use something like “dry areas where sheep are pastured,” “sparsely vegetated country,” or “the area where nobody lives.” However, it is important to remember the nature of this passage. It is poetic. The emphasis is not so much on geographic detail but rather on the picture this word paints. Some have even suggested that there is a deeper level of meaning in these images, namely the young woman watching her lover from afar as he brings his flocks in.

Like a column of smoke: the caravan approaches. But does its appearance “look like” columns of smoke, or are they advancing “in” columns of smoke? Many commentators change the preposition k- (“like”) to b- (“in”), but no clearer meaning results. Normally a large group of people, a caravan, or a flock of animals approaching across a dry area will raise lots of dust. In fact at first this is usually all that is visible, the sign that something is approaching. Therefore we prefer to retain the word “like.” Joel 2.30 is the only other place where this Hebrew word is used of a column or pillar. It refers to a column of smoke from fires. Here the simile borrows the cloud imagery to speak of the advancing group.

Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense: this phrase begins an extended simile that continues on to the end of the verse. The verb perfumed is a passive participle from a root that normally means “to send sacrifices up in smoke.” It is given by Revised English Bible as “from the burning of….” Good News Translation “fragrant with” is not as acceptable, because the point of the analogy seems to be the cloud effect rather than the aroma. New American Bible “laden with” assumes that the advancing caravan is carrying spices and other goods for trade. We consider this inadequate, while Jerusalem Bible “breathing of myrrh…” is even more obscure.

The two spices referred to are myrrh (see comments on 1.13) and frankincense. This latter comes from the bark of a tree native to India. Where these kinds of spices are not known or not used in this way, translators may use a descriptive phrase such as “like [clouds of] smoke from the burning of sweet smelling shrubs.” Otherwise we can say “[like] rising clouds of incense.”

There is yet another level of meaning probable here, for throughout this book spices and their aromas are associated with sexual activity. The poem not only describes a fragrant smell but suggests anticipated lovemaking. Compare Pro 7.15-17 for a similar description of a love bed. This gives another level of interpretation to this passage, namely that the detailed description reminds us not only of the regal quality of the young woman’s lover, but of the delights of their “love nest” as well.

With all the fragrant powders of the merchant: the word rendered by Revised Standard Version as fragrant powders occurs only once in the entire Old Testament, but its masculine equivalent does occur in Deut 28.24 and Exo 9.9, where it means “dust.” Powders is a general term with many senses, so we probably need some narrower definition like “spices.” New American Bible “every exotic dust” is a strange expression and should not be followed. When Revised Standard Version adds the adjective fragrant, it is probably justified in this context.

Merchant or “trader” indicates that the powders were being carried by the caravan from another region along the trade route. Though singular in form, merchant is collective; we can translate as either singular or plural. We can render this as “spices imported by merchants”; in fact the simple expression “imported spices” is sufficient to express the meaning of the text.

Good News Translation expands powders of the merchant to state that it was incense “sold by” the traders. In the present context, however, the reference is not to trading activity as such, so we should not follow that example.

Introducing this phrase is a Hebrew word rendered with all. There is no agreement as to its meaning and function in this context. Generally commentators agree with Revised Standard Version with all, though New English Bible suggests “from all.” Since this will have little bearing on the meaning, Revised Standard Version can be followed. We may wish to make the all clearer by saying “all kinds of spices brought by merchants.”

A suggestion for translation is “It looks like columns of smoke, like clouds of incense and all kinds of [imported] spices brought by traders.”

We noted that this verse is in the form of a question, and this question sets the scene for the verses that follow. Thus it has an important role in the structure of the poem. The translator should decide whether a question can be used with this function in a poetic context in the translation.

At the same time we recall the setting of this speech. We can imagine the scene and hear one person both asking and answering the question: “Who is that? … Why, it’s Solomon’s carriage…!” If a question cannot be used in such a setting as this, translators can use an exclamation, “Look, someone is coming out of the wilderness…!” Verse 7 will reveal who or what is coming. Thus the question needs to be translated in such a way as to show how it introduces what follows, draws attention, and generates excitement. We are reminded that this is the excitement of a young woman as she sees her lover approaching.

The entire verse can be worded:

• Who is that, emerging on the horizon,
Raising dust, like columns of smoke,
Clouds of incense and myrrh arising,
With every other kind of spice that merchants bring?

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 .