The first thing we notice in verse 12 is that in the Revised Standard Version text there is a change in person. The young woman is referred to indirectly, in the third person, though note how New International Version, New American Bible, and many other translations use second person. The sense can be conveyed adequately using either form.

A garden locked: though a new metaphor is used, the locked garden continues the theme that the young woman is not accessible or available. In the case of young lovers not yet married but meeting secretly, this description is appropriate. Garden is a term used in 4.15, 16; 5.1; 6.2, 11 to refer to the woman. The fact that she is locked suggests that she is protected in some way, like a walled or enclosed garden that her lover is unable to enter. Most commentators agree that this is a veiled reference to the young woman’s virginity. Others, however, see it as a reference to an exclusive relationship; she belongs only to her lover and no one else. Good News Translation “a secret garden” seems inaccurate. The practice of “locking” a garden may not be understood in some languages, so it may be best to describe it as “private.” Another possibility is to say “a closed garden” or “an enclosed garden” (Jerusalem Bible).

This metaphor may have to be expressed as a simile. However, in doing this we may lessen the impact of the passage considerably. We must keep in mind as well that this metaphor extends throughout the passage (through 5.1). So we recommend staying as close to the original as possible, within the limits of naturalness and comprehensibility.

My sister, my bride: see comments on 4.9.

A garden locked seems to be a repetition of the phrase occurring in the first line. However, there is a textual problem here, since the Hebrew text does not have gan garden but the word gal. This word may refer to a spring or fountain, but this is not certain. In Eccl 12.6, for example, the same root means “bowl.” Since there is a tendency in the Song for phrases occurring at the beginning of lines to be repeated (see verses 8 and 9 above, and 1.15), it is likely that the original text was gan garden. So the Revised Standard Version rendering can be followed here.

In most languages the repetition of a garden locked will be appreciated. Good News Translation tries to vary the expressions: “a secret garden … A walled garden.” If repetition is not appreciated in the language of translation, varying expressions may be used, or the repetitive phrase may be eliminated.

A fountain sealed employs another sexually-loaded term, fountain (see Pro 5.15-20). That the young woman is sealed parallels the phrase locked in the first phrase of the verse. Sealed presumably means that the well is covered, preventing persons from reaching the water. In both cases the idea of sole ownership is present. Both garden and fountain contain the thought of fertility, giving a very clear sexual sense. In East Africa “a sealed well” is an appropriate idiom for a virgin.

The word order of Revised Standard Version translates the Hebrew rather closely. If we accept the figurative sense, we can express it as:

• My sister, my bride, is a protected garden,
a protected garden, a covered spring.

Adopting the second person form, we can say:

• You are a garden enclosed, my sister, my bride,
a garden enclosed, a sealed spring.

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 .