This verse is patterned very closely on 5.9. Two parallel questions are followed by a purpose clause. The young woman is again called the fairest among women. However, in place of the interrogative “How?” here we have a “Where?” question. Just as 5.9 leads into the description of the young man (5.10-16), here verse 1 leads into the young woman’s reflections on her lover.

Whither has your beloved gone: this question links back to an earlier section of this poem. The daughters know that the young man is missing (5.6, 8). Even though the answer in verse 2 is not what we expect, this is a true question, not a rhetorical one. We can say “Where did your lover go?” or “Where is your lover now?” Note that this clause refers to a past event that has present relevance. In many languages a perfect tense such as English “has gone” will be appropriate.

O fairest among women: on this form of address see comments on 1.8 and 5.9, but especially in 5.9, since the same sense is present there and here. Note again that this vocative phrase may occur at the beginning of a sentence rather than in second position.

Whither has your beloved turned is parallel to the first question. The verb turned parallels gone, but this time the question seeks more information. The daughters want to search in the right direction. If a literal translation using the verb turn is not acceptable, we may say “Which way did he go?” The repetition of the question may convey urgency, but it may also express sympathy. In some languages this repetition will be appreciated, but if not, the two questions can be combined.

That we may seek him with you: this clause gives the reason for the daughters’ questions. They want to help the young woman find her lover. Here the theme of “seek and find” is repeated.

This passage presents some challenges for interpreters. Why are the daughters here? What is the motive for their willingness to help? Are they sincere? Or are they mocking and teasing the young woman? Are they perhaps jealous, longing to have her lover for themselves?

The situation is complicated by the young woman’s answer. In verse 2 it suddenly appears that the young man is not lost at all; rather, he is making love to her! Note that the lover is “in the garden,” “gathering lilies”; these are metaphors for lovemaking. This leads us to conclude that the conversation between the young woman and the daughters is indeed an imaginary one. It does not describe an actual scene but enables the audience to feel the young woman’s emotions. It would be wrong to imagine that the intimate meeting described in verses 2 and 3 is actually being observed by a group of young women!

Probably the best way to translate the present phrase is to say “… so that we can look for him together.” Translators may find it necessary to supply a command, “Tell us,” or the verb “help”: “Tell us, so we can help you….” The dependent clause can be made independent if need be: “We will help you find him” or “We want to look for him with you.”

The whole verse can be translated:

• Where has your lover gone,
Most beautiful of women?
Which way did he go?
Tell us, and we will help you look for him.

• Most beautiful of all women,
Where has your lover gone?
Where has he gone?
Tell us, so we can help you find him.

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 .