2:7 The woman spoke to the women of Jerusalem

This verse (2:7) is a refrain, which occurs at a major section break. Similar refrains are also found in 3:5 and 8:4.

2:7

The speaker in this verse is probably the woman (as indicated by most English versions).

2:7a–b

I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: The verb adjure means “to urge (someone) to swear an oath.” The woman urged the women of Jerusalem to swear an oath to her. This oath was a serious promise. Breaking the oath would cause harmful results.

In the Hebrew culture, people usually swore oaths in God’s name. Such an oath implies that God will punish the person who does not do what he swore to do. The oath is a poetic way to say that the women must keep their promise. In this context, the woman asked the Jerusalem women to swear by gazelles and does. These animals probably symbolize love. Some other ways to translate the clause are:

swear to me by the gazelles or by the does in the field (God’s Word)
-or-
promise me by the power of deer and gazelles (Contemporary English Version)

Consider the ways that people make promises or swear oaths in your language. Use a natural way to translate the meaning of the woman’s request.

2:7a

O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you: In this verse the woman spoke to the Jerusalem women. In some languages it is more natural to begin the sentence with the phrase O daughters of Jerusalem. For example:

O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you…

The phrase O daughters of Jerusalem was also used in 1:5b. You may translate it in the same way here.

2:7b

the gazelles and does: gazelles and does are gentle animals that live wild in forests, mountains, or plains. They eat grass and other plants. They run fast, and they are graceful and beautiful. In the Song they symbolize grace and beauty, and they especially symbolize love.

gazelles: The “gazelle” is a member of the antelope family. It is a fairly small animal (2 or 3 feet tall at the shoulder). It is known for its grace and beauty.

4:11a

Your lips, my bride, drip sweetness like the honeycomb: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as drip has several meanings. Here it means “to drip” or “to drop.” Literally, it indicates that sweet nectar dripped from the bride’s lips. Figuratively, it indicates that the bride’s kisses were very sweet. Some other ways to translate the meaning are:

Your lips are as sweet as nectar, my bride. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The taste of honey is on your lips, my darling; (Good News Translation)

Your lips, my bride, drip sweetness: The phrase Your lips…drip sweetness is a metaphor that describes how “sweet” the bride’s kisses are. The man meant that her kisses gave him great pleasure. Some ways to translate the metaphor are:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

My bride, your lips drip honey (New Century Version)
-or-
Your lips are a honeycomb (Contemporary English Version)

• Use a simile. For example:

Your lips, my bride, are as sweet as honey. (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
Your lips taste like honey

• Translate the meaning without a figure of speech. For example:

Your lips/kisses are wonderfully sweet.

Your lips: The phrase Your lips is probably a figure of speech that uses lips to represent kisses. Some ways to translate this figure of speech are:

When I kiss you
-or-
Your lips/kisses

my bride: For information on how to translate my bride, see the notes on 4:8a–b.

drip sweetness: The words drip sweetness are a figure of speech. Since the woman’s “lips” refer figuratively to kisses here, the phrase drip sweetness indicates that the woman’s kisses gave the man great pleasure

sweetness: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sweetness refers specifically to “honey” or to a “honeycomb.” It does not refer to the nectar of flowers. However, if honey is unknown in your area, you may use a word that refers to the nectar of flowers.

4:11b

This part of the verse is parallel to 4:11a and has a similar meaning.

honey and milk are under your tongue: The phrase honey and milk are under your tongue is a metaphor. It indicates that the woman’s mouth was delightful. As with “lips” in 4:11a, the phrase under your tongue refers to the sweetness and pleasure that the woman’s kisses gave the man. It probably does not refer to her sweet speech, and it does not indicate that she was literally holding honey and milk in her mouth.

Honey and milk were luxury items. Here they imply that the woman’s love was an experience of luxurious delight.

Some ways to translate the metaphor are:

• Use a metaphor. For example:

Your tongue is milk and honey for me. (Good News Translation)

• Use a simile. For example:

Your mouth is as delightful as milk and honey.
-or-
Your tongue is like milk and honey.

• Translate the meaning more directly. For example:

Your mouth is full of delights.

Translate the meaning in a natural way in your language.

honey and milk: In other parts of the OT the phrase “milk and honey” was used to describe the land of Israel as a fruitful place with abundant food. Here in the Song the word order is changed to honey and milk. These terms were also used in other love poetry of the Near East to express the joy and beauty of love. See the preceding note for translation examples.

honey: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as honey is a general word that refers to sweet substances. These substances can be added to food to make it sweeter. These sweeteners include bees’ honey from honeycombs as well as date or grape syrups. Use an appropriate word in your language.

4:11c

the fragrance of your garments is like the aroma of Lebanon: Here the man compared the fragrance of the woman’s clothing to the pleasant scent of the region of Lebanon. Lebanon was famous for its cedar trees, so some scholars think the fragrance refers to the fragrance of the cedar trees. Others think that it refers more generally to the many pleasing scents of Lebanon.

Some ways to translate this clause are:

• Use a general way in your language to refer to a pleasant smell. For example:

Your clothes smell sweet/good like ⌊the region of⌋ Lebanon.

• Use a more specific comparison that refers to the mountains or cedars of Lebanon. For example:

Your clothes smell like the cedars of Lebanon. (New Century Version)
-or-
The scent of your clothing is like that of the mountains and the cedars of Lebanon.

Choose a comparison that is pleasing in your language.

Lebanon: The land of Lebanon represented what was beautiful and fragrant. It was especially famous for its fragrant cedar trees. Refer to the notes on Lebanon in 4:8a–b and 4:8b for more information. It is important to notice the fragrance theme that is prominent throughout the Song.

garments: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as garments refers in general to clothing. It is good to use a general term in your language. For example:

clothing
-or-
clothes

like the aroma of Lebanon: The region of Lebanon is mentioned several times in 4:8–15. It forms a poetic Lebanon theme that helps give unity to lines 4:8–15. Here in 4:11 it forms an inclusio with 4:8, where the man said to the woman, “Come with me from Lebanon.” In 4:11, the man implied that the woman figuratively came from Lebanon, and she still smelled like that wonderful place.

© 2017 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

6:11–13 She went to the orchard and imagined her beloved as a prince

It is difficult to be certain about who speaks in 6:11–13. There are also several ways to interpret the verses, and English versions vary greatly. The Notes recommends an interpretation that agrees with the author’s themes throughout the Song, and in general it follows the Berean Standard Bible text. The Notes for these verses include suggestions for footnotes that translators may include to tell readers the different interpretation options.

6:11–12 The woman spoke

Scholars have different views about who spoke in 6:11–12.

(1) The woman spoke in 6:11–12. For example, the English Standard Version has this heading:

She (English Standard Version)

(2) The man spoke in 6:11–12. For example, for 6:4–12 the Good News Translation has the heading:

the man (Good News Translation)

(3) The man spoke in 6:11 and the woman spoke in 6:12. Some commentaries follow this option.

It is recommended that you follow option (1). Although more English versions follow option (2), there are also many Bible scholars who recommend option (1). However, it is not certain who speaks in this verse, and any of the three options is acceptable. If a national translation in your area follows interpretation (2) or (3), it may be helpful to follow it. The following notes are written according to option (1).

6:11

The woman went down to the orchard to see if the trees and vines had new buds and blossoms. Buds and blossoms show that the season of new growth was beginning. This season is called by different names in different areas of the world. It may be called “rainy season” or “spring.” It is the time when plants grow quickly. This growth probably symbolizes that the love between the man and woman was growing.

6:11a

I went down to the walnut grove: The woman walked down to the walnut grove. The word down implies that the grove was located on lower ground than the place from which she started walking. Probably a stream or a spring was there to water the garden.

The English phrase went down is one word in Hebrew. In some languages it is not natural to specify that the woman went down. If that is true in your language, it is fine to use a more general word or phrase. For example:

I went to the grove of nut trees
-or-
I went out to the farm/place where the nut trees grow

walnut grove: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as walnut grove is literally “garden of nuts.” The author used a Hebrew word for “nut” that occurs only once in the Old Testament. It probably refers specifically to the type of nut called walnut. Here is another way to translate this:

orchard of walnut trees (NET Bible)

If walnuts are not known in your area, you may use a general term. For example:

nut trees

walnut: A walnut is a dry, edible, one-seeded fruit that usually is encased within a woody, hard shell.

6:11b

to see the blossoms of the valley: The clause to see the blossoms of the valley tells the woman’s purpose for going down to the nut orchard in 6:11a. The text implies that the valley is the same place as the walnut grove in 6:11a. In some languages it may be confusing to use two different words to refer to the place. Other ways to translate the meaning are:

to see what is blooming there

blossoms: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as blossoms refers to “green shoots” or “new growth.” This is a general term for new plant growth that can refer to different types of blooms. It can refer to the type of buds that appear on vines (6:11c) and also to the blooms on pomegranates (6:11d). Some other ways to translate the term are:

new growth (New International Version)
-or-
plants beginning to blossom

6:11c

to see if the vines were budding: The phrase to see if the vines were budding is similar to 6:11b. It tells more about the woman’s purpose for going to the nut grove. She went to see if buds were already on the grape vines. Such buds indicate that the season of new growth has started. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

to look for buds on the vines (New Century Version)
-or-
to see whether the grapevines were budding

Use a natural way in your language to describe this.

6:11d

or the pomegranates were in bloom: This phrase is parallel to 6:11c. It tells something else that the woman wanted to see in the valley. She wanted to see if the pomegranate trees had started to bloom. Some other ways to translate it are:

and if the pomegranate trees were blossoming
-or-
and whether the pomegranate trees had flowers
-or-
and the blossoms on the pomegranate trees (Good News Translation)

pomegranates: Here the word pomegranates refers to a type of small tree that produces red fruits. Both the tree and the fruits of the tree can be called “pomegranates.” In 4:3 and 6:7 the author compared the woman’s cheeks to this fruit.

Here the author focused on the time when the trees produce blossoms. Later these blossoms develop into fruits. For more information on pomegranate trees and a picture of pomegranates, see the note on 4:3c.

General Comment on 6:11a–d

In some languages it is more natural to combine some parts of this verse or to use more general expressions. For example:

11a-b I went down to see if blossoms were on the walnut trees, 11c grapevines, 11d and fruit trees. (Contemporary English Version)

© 2017 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

1:3a

The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing: In Hebrew this clause more literally says, “For fragrance, your oils are good.” The phrase “for fragrance” is emphatic. It indicates that the odor of the oils was very pleasing. The word “good” was also used to describe the man’s name in 1:3b.

Some other ways to translate the clause are:

The smell of your perfume is pleasant (New Century Version)
-or-
The fragrance of your cologne is delightful (NET Bible)
-or-
Your ointments yield a sweet fragrance (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

perfume: In Israel and nearby countries at that time, people added sweet-smelling spices to olive oil to make perfume. Some of the spices were expensive, and both men and women used these fragrances. Your translation should emphasize the wonderful fragrance of the perfume, rather than how the oils were made.

In some cultures men do not use scented oil, spices or other types of scent on their bodies. If that is true in your language, you may focus on the pleasing odor of the man himself. For example:

You smell so sweet (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
You have a good fragrance

1:3b

In 1:3b there are special features of Hebrew poetic style. For example, in Hebrew the words for “perfume” (shemen) and “name” (shem) sound similar. This helps to show the connection between 1:3a and 1:3b.

Such use of similar sounds is common throughout the Song. However, these similar sounds usually cannot be translated into another language, so the Notes will not usually focus on them. However, it is good for you to consider special ways in your own language that could make your translation poetic or beautiful like a song.

your name is like perfume poured out: This statement is a simile. It indicates that the man’s name was as pleasing as the smell of the fragrant oil when it was poured from a container. In some languages this metaphor may be hard to understand. Other ways to translate it are:

• Use a metaphor. For example:

your name is oil poured out. (Revised Standard Version)

• Include the meaning of the comparison in the simile. For example:

your name is pleasant like expensive perfume. (New Century Version)

• Translate the comparison without using a figure of speech. This option can be used when a metaphor or simile would give a wrong meaning. For example:

How fragrant your cologne, and how pleasing your name! (New Living Translation (1996))

Use an appropriate option for your language.

your name: In Hebrew, the word name often represents the person himself, including the person’s character and reputation. So when the woman praised her beloved’s name here, she praised his wonderful character. She compared his good character to the good fragrance of cologne. Some other ways to translate your name here are:

your good reputation
-or-
your fine character
-or-
the good things you do and say

perfume poured out: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as perfume poured out is difficult to interpret. Some different interpretations are based on how scholars understand the Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as poured out. Here are the two main options:

(1) The phrase refers to the spreading fragrance of the oil. For example:

your name is like the spreading fragrance of scented oils. (New Living Translation (2004))

(2) The phrase refers to the quality of the oil. For example:

your name is like the finest perfume. (NET Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as more English versions do.

1:3c

No wonder: The phrase No wonder refers back to what the woman said about the man in 1:3b. It was because of his wonderful character and reputation that maidens loved him.

the maidens: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as maidens refers to young women who were old enough to be married. In the context of the Song, it probably refers to young women who were still virgins.

adore: The Hebrew word adore here is different from the word translated “love” in 1:2b. Here it means that the young women admired the man and were attracted to him. Express this type of admiration in a natural way in your language. Other ways to translate it are:

No woman could keep from loving you. (Good News Translation)

© 2017 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Poem 3:1–5 The woman described searching for her beloved at night

In the preceding poem (2:8–17) the author described the man and woman as they were together on a beautiful spring day. Here in Poem 3:1–5 the woman was alone in her bed at night, and she longed to be with her beloved again. Her joy in 2:8–17 changed to being troubled in 3:1–5 as she searched for her beloved and then clung to him when she found him.

Bible scholars are not sure whether this poem tells about a dream, the woman’s feelings, or an actual event. It seems more like a dream than an actual event. In that culture it would not be likely for a woman to go out into the city at night, as the author described in 3:1–5, but in a dream almost anything is possible.

Some versions (including Berean Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, English Standard Version, God’s Word, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, and Good News Translation) have a section heading or footnote at 3:1 to indicate that 3:1–5 describes a dream. The Good News Translation mentions in the text that it was a dream, saying, “Asleep on my bed, night after night I dreamed of the one I love…” Other scholars interpret 3:1–5 as a description of the woman’s feelings. The Song is lyric poetry, which often uses such descriptions. It does not necessarily describe actual events. The Notes interpret 3:1–5 as a dream.

It is likely that 3:5 functions as a refrain, probably for the entire section (2:8–3:5). It is identical to the refrain in 2:7.

3:1–4 The woman described searching for her beloved at night

In 3:1–4 the woman was inside her house on her bed at night. In these verses she probably described a specific dream that she had, but the text does not state that she was dreaming. The Good News Translation makes this explicit, but many English versions do not. If you do not make it explicit in the verse, it may be helpful to include a footnote. For example:

In 3:1–4 the text probably implies that the woman was dreaming.

Searching is an important theme in the Song. In 3:1–4, there are four words that refer to searching. This repetition implies that the woman was desperate to find her beloved. It also emphasizes how relieved and happy she felt when she finally found him.

3:1a

On my bed…I sought the one I love: There are different ways to interpret this clause. The two main interpretations are:

(1) It indicates that while the woman was on her bed, she searched for her beloved, probably in a dream. For example:

On my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves (English Standard Version)

(2) It is a figurative way to say that she longed for her beloved. For example:

All night long on my bed, I longed for my lover (NET Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It fits the context, which continues to describe the woman searching. When she did not find her beloved in her bed (3:1), she went out into the city streets to continue searching for him (3:2–4). In some languages it is natural to combine the idea of searching and longing in options (1) and (2). For example:

On my bed at night I ⌊longingly⌋ searched for the one my soul loves.

On my bed: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bed is the common word for “bed.” By itself it does not imply anything about sexual relations. Use an appropriate word in your language. For example:

in the place I sleep
-or-
as I lay in bed (New Living Translation (2004))

at night: There are different ways to interpret the Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as at night :

(1) It means “at night,” “during the night.” For example:

On my bed at night (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) It means “night after night.” For example:

Asleep on my bed, night after night (Good News Translation)

(3) It means “all night long.” For example:

All night long on my bed (New International Version)

the one I love: The phrase the one I love is used four times in 3:1–4. It indicates that the woman loved the man very much. She had strong feelings of love for him. The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I is literally “my soul.” It literally refers to the part of a person that feels emotions like love, joy, sorrow, or anger. Figuratively, it refers to the woman herself.

Some ways to translate this figure of speech are:

• Use a figure of speech in your language that refers to strong feelings of love. Some languages use a part of the body such as the “heart,” “liver” or “stomach” or a special idiom. For example:

the one I love with heart and soul (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the one who is in my heart

• Translate the meaning without a figure of speech. For example:

the one I love (Good News Translation)
-or-
my true love (Revised English Bible)

3:1b

I sought him, but did not find him: Here the woman repeated the phrase I sought him from 3:1a to emphasize her strong desire to be with the man. In some languages it may be more natural to translate the emphasis in a different way. For example:

Though I searched desperately for him, I could not find him.

Some English versions do not mention “search” and “find” here at all. For example, the New Living Translation (2004) and NET Bible mention only that the woman longed for the man, but he did not come. However, this section emphasizes the woman’s search, and it is important to communicate that in your language.

but did not find him: The woman dreamed that she was searching for her beloved, but she did not find him nearby. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

I did not see him anywhere/nearby.
-or-
but he was not there.

Some versions include a statement at the end of 3:1, as in the Revised Standard Version, which says, “I called him, but he gave no answer.” There is a textual issue concerning the statement. Some manuscripts include this statement, and others do not.

(1) The Hebrew text of 3:1 does not include this statement about the woman calling her beloved. For example, in 3:1 the New International Version does not mention that the woman called the man:

All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves; I looked for him but did not find him. (New International Version)

(2) The LXX (Greek translation) of 3:1 includes the statement, “I called him, but he gave no answer.” For example, in the New Revised Standard Version, 3:1 ends with that statement:

Upon my bed at night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer. (New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), which does not include the statement about the woman calling the man. The LXX translators probably included it because it is found in 5:6, which is similar to 3:1.

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Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

5:6a

I opened for my beloved: In this context the phrase I opened for my beloved probably indicates that the woman opened the door for the man to enter her room. It may also imply that she opened herself to welcome him. Some other ways to translate the clause are:

I opened the door for my lover (New Century Version)
-or-
I opened the door for the one I love ⌊to enter⌋
-or-
I opened to/for my beloved

5:6b

but he had turned and gone: This clause tells what the woman realized when she opened the door. She saw that her beloved was not there. The text implies that he went away after the woman hesitated to open the door. He was gone when she finally opened the door.

Some other ways to translate the clause are:

but my beloved had turned away. He was gone! (God’s Word)
-or-
but my beloved had left; he was not there!

had turned and gone: The phrase had turned and gone indicates that the man left, and he was gone by the time the woman came to the door. In some languages it may be natural to use only one verb. For example:

but he was gone! (New Living Translation (2004))

5:6c

My heart sank at his departure: Scholars differ about what caused the woman’s heart to sink. There is a textual issue concerning the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as at his departure. The difference of one vowel changes the meaning of the word.

(1) The word means “when he left.” For example:

My heart sank at his departure… (New International Version)

(2) The word means “when he spoke.” For example:

My soul failed me when he spoke… (English Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The meaning “when he left” makes better sense in this context. The woman wanted the man. In 5:6c–d she searched desperately for him. She had no reason to say “my soul failed me when he spoke,” as in interpretation (2). He spoke only to ask her to open the door (5:2), which should not distress her. She was distressed because he left, and she feared that he might stop loving her.

My heart sank: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as My heart sank is more literally “my-soul/breath went-out.” This phrase is a figure of speech to indicate that the woman felt distressed and desperate. She feared that the man had left her, and that he might not return. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

When he left, I felt ⌊terrible⌋ distress
-or-
I was ⌊very⌋ lonely when he left

In some languages there is a figure of speech to translate this meaning. For example:

I fell into despair when he departed. (NET Bible)

Notice also that the Berean Standard Bible uses the figure of speech “my heart sank.” Use a natural way in your language to describe this feeling.

5:6d–5:7b

What the woman said in 5:6d–5:7b uses the theme of searching that occurs often in the Song. Her statements here repeat statements in 3:1b and 3:3a–b. In chapter 3 and here in chapter 5 the woman searched for the man. She described her search in similar ways in both chapters. Try to keep these similarities in your own translation.

5:6d

I sought him, but did not find him: The phrase I sought him, but did not find him is the same as the phrase in 3:1b. Here it indicates that the woman left her house and went to search for the man in the streets of the town. She searched for him because she loved him and longed to be with him. She was distressed until she could see him again, but when she looked for him, she could not see him anywhere.

You should translate the phrase in the same way or a similar way as you did in 3:1b. Some ways to translate it are:

I searched for him but could not find him anywhere (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
I looked for him but did not find him (NET Bible)
-or-
I went around trying to find him, but I did not see him anywhere.

but did not find him: The woman could not find the man when she searched for him, so she felt sadder and even more afraid. The author emphasized her sorrow to cause readers to sympathize with her and to want her to be happy again.

Use a natural way in your language to translate this emphasis. In some languages a word like “find” may imply that a person accidently discovered something that he was not searching for. That meaning does not fit this context. If that is true in your language, you should translate in a different way. For example:

but I did not see him anywhere.

5:6e

I called, but he did not answer: Here the woman called to the man because she hoped that he would hear her and respond to her. However, he did not hear her, so he did not respond. In some languages it may be helpful to use a direct quote and include the implied words that she said to call him. For example:

She called to him, ⌊“My beloved, where are you?”⌋ but ⌊she did⌋ not ⌊hear⌋ him answer.

© 2017 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

7:9a

and your mouth like the finest wine: This clause implies the same verb that was used in 7:8c:

and your kisses ⌊are⌋ like the best wine.

The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as mouth literally means “palate” or “mouth.” The man said this to imply that when he kissed the woman, her kisses were as exciting or sweet as wine.

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

• Use a simile that refers to the woman’s mouth. For example:

and your mouth like the best wine. (New International Version)

• Use a simile that refers to the woman’s kisses. For example:

May your kisses be as exciting as the best wine… (New Living Translation (2004))

• Use a simile that refers to both the woman’s mouth and her kisses. For example:

The kisses of your mouth are like fine wine.

The meaning here is similar to what the woman said to the man in 1:2b :

O that you would kiss me with the kisses of your mouth! For your love is better than wine. (Revised Standard Version)

7:9b–10 The woman spoke

Scholars differ about who spoke in 7:9b:

(1) The woman spoke. For example, the English Standard Version identifies the speaker as “she.”

(2) The man spoke. For example, the New Living Translation (2004) identifies the speaker as “young man.”

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It is probable that in 7:9b–c the woman was responding to the man’s desire for her kisses. In Hebrew, 7:9b literally says, “which goes for my lover (masculine), flowing smoothly.” The masculine form of the word “lover” indicates that the woman was probably speaking to the man.

7:9b–c

There are several interpretation issues in 7:9b–c:

(a) It is uncertain who speaks.

(b) The Hebrew phrase “for my lover” is left out or changed in some versions.

(c) The words “lips and teeth” are translated by some versions as “lips of sleepers.”

The Notes will help you choose an interpretation to follow on these issues.

7:9b

May it flow smoothly to my beloved: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to my beloved is literally “for my lover” in Hebrew, and its form indicates that the lover is male. Scholars have different views about who spoke this phrase.

(1) The woman spoke to the man, and she indicated that he is her beloved. For example:

She: It goes down smoothly for my beloved… (English Standard Version)

(2) The man spoke. For example:

The Lover to His Beloved:…flowing smoothly for my beloved… (NET Bible)

(3) The phrase “for my beloved” is omitted.

It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with about half of the English versions. The form of the word beloved is masculine, which indicates that the woman spoke to the man. It does not seem proper to change the Hebrew form to feminine, as in option (2), or to omit the word, as in option (3).

flow smoothly to my beloved: The phrase flow smoothly to my beloved describes the taste and feeling of the woman’s kisses. Her kisses are as delightful to the man as delicious flowing wine. Use an appropriate phrase in your language to describe wonderful kisses. The phrase you use should also fit with the meaning of 7:9c. For examples of how to translate 7:9a–c, see the General Comment on 7:9 at the end of the note on 7:9c.

7:9c

gliding gently over lips and teeth: Scholars differ about how to interpret the Hebrew phrase in 7:9c. The two major interpretations are:

(1) The phrase refers to lips and teeth. For example:

flowing gently over lips and teeth. (New International Version)

(2) The phrase refers to the lips of sleepers.

It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with the majority of English versions. It is also supported by important ancient manuscripts. However, since the Hebrew text follows option (2), it may be helpful to include a footnote in your translation. This footnote should include the ancient manuscripts that follow option (1). It should also include the literal Hebrew meaning. For example:

Here the translation follows the Septuagint, Aquila, Vulgate, and Syriac versions. The Hebrew text has literally “lips of sleepers.”

gliding: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gliding is parallel with the phrase “goes down smoothly” in 7:9b, and it has a similar meaning. It compares the woman’s kisses to how wine makes him feel as he drinks it. Use a natural way in your language to compare these experiences. See the following General Comment on 7:9 for translation examples.

General Comment on 7:9

In 7:9a the man continued to tell the woman how much he desired her, and in 7:9b–c he responded. Some other ways to translate this verse are:

Man: Your kisses are like the finest wine. Woman: Let them flow ⌊like wine⌋ and pass over your lips and teeth.
-or-
Man: Let your kisses be like the best wine. Woman: They will come smoothly and glide gently over your lips and teeth.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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1:14a

My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms: This clause is a metaphor. The woman compares the man to the fragrance of henna blossoms. He was as pleasing as those sweet-smelling flowers. If a metaphor does not communicate the meaning clearly, some other ways to translate it are:

• Use a simile. For example:

My beloved is to me like a cluster of henna blossoms

• Indicate explicitly how the man was like the henna blossoms. For example:

My beloved is ⌊as delightful⌋ to me as the sweet-smelling henna flowers

Translate the metaphor in a way that will communicate clearly in your language.

a cluster of henna blossoms: henna is a large shrub with clusters of fragrant flowers that grows in tropical climates. It may be called by a different name in your area, so you may want to consult an expert on plants to determine the local name.