SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 2017

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 2:5

2:5a–b

The clauses “sustain me with raisins” (2:5a) and “refresh me with apples” (2:5b) are parallel and have a similar meaning.

Sustain me…refresh me: The Hebrew verbs that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Sustain and refresh are plural. Such plural forms usually imply that the woman was speaking to more than one person. However, in this context the plural forms indicate that the woman spoke with strong emotion. She probably spoke only to her beloved.

Many languages do not use plural forms in this way. Use a natural way in your language to indicate that the woman spoke to her beloved with strong emotion. For example, some languages use an exclamation word or punctuation to show extra emphasis:

Oh, sustain me with raisins, and strengthen me with apples!

The emphasis might also be translated as urgency:

Quick! Sustain me…refresh me

Sustain…refresh: The Hebrew verbs that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Sustain and refresh have similar meanings. Both verbs are intense forms, which emphasize the meaning. The verb Sustain probably means “strengthen, support,” and the verb refresh means “to renew strength.” Together the verbs emphasize that the woman needed to be strengthened in spirit to continue to receive the man’s love and to give her love to him. She was overwhelmed by the love that she felt for him and received from him.

For translation examples, see the General Comment on 2:5 at the end of the Notes on 2:5c.

with raisins…with apples: In that culture people thought of raisins and apples as special foods that strengthen people for love. In some languages people may not be familiar with raisins or apples. If that is true in your language, you may choose to use a general term. For example:

special foods ⌊to strengthen me⌋ ⌊for love⌋

No English versions make explicit what raisins and apples symbolize. If this symbolism is not implied in your translation, you may want to include a footnote about it. For example:

These foods (raisins and apples) symbolize that romantic love is sweet/good.

raisins: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as raisins refers to the fruit of the grape vine. The English word raisins implies that the fruit has been dried, but scholars differ about whether the Hebrew word implies that. The word may refer here to cakes made from grapes.

People ate raisins for enjoyment, not mainly to satisfy hunger. Grapes and raisins were often used as a symbol that had romantic or sexual meaning. Here the author implied that eating the raisin cakes would encourage her romantically.

Some other ways to translate raisins here are:

raisin cakes
-or-
cake made from grapes
-or-
fruits from the grape vine

For more information about grapes, see the note on “vineyards of En-gedi” in 1:14b.

apples: The word apples refers to the fruit of the “apple tree” that was mentioned in 2:3. This fruit was also used often as a symbol that had romantic or sexual meaning, just as raisins were. Like raisins, apples were eaten for enjoyment, not mainly to satisfy hunger. Here the woman implied that eating the apples would encourage her romantically.

For more information about apples, see the note on “apple tree” in 2:3a.

General Comment on 2:5a–b

The two clauses in 2:5a–b are parallel. The woman requested two foods to encourage her in expressing love. In some languages it may be more natural to combine the requests in one clause. For example:

5a-b Bring raisin cakes and apples to encourage me.

2:5c

for: The Hebrew connector that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reason why the woman wanted raisins and apples in 2:5a–b. It is because she was “faint with love.”

I am faint with love: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as faint can mean “ill” or “weak.” Here it means “weak.” When the woman said I am faint with love, she indicated that she was so overwhelmed by her feelings of love that she felt weak. She was not actually sick with an illness.

The phrase faint with love emphasizes her strong emotions. She did not want to avoid this “faintness.” She wanted to be strengthened and refreshed so that she could continue to receive and give love to the man.

Some other ways to translate 2:5c are:

for I am faint with love. (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I feel sick from love, so…
-or-
because I am overwhelmed by love.

General Comment on 2:5

In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of clauses in this verse. For example:

5c I am faint with love, so encourage me with raisin cakes and apples.

This order puts the reason for the woman’s request before the request itself.

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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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SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 4:9

4:9a

You have captured my heart: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as captured my heart is more literally “you heart-ed me” (the word “heart” is used as a verb). The word can have different meanings in different contexts. Here it describes a person who is overcome by strong feelings of love. It may imply that the man felt physically weak when he looked at the woman because of the intense love and excitement he felt.

Languages have different ways to describe a lover who feels overcome by his feelings for his beloved. Consider whether your language has an idiom or figure of speech to describe this. Some other ways to translate 4:9 are:

I am helpless to stop feeling this love for you. When you look at me for one moment or if I see one bead from your necklace, I feel overcome with love.
-or-
When you glance at me, I feel weak with feelings of love. I am overcome with love just by seeing one of your necklaces.

In many languages there are idioms to describe this feeling. It combines both helplessness and pleasure. The woman also described that type of feeling in 2:5c where she said, I am sick with love. Her love was so strong that she could describe it as a type of pleasurable “sickness.”

my sister: The term my sister is used in a figurative way here to express affection. The woman was not literally his sister or other relative, but she was as dear to him as a sister. This type of figurative usage was common in the man’s culture at that time. In some languages it gives a wrong meaning for the man to call the woman his sister. If that is true in your language, some options for translation are:

• Substitute a different term for sister. For example:

my treasure (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
my very own (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
my love

• Use a simile. For example:

My bride, ⌊you are as dear to me as a⌋ sister.

• Use only the term my bride and add an expression of affection. For example:

My beloved bride

In some languages it may be necessary to put the phrase “my sister, my bride” at the beginning of 4:10. For example:

My sister, my bride, how wonderful is your love!

my bride: For a discussion of my bride, see 4:8a–b.

4:9b

you have stolen my heart: This phrase in 4:9b exactly repeats the phrase from 4:9a. The repetition adds emphasis, as 4:8b adds emphasis to 4:8a. It emphasizes that the woman has caused the man to be overcome by strong feelings of love. For more information, see the note on 4:8a–b. You could these two phrases in the same way, or emphasize this meaning in a natural way in your language. For example:

you truly have captured my heart

4:9c–d

with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your neck: In Hebrew the phrase with one glance of your eyes is literally “with one from your eyes.” It probably refers to when the woman looked briefly at him. Even when the woman looked at him only for a moment, he felt intense love. This implies that a longer gaze could totally overpower him. The Song has already mentioned the beauty of the woman’s dove-like eyes (1:15 and 4:1). For translation examples, see the note on 4:9a.

4:9d

with one jewel of your neck: This phrase means that the woman wears a jewel on her neck, in the form of jewelry like a necklace or pendant. This phrase adds information to the phrase “You have captured my heart.” In some languages it is natural to repeat the phrase here. For example:

with one jewel of your neck, you have captured my heart.

There is a figure of speech here that intensifies the impact (as in 4:9c–d). It implies that if just one jewel on her neck was enough to ravish his heart, seeing all of her beauty totally overpowered him.

one jewel of your neck: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as jewel is singular. This singular form occurs only here in the OT. (The plural form occurs in two other verses in the OT and refers to objects that hang around a person’s neck.) Most English versions translate the meaning “one jewel/bead.” For example:

a single bead of your necklace (New Living Translation (1996))

However, if necklaces with more than one strand are common in your culture, then “one strand” is also acceptable.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 6:9

6:9a

but my dove, my perfect one, is unique: In the previous verse the man compared his beloved with many other women. Here he declared that there was no other woman as beautiful as his beloved. She was unique. Some other ways to translate this statement are:

There is only one for me. She is ⌊like a gentle⌋ dove, and she is perfect.
-or-
But no one is like my perfect dove.
-or-
You would be my only choice, my flawless dove. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
For me, there is only one woman ⌊in the world⌋. She is like a perfect dove.

my dove: The phrase my dove is an affectionate nickname for the woman. A dove is a beautiful and gentle bird that was a symbol for love. The phrase was also used in 2:14, where the man spoke directly to the woman. For more information, see the Notes on 2:14a–b.

my perfect one: The expression my perfect one is also found in 5:2. The meaning is also similar to 4:7, “You are all fair my love, there is no flaw in you.” It indicates that the woman was so beautiful that she seemed perfect to the man. To him, she seemed to have no defect or flaw. Translate this phrase in the same way as you did in 5:2.

is unique: Here the Berean Standard Bible uses the phrase is unique to translate the word that means “one” in Hebrew. In this context it indicates that there was no one like the woman. Here is another way to translate this:

is unique (New International Version)

For more translation examples, see the first note on 6:9a.

6:9b

the favorite of the mother: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the favorite of the mother is literally “one she to her mother.” There are different ways to interpret this phrase:

(1) She is her mother’s favorite daughter. For example:

She is the special daughter of her mother… (NET Bible)

(2) She is the only daughter or child of her mother. For example:

the only daughter of her mother… (New International Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). In this context, being an only daughter is not in focus. It is more significant that her mother considered her special and unique. Its meaning is similar to the way the author used the word “one” in 6:9a to mean “unique.”

who bore her: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bore means “gave birth to.” In some languages it may be more natural to refer back to her mother in a different way, as in the Display.

6:9c-d

In 6:8 the man compared the woman’s beauty to three groups of women in the royal court: queens, concubines, and maidens. Here in 6:9c–d, those same three groups of women also praised the woman. Here he began with the maidens before mentioning the queens and concubines:

9d The maidens see her and call her blessed

9e the queens and concubines sing her praises

Notice that the two lines, 6:9d and 6:9e, are parallel. The two phrases call her blessed and sing her praises have similar meanings.

6:9c

The maidens see her and call her blessed: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as maidens is literally “daughters.” However, here it refers to the same women as in 6:8, where they were called “maidens.” Other ways to translate this phrase are:

The maidens saw her and complimented her… (NET Bible)
-or-
Girls have seen her and proclaimed her blessed… (New Jerusalem Bible)

6:9d

the queens and concubines sing her praises: The phrase the queens and concubines indicates that they also saw the woman, just as the maidens did (6:9c). In some languages it is necessary to make it explicit that queens and concubines saw her. For example:

The queens and concubines also ⌊see her⌋, and sing her praises.

(See 6:8a and 6:8b for a discussion of queens and concubines.)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 1:1

Line 1:1 Song of Songs

Most scholars agree that the phrase “Song of Songs,” which occurs in 1:1, is like a title for the book. For English versions, a separate title based on 1:1 is usually also included. There are two different titles that are commonly used in English Bibles:

(1) “The Song of Songs” or “Song of Songs” (Berean Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New Century Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible, Good News Translation)

(2) “The Song of Solomon” or “Song of Solomon” (English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It is a better translation of the Hebrew title, which expresses the idea “the best song.” (See the note on 1:1 for translation suggestions for the phrase “Song of Songs.”) However, option (2) is also acceptable, especially if a national version in your area uses it.

1:1

This is Solomon’s Song of Songs: This verse begins the book with a title Song of Songs. The possessive Solomon’s may imply that Solomon was the author or it may imply that someone composed it for him. In some languages, it is helpful to translate 1:1 as a complete sentence. For example:

This is the most beautiful song, which is Solomon’s.
-or-

⌊ This is⌋the Song of Songs, which Solomon ⌊wrote/sang⌋.
-or-

⌊ Here begins⌋the Song of Songs by Solomon.

This is Solomon’s: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as This is Solomon’s probably indicates that Solomon was the author. There are two ways to translate the phrase:

• Use a phrase that implies Solomon was the author. For example:

The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s (Revised Standard Version)

• Use a more specific expression that clearly identifies Solomon as the author. For example:

The Song of Songs, ⌊written/composed⌋ by Solomon

Solomon’s: Solomon was one of the most famous kings of Israel. He was known for his great wisdom, and his name in 1:1 gives the book status and authority. However, he is not an active character in the book. Solomon was not the man whom the woman loved. The author did not tell the name of the man whom she loved.

Song of Songs: The phrase Song of Songs is a type of comparison called a “superlative.” It indicates that something is the greatest or best of its kind. Song of Songs means “the most beautiful song,” “the best song.” Other ways to translate Song of Songs are:

This is Solomon’s song of songs, more wonderful than any other. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The most beautiful song of Solomon. (God’s Word)

In some languages it is not possible to translate a superlative literally. Use a natural way in your language to describe a song that is more excellent and beautiful than other songs. Some other ways to describe it are:

Here is a song by Solomon that is sweeter than any other song.
-or-
This song that Solomon wrote/sang is wonderful. No one has heard a song like it.

Song: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Song identifies the book as a type of poetry that people can sing. They can also play musical instruments as they sing or chant the Song. The theme of the Song is romantic love (love between a man and a woman), so it is “love poetry.”

The Hebrew word for Song here is a general word that can refer to different types of joyful songs. Use an appropriate word in your language to refer to a joyful love song. Notice that the word is singular. This suggests that the book is one unified song, not a collection of many songs.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 2:16

2:16–17

In these verses the woman is probably now outside in the countryside with her beloved.

2:16a

My beloved is mine and I am his: Here the woman probably spoke directly to her beloved. However, she spoke as though she were speaking to someone else about him. In Hebrew poetry it is common to speak that way. In some languages it is more natural to indicate that the woman spoke directly to the man. For example:

My beloved, you are mine, and I am yours.

This statement implies that the man and woman loved each other in a way that they did not love anyone else. Try to find a poetic way to say this. Some other ways to say it in English are:

My beloved, you belong to me, and I belong to you.
-or-
My love, you are my own, and I am your own.
-or-
You are the one I love, and I am the one you love.

2:16b

he pastures his flock among the lilies: There are two ways to interpret the verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he pastures :

(1) It means “he grazes.” In this context it implies that the man feeds or nourishes himself among lilies. For example:

he grazes among the lilies. (NET Bible)

(2) It means “he pastures (his flock),” and it implies that he feeds his flock. For example:

he pastures his flock among the lilies. (Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The emphasis in this context is on the shepherd himself, not on his sheep. The author does not mention sheep or shepherding anywhere else in this section (2:8–3:5). The author compares the man to a stag in 2:17, so interpretation (1) fits the context well. However, in some languages a literal translation gives a wrong meaning. See the next note for more information.

Because the Berean Standard Bible follows interpretation (2), the NET Bible will be used as the source line in the Display.

(NET Bible) he grazes among the lilies: In Hebrew the phrase he grazes among the lilies literally means that he stands among the lilies and eats them. Figuratively, the woman referred to herself as lilies, as she did in 2:1b. In 2:2 the man compared her to a lily among thorns. Here in 2:16 the woman said that the man feeds himself among the lilies. Figuratively, this means that he was happy and nourished by being with her.

It may be helpful to include a footnote to make this figurative meaning clear. For example:

“Grazing among the lilies” has a figurative meaning here. It probably refers back to 2:1–2 where the woman described herself as a common lily, and the man described her as a lily among thorns. This implies that in 2:16 lilies are also a symbol for the woman. The man enjoys being with her.

This same figure of speech also occurs in 6:3. (Other figurative uses of “lilies” occur in 4:5, 5:13, 6:2 and 7:2. But those figures do not have the same significance as the figures in 2:16 and 6:3.)

In some languages it is necessary to make explicit that the author used a metaphor or simile. It may also be necessary to mention the gazelle and young stag in 2:16, as well as in 2:17. For example:

16a My beloved is mine and I am his.

⌊ 17c
Like a gazelle 17d or young stag,⌋ 16b he browses among the lilies.

17a Until the day breathes

17b and the shadows flee,

17c turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle 17d or a young stag upon rugged mountains.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 5:4

5:4a

My beloved put his hand to the latch: In this clause the woman implied that she could hear the man put his hand into the latch to try to open the door. The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as put his hand to means “to stretch out his hand.” But here in 5:4 it is used with a Hebrew word which probably indicates that he put his hand through (something). (For more details, see the next note on the word latch.)

Some ways to translate the clause are:

• Imply that the man put his hand through an opening. For example:

My love thrust his hand through the hole in the door… (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Then my darling’s hand reached to open the latch… (Contemporary English Version)

• Use a phrase with a more general meaning. For example:

My lover tried to unlatch the door (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The one I love tried to use his hand to open the door.

latch: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as latch is literally “hole.” It implies that there was an opening in the door. A person could reach through it to open the door. The God’s Word calls this opening a “keyhole.” However, it was larger than many modern keyholes, since a person could put his hand through it.

5:4b

my heart pounded for him: This phrase is a figure of speech. It tells the woman’s response when she heard the man trying to open the door (5:4a). She longed for his love, and she urgently wanted to be with him. The phrase may also imply that her sexual desires were aroused.

In some languages people do not talk about the heart when they refer to romantic feelings. Languages have different ways to refer to such feelings, and some languages use a figure of speech. It is important to use a natural way in your language. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

I longed for him.
-or-
I was filled with desire for him.
-or-
my inmost being yearned for him (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I was thrilled that he was near (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 7:7

7:7–9a

In these verses the man describes the woman with metaphors of a palm tree and various fruits. (In 5:15c–d she compared the man to a cedar tree.)

7:7a

Your stature is like a palm tree: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Your stature is like a palm tree is literally “This your stature is-like a date-palm tree.” A date palm tree is taller and more slender than many other trees. The man implied that the woman was tall and slender, like a date palm tree.

Some other ways to translate the comparison are:

You are tall and slender like a palm tree (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Your figure/stature is like a palm tree
-or-
You are tall like a palm tree (New Century Version)

palm tree: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as palm tree refers specifically to the date palm tree. It is a type of tropical tree that produces sweet fruit called “dates.” In some languages the date palm tree is not known. If that is true in your language, some other ways to translate it are:

• Use a more general word that refers to a tree like the palm tree, as in the Berean Standard Bible.

• Refer more generally to a tree that is tall and slender and produces fruit. For example:

tall slender fruit tree

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 1:12

1:12–14 The woman replied to the man

In 1:12–14 the woman replied to what the man said in 1:9–11 about her beauty. Here in 1:12–14 she also admired him and indicated that she desired him. She mentioned the sweet fragrance that was present when they were together. In 1:12 it was the fragrance of the woman’s perfume that affected the man.

In 1:13–14 the woman used two metaphors to compare the man with fragrances. The metaphors imply that the man delighted her like a wonderful fragrance. In these lines she probably imagined or dreamed about being with her beloved. She was probably not actually with him.

1:12a–b

While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance: The clause While the king was at his table (1:12a) tells where the king was while the scent of the woman’s perfume was in the air. In OT times, people reclined, or lay, on couches when they ate, so the Revised English Bible has “While the king reclines on his couch.” Use natural verb forms in your language to describe this. Some ways to do this in English are:

While the king reclines on his couch, my spikenard gives forth its scent. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
My king is sitting at his table, and the scent of my perfume is in the air.

1:12a

the king: In this context the woman used the word king as a poetic term of affection to refer to her beloved. He was not an actual king. It is good to translate the term here as you did in 1:4b. For example:

my chief
-or-
my king

at his table: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as table describes something round. The phrase at his table is more literally “in his circle/round.” Scholars differ about what the word “circle/round” refers to here:

(1) It refers to a “couch.” For example:

his couch (Revised English Bible)

(2) It refers to a “table.” For example:

his table (New International Version)

(3) It refers to “an enclosure,” maybe to his room or to a different enclosed place. For example:

his own room (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as most versions and scholars do. It is possible that the word is another way to refer to the same couch that is mentioned in 1:16c.

1:12b

my perfume spread its fragrance: The Hebrew word translated as perfume in the Berean Standard Bible, is more literally, “nard.” Nard refers to an expensive perfume imported from India. It had a beautiful fragrance, and it seemed to encourage sexual desire in that culture. The clause my perfume spread its fragrance indicates that the smell of the woman’s perfume spread through the air. Everyone around could smell it. Other ways to translate this are:

my perfume fills the air with its fragrance. (God’s Word)
-or-
the smell/odor of my perfume spread throughout the room.

Describe the spreading fragrance of perfume in a way that is natural in your language. In some languages, it may be possible to translate the idea with an idiom that would fit the poetic style.

my perfume: The phrase my perfume refers here to a type of perfumed oil that the woman spread on her body. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

the perfume ⌊that I rubbed on⌋ my ⌊body⌋
-or-
my expensive nard perfume

perfume: The word perfume refers here to perfumed oil that was made from the nard plant. This plant grows in the Himalaya mountains far away, so the nard oil was rare and expensive in Israel. For more information about the nard plant and a picture of it, see the note on perfume in 4:13c.

General Comment on 1:12

In some languages, a time clause does not occur first in the sentence. So the order of the two clauses in this verse may need to be reversed. For example:

My perfume spread its fragrance while my king was at his table.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 2017