SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 2017

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 1:10

1:10–11

In 1:10–11, the man compared the woman’s beautiful jewelry with the elaborate ornaments that a chariot horse wore. The main focus is not on the beauty of the woman’s body, but on the jewelry that added to her own beauty.

1:10a–b

The poetic lines in 1:10a and 1:10b are parallel. Both lines describe parts of the woman’s body that are decorated with jewelry, making her look even more beautiful. The parallel parts are marked below with underlining or with bold type:

10a
Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments :

10b
your neck with strings of jewels.

In 1:10b there is an ellipsis, and the words “are beautiful” are understood. In some languages, this ellipsis may not be natural. If that is true in your language, other ways to translate it are:

• Supply implied words in the second line, either the same words or other words with the same meaning. For example:

10a Earrings adorn your cheeks,

10b and your neck ⌊is beautiful⌋ with strings of jewels.

• Combine 1:10a and 1:10b. For example:

10 Your cheeks and neck are beautiful, decorated with beads and jewels.

1:10a

Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments: This clause indicates that the sides of the woman’s face were beautifully decorated with jewelry. The ornaments may be strings of beads or possibly earrings. It was probably not simply her hair that decorated her cheeks.

A good way to translate this is to use a general term for jewelry which hangs down both sides of a woman’s face. If you do not have a general term in your language, you could use a more specific term such as “earring.” For example:

Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings. (New International Version)

1:10b

your neck with strings of jewels: The strings of jewels are probably necklaces that are made of beads.

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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 3:8

3:8a

All are skilled with the sword: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as All are skilled with the sword is literally, “all of them are grasped by a sword.” The exact meaning of this statement is uncertain. There are two main ways to interpret it:

(1) It means that the men were skilled in using a sword. For example:

All of them skilled swordsmen… (Revised English Bible)

(2) It means that each man had a sword with him. For example:

all equipped with swords… (New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It fits the parallelism, and it is also supported by the parallel passive verbs in 3:8a and 3:8b (“are grasped” and “are trained”). Both verbs describe well-trained soldiers. One way to translate the parallelism is:

8a All of them are skilled with the sword;

8b all of them are trained in war.

skilled with the sword: This clause indicates that all the men who guarded the bride were well trained in fighting with a sword. A sword is a long knife that is used as a weapon. A person usually needed to be trained to use a sword well. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Each of them is well trained in fighting with long knives.
-or-
All of them are skilled with a sword (NET Bible)

3:8b

experienced in warfare: The phrase experienced in warfare means “well-trained in battle.” It indicates that the men had been taught the skills that they needed to be good fighters. It also indicates that they were experienced soldiers who had fought in battles. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

trained in combat
-or-
experienced soldiers/fighters

3:8c

Each has his sword at his side: In 3:8c the author continued to describe the same group of soldiers whom he described in 3:8a–b. Each of these well-trained soldiers had a sword. The phrase at his side indicates that the sword was easy for him to reach and use. It was right beside him whenever he needed it. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

each of them has his sword right at his thigh
-or-
each one has his sword ready

3:8d

prepared for the terror of the night: The phrase, the terror of the night, probably refers to any physical danger that might occur at night. These dangers included anything that could harm the woman or the people who were traveling with her in the procession to Jerusalem.

The procession probably needed more than one day to travel to Jerusalem, so the travelers had to set up camp at night and sleep there. It was dangerous to travel at night. Armed robbers often watched the roads to attack the people who passed by in the darkness.

In some languages it is necessary to make this danger more explicit. For example:

they are ready for ⌊anyone⌋ ⌊who might⌋ attack ⌊them⌋ at night.
-or-
they are prepared ⌊to defend her⌋ against ⌊anyone/anything⌋ who tries to harm ⌊her⌋ during the night.
-or-
Each of them is prepared to fight against any danger that threatens ⌊her⌋ in the ⌊dark⌋ night.

The theme of protection against harm was also found in 2:15 where foxes tried to damage the love between the man and woman.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 5:13

5:13

In 5:11–12 the author described what the woman saw. Here in 5:13 he describes what she smelled. In 5:13a–b, he used a simile, and in 5:13c–d he used a metaphor.

5:13a–b

His cheeks are like beds of spice, towers of perfume: Here the woman compared the man’s cheeks to beds of spice. The word cheeks also occurred in 1:10, where it referred to the woman’s cheeks. It can refer to various parts of the sides of a person’s face. Here the woman described the perfume of the man’s cheeks. They smelled like sweet-smelling spices. The woman probably did not imply that the man’s beard looked like a garden of spice plants.

Some other ways to translate the comparison are:

His face is a garden of sweet-smelling spices (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
His cheeks ⌊smell as sweet⌋ as a garden filled with spice ⌊plants⌋.
-or-
His cheeks are like a garden of spices, a garden that produces scented herbs. (God’s Word)

beds of spice: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as beds is singular. It refers to a garden or part of a garden. The word spice refers to herb plants that have a pleasing smell. The phrase beds of spice can also be translated as “garden of spices.” See the preceding note for translation examples.

spice: The word spice was also used in 4:16. There it also referred to spice plants.

towers of perfume: There are two ways to interpret the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as towers of perfume. The difference of interpretation is based on a textual issue.

(1) The phrase means “yielding fragrance.” For example:

yielding perfume… (New International Version)

(2) The phrase means “banks/towers of perfume.” For example:

Banks of perfume… (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Interpretation (2) is not natural in many languages, since perfume does not form banks or towers. English versions that follow interpretation (2) usually do not translate “tower” literally because of this difficulty. The ancient Greek version (LXX) also follows interpretation (1).

5:13c

His lips are like lilies: Here the woman used a simile. She compared the man’s lips to lilies. The simile implies that the man’s lips are like sweet-smelling lilies. The thought of the sweet smell of his lips probably reminded the woman of his kisses. Some other ways to translate this figure of speech are:

• Use a metaphor. For example:

His lips are lilies

• Use a simile and indicate the meaning. For example:

His lips ⌊smell as sweet⌋ as lilies

• Translate the meaning more directly. For example:

His lips smell sweet

Translate the meaning in a natural way in your language.

lilies: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as lilies also occurred in 2:16 and 4:5. It occurred in the singular form in 2:1–2. Refer to how you translated it in those verses.

5:13d

dripping with flowing myrrh: The phrase dripping with flowing myrrh is a hyperbole. Here it probably refers to the man’s lips being moist. It is similar to the phrase “my fingers ⌊dripped⌋ with flowing myrrh” in 5:5c.

However, since the context here is lips (instead of fingers), you may need to translate the phrase in a slightly different way here. For example:

wet with liquid myrrh (Good News Translation)
-or-
that drip with myrrh (God’s Word)
-or-
they are/smell ⌊as sweet as⌋ fine perfume

flowing myrrh: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as flowing myrrh is literally “myrrh flowing,” as in 5:5c. The man’s lips were like lilies and myrrh because of the pleasure that his lips gave the woman. This way that the woman compared his lips to myrrh is similar to the way he compared her lips to dripping honey in 4:11. Translate this phrase in the same way here and in 5:5.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 8:3

8:3–4

Here the author repeated what he said in 2:6 and 2:7. You should translate in the same way here. See the notes on 2:6–7 for translation advice.

This repetition suggests that the author carefully planned the Song to have a special structure called a “chiasm.” It is not arranged like a story, which tells events in the order they happened.

8:3a

His left hand is under my head: As in the Hebrew text for 2:6a, there is no verb in 8:3a. It is literally “his left hand under my head.” This clause probably indicates that the man supported the woman’s head with his left arm as she lay in his arms. Some other ways to translate it are:

His left arm/hand is the place where I rest my head
-or-
His left arm pillows my head

8:3b

and his right arm embraces me: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as embraces can refer generally to any embrace or specifically to a sexual caress. Most English versions translate it in a general way. Use an appropriate expression in your language. Some other ways to translate it are:

his right arm is round me. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
he holds me ⌊lovingly⌋ with his right arm.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 2:4

2:4a

He has brought me to the house of wine: Here the woman imagined the man bringing her to a house of wine, or banquet hall, as in the New International Version. The Berean Standard Bible translates this as a past action. However, here it probably describes what the woman wanted the man to do. In her thoughts she imagined him doing it. Use a natural verb form in your language.

Some other ways to translate this wish or imagination are:

Let him lead me to the banquet hall… (New International Version)
-or-
He brings me to the banquet hall… (New Living Translation (1996))

The same verb is used in 1:4b, and it functions in a similar way.

house of wine: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as house of wine is also translated as “banquet hall,” as in the New International Version. It can refer to any place where people go to drink wine. It does not necessarily imply a house or building. Here it probably does not refer to a formal banquet hall, because the man and woman met in a private place. It may refer to the figurative house in the forest that was mentioned in 1:17a.

In some languages it may be helpful to translate house of wine with a more general term. For example:

the place of celebration
-or-
the feasting place

wine: wine often has a romantic meaning in the Song, so the house of wine may be a euphemism for the “place of love.” It may be helpful to include a footnote to explain what the term implies in this verse. For example:

The phrase house of wine in the Hebrew text probably does not refer to a house where people come to drink wine together. It is a poetic way to say that the man took the woman to a romantic place where they could show their love for one another.

2:4b

and his banner over me is love: There is a textual issue in this verse:

(1) The Hebrew word in the Masoretic Text means “banner,” “standard” or “flag.” For example:

and his banner over me is love. (New American Standard Bible)

(2) In other ancient Hebrew manuscripts, the word has different vowels but the same consonants as in the Hebrew Masoretic Text. It means to “look” or “glance.” For example:

and he looked at me lovingly. (NET Bible)

(3) The word comes from a related language. It means “intention.” For example:

and his intention toward me was love. (New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as most English versions and commentators do. However, the meaning of the word is figurative in this context. See the next note on banner for more information.

banner: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as banner refers to a big flag (a large cloth attached to a long, thin piece of wood). It was carried or set in a place where people could see it from far away. Each of the tribes of Israel had a banner, and kings and armies had banners. A king’s banner had symbols or pictures that identified him and his kingdom.

When a king conquered a city, he set up his banner over it to indicate that it now belonged to him. Here in 2:4, the word banner is a metaphor. It implies that the man took responsibility for the woman to love and protect her.

Some ways to translate the metaphor “his banner over me is love” are:

• Translate the metaphor literally. For example:

He raised a flag of love over me.

• Translate the metaphor as a simile. For example:

As a king sets his flag over his people, he shows that I am protected by his love.

• Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:

He took me as his own and protected me with his love.

In some languages there may be a similar metaphor with the same meaning. Translate the meaning in a natural and appropriate way in your language.

is: The Berean Standard Bible supplies the word is, which implies present time, but the Hebrew text does not indicate when the events happened. Translate the statement in a way that fits with the way you translated in 2:4a. See the General Comment on 2:4 for examples.

General Comment on 2:4

Translators use different tenses and moods for the two clauses in 2:4. You should translate 2:4a and 2:4b so that the tenses and moods fit with each other. For example:

4a He brought me to his banquet hall 4b and raised the banner of love over me. (Good News Translation)
-or-
He brings me to the banquet room, and puts his flag of love over me.
-or-
How I wish he would bring me to his celebration place and raise his flag of love over me!

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 4:8

Poem 4:8–15 The man called his bride from Lebanon; and compared her to a private garden

In these lines the man continued to use figurative language to praise his bride (4:8–15). First, he spoke to her as if he and she were in Lebanon. Lebanon is a region north of Israel. It is far from Jerusalem (Zion), where they celebrated their wedding. In Lebanon the rugged mountains and wild animals make it dangerous for people to travel. The man calling the woman from Lebanon symbolizes that he thought the woman was wonderful and mysterious (like Lebanon), but perhaps she was reluctant to fully surrender herself to him. She seemed beyond his reach, as though she was up in the mountains, guarded by wild animals. Because he loved her, he was gentle as he wooed her, preparing her to surrender herself to him.

As you translate these lines, it is important to remember that the author used figurative language. The woman was not actually in Lebanon, and the man did not refer to a real journey from there. The garden descriptions in 4:12–15 are also figurative. They do not describe an actual garden.

Several poetic themes help to unify 4:8–15 and 4:16–5:1:

(a) Lebanon (4:8, 11, 15): In the OT, Lebanon is often portrayed as a remote, beautiful, and fragrant place with mountains and cedar forests. (For example, see Psalm 72:16; Isaiah 35:2; 60:13; and Hosea 14:5–7.)

(b) fragrances (4:10–11, 13–14, 16, 5:1, and maybe implied in 4:8)

(d) the garden metaphor (especially in focus in 4:12–5:1)

The context of 4:8–5:1, as well as 3:6–4:7, is probably the day of the couple’s wedding. In 5:1, the women of Jerusalem encouraged them to consummate their love as husband and wife.

4:8–15 The man continued to speak

4:8–11

In 4:8–11 the man used figurative language to invite the woman to come and be intimate with him. He spoke as if she were in far-away Lebanon. This figure of speech is similar to the one in 2:14, where he spoke of her being like a dove hidden high on rocky cliffs. She was not on literal cliffs, and here in 4:8–11 she was not literally on the tops of mountains in Lebanon. The figurative language may suggest that the man perceived the woman as being reluctant to fully surrender herself to him. The love that the man expressed here in 4:8–11 is more intense than in 2:14. He wanted to have marital relations with his new bride.

4:8a–b

There is a textual issue in this part of the verse, but the two textual variations have the same general meaning. The text that the Notes follows is literally, “With me from Lebanon, bride, with me from Lebanon come.” In some languages, it is more natural to begin the sentence with the verb “come,” as in the Berean Standard Bible, or with the word “bride.” For example:

Come with me from Lebanon, my bride….
-or-
My bride, come from Lebanon with me….

Come with me from Lebanon, my bride: Here the man used a figurative way to tell his bride that he wanted her to be with him. He wanted the two of them to begin to experience the joys of physical love in their marriage.

The phrase Come with me is figurative. He and she were not actually in Lebanon, so he did not mean that he literally wanted her to leave Lebanon with him.

Some other ways to translate this metaphor are:

• Use a simile or other comparison. It is helpful if the comparison implies marital relations between the man and his bride. For example:

My bride, come with me, as if we were coming from the remote Lebanon mountains.

• Use a comparison and make the meaning more explicit. For example:

My bride, come ⌊and be secure⌋ with me, as if we are descending Lebanon’s ⌊rugged⌋ mountains, coming ⌊down⌋ from Lebanon.

Translate the meaning in a poetic way in your language.

from Lebanon: Lebanon was a mountainous region north of Israel. It was a beautiful place, but it was also rugged and dangerous. It was far from Jerusalem, and the man implied that in a figurative way, the woman, though wonderful and beautiful ⌊like Lebanon⌋, seemed far away from him ⌊like Lebanon⌋. Her distance from him is a poetic way that may imply that she was reluctant to fully surrender herself to him. He also may have seen her as beyond his reach, like a beautiful queen.

Such figurative themes are common throughout the Song. For example, see 2:14; 3:6–11; 5:2–7; and 6:10.

my bride: The Hebrew word that is translated as bride is used to refer to a woman during the time right before she marries, as she marries, and for some time after the marriage. The phrase my bride is one word in Hebrew—simply bride. It is used only in 4:8–5:1, where it is used five times. It is appropriate for that section of the Song, which focuses on the wedding celebration and the days immediately after it.

In 4:8–5:1 the man seemed to use the word bride to show his delight that the woman was now his wife. It is not used anywhere else in the Song. Use an appropriate way in your language for a husband to speak to his new wife. For example:

⌊ beloved⌋wife
-or-
you the one I married

4:8b

come with me from Lebanon: Here the clause in 4:8a is repeated to add emphasis to what the man said to his bride. It emphasizes that he greatly desired to be with the woman he loved. In some languages it may not be natural to repeat this phrase or to repeat it in exactly the same words. It may be necessary to use a different way to indicate that the man was emphasizing what he just said. For example:

yes, please come with me from there!
-or-
come, let’s descend those peaks!

4:8c–f

Descend from the peak of Amana, from the summits of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards: In 4:8c–f the man continued to invite the woman to come with him. In some languages his command to the woman to “descend” may wrongly imply that he wanted her to come down those peaks alone. Translate in a way that implies that the man will descend the peaks with her. For example:

You will travel with me from the peak of Mount Amana, from the mountain peaks in Senir and Hermon, from the lairs of lions, from the mountains of leopards. (God’s Word)
-or-
We will come down from the top of Mount Amana. We will descend from the tops of Mount Senir and Mount Hermon, where lions and leopards live/roam.
-or-
Let’s go down from the tops of Amana, Senir, and Hermon mountains, where lions and leopards have their homes.

from the summits of Senir and Hermon: In 4:8c–d the author gave the names of three peaks in the Lebanon mountains—“Amana,” Senir, and Hermon. Some scholars believe that the names Senir and Hermon refer to the same peak. However, you should include all three names in your translation.

General Comment on 4:8c–d

The list of three mountain peaks in 4:8c–d seems to imply that the woman was on several mountain peaks. But she was not actually in the Lebanon mountains or on top of any mountain peak. The author used a figurative way to describe her as remote and mysterious. The two lines, 4:8c–d, are parallel and have the same meaning. The man figuratively encouraged the woman to come and be intimate with him.

4:8e–f

from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards: The lines of 4:8e and 4:8f are parallel to 4:8c and 4:8d. In 4:8e–f, the man continued to speak to his bride in a figurative way about their love. He invited her to come share in the security and joys of married love.

Some other ways to translate 4:8e–f are:

where the lions and leopards live. (Good News Translation)
-or-
where the lions have their dens and leopards live among the hills. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

⌊ dangers lurk/hide⌋there ⌊like⌋ lions and leopards ⌊lurk/hide to catch their prey⌋.

from the dens of the lions: The phrase dens of the lions refers to the homes of lions where they take care of their young cubs. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

homes of lions
-or-
places where the lions live

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 6:8

6:8–10

In the previous verses (6:4–7), the man spoke to the woman directly, using forms like “you” and “your.” He described her head and face. But here in 6:8–10 he spoke indirectly, using phrases like “the favorite of the mother who bore her.” He described her beauty, using words like “perfect one,” “unique,” and “fair.” In 6:10 he compared her beautiful face to the beauty of the sun, moon, and stars.

6:8–9

In 6:8–9 the man compared the woman to beautiful women in the royal court. The “sixty queens” and “eighty concubines” were wives of a king, but the particular king is not mentioned. It probably was not Solomon, since the author did not mention him here. Also, the numbers (60 and 80) do not match the number of Solomon’s wives in 1 Kings 11:3.

6:8a–9a

There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and maidens without number: This statement gives a hypothetical situation. It does not imply that the king (or the man) really had 60 wives, 80 concubines and a very large number of maidens. The man used the statement to praise his bride and to indicate that she was unique. No queen, concubine, or maiden could ever be as wonderful as she was.

Some ways to translate this meaning are:

What if I could have sixty queens, eighty wives, and thousands of others! 9 You would be my only choice…. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Even if someone offered me 60 queens, 80 wives, and any number of beautiful girls, I would love only ⌊you⌋.

In some languages the numbers 60 and 80 may be complex phrases, or the numbers may make the poetry seem dull or unnatural. If that is true in your language, you may use a more general way to refer to increasingly large numbers. For example.

If I could have many queens, more concubines, and countless girls, you would be my only choice, my perfect mate.

Translate the statement in a way that will imply this meaning in your language.

6:8

When the author mentioned the numbers “sixty,” “eighty,” and “without number,” he mentioned the lowest number first. But when he mentioned the status of the women, he mentioned the ones with higher status first: “queens,” “concubines,” and “maidens.”

The numbers “sixty” and “eighty” are a poetic way to imply that a person could compare the woman to any number of other women (even queens and concubines), but no one would be as perfect as she was.

6:8a

sixty queens: The word queens refers to the king’s wives. In Solomon’s time it was common in Israel and other countries for a king to have many wives. These queens sometimes had great power.

6:8b

and eighty concubines: The concubines were also wives of the king, but they had less status and power than the queens. They were often chosen because of their beauty. In some languages there is no word for concubines and the idea may be offensive. If that is true in your language, you may be able to use a more general phrase. For example:

women to serve the king

6:8c

and maidens without number: The phrase maidens without number is a hyperbole. It implies that there were so many young women that no one could count them. Other ways to translate the phrase are:

so many girls you cannot count them (New Century Version)
-or-
countless young women (New Living Translation (2004))

maidens: The word maidens probably refers to young women who are old enough to be married but are not yet mothers. There were many women who were probably associated with the king’s court but were not formally married. It is good to use a word in your language that refers to young unmarried women.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 8:14

8:14 The woman spoke to the man

English versions which indicate who speaks here agree that the woman is the one who speaks. When the man said that he wanted to hear her voice, she responded that she longed for him to come to her quickly. The language and theme are much like the second part of 2:17 (“turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle, or a young stag upon rugged mountains”).

8:14a

Come away: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Come away has several meanings. Here it means “hasten.” The woman urged the man to hurry away from where he was and go to the mountain of spices (8:14c). She probably wanted to be with him there.

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

Hurry (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Come quickly ⌊to me⌋

my beloved: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as my beloved occurs 19 times in the Song. It first occurs in 1:13a–b. There the woman used it to refer to the man, and here she used it to address him directly. It is good to translate this word in the same way in all the verses where she used it to refer to him.

8:14b

and be like a gazelle or a young stag: This clause is a simile that compares the man to a gazelle or young stag. “Gazelles” and “stags” (male deer) are beautiful animals that run fast and are sure-footed in the mountains. The woman implied that she wanted the man to come just as quickly (and joyfully) to their meeting place. In some languages it is helpful to make the meaning more explicit. For example:

Move like a swift gazelle or a young deer (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
Run like a gazelle or a young stag (God’s Word)

See the notes on 2:9a–b and 2:17c–d for more discussion.

8:14c

on the mountains of spices: The phrase mountains of spices has both a literal and a figurative meaning. Literally, it refers to a gazelle or stag bounding across mountains where spices grow. As a metaphor, it refers to the woman herself as the mountains of spices. That implies that the woman was as delightful and beautiful as the mountains where many delightful spices grow.

See the note on 4:6c–d for a discussion of a closely related statement: I will make my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

on the mountains of precious spice plants.
-or-
on the mountains where spices grow. (New Century Version)

spices: The author referred to spices throughout the Song (for example, 4:6; 4:10; 4:14; 5:1; 6:2). Most of these verses refer to the woman. They imply that she was beautiful and exciting, especially in the ways that she showed her love to the man. Translate the word as you translated it in previous verses.

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