SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 2017 – Page 14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 5:9

5:9–16 The woman described her beloved

In 5:9 the Jerusalem women asked the woman in what ways the man was so much better than other men. In 5:10–16 the woman answered with a poetic description of her beloved that uses many metaphors and hyperbole. Some verses describe the man as though he were a statue.

These verses are similar to 4:1–7 in which the man described the woman’s body. Here in 5:9–16 she described his body. It was rare in ancient Israel for a woman to describe a man’s body in detail like this. In 4:1–7 where the man described the woman, he spoke directly to her. However, in this section where the woman described him, she did not speak directly to him. She spoke to the women of Jerusalem about him.

The description in 5:9–16 has the similar phrases My beloved (5:10) and This is my beloved (5:16) near its beginning and end, forming an inclusio. It also mentions his golden head (5:11) near the beginning and his legs on bases of gold (5:15) near the end. The woman began by describing his head, then the rest of his body, and ended by mentioning his head again. In the description (5:11–16), four of the six verses describe parts of the man’s head (5:11–13, 16), which shows that the woman focused especially on his head. Her description of him may seem strange to modern readers, but she intended her description to show that he was completely desirable.

5:9 The women of Jerusalem questioned the woman

5:9a–b

In this verse the Jerusalem women asked two similar questions. The second question repeats the first one and adds a reason clause. The Hebrew text is more literally:

9a How ⌊is⌋ your lover more than a lover, most beautiful of women? 9b How ⌊is⌋ your lover more than a lover that thus you make us swear?

In some languages it is more natural to translate the phrase “How is your lover more than a lover” only once. For example:

What makes your loved one so special that you make us swear this, most beautiful woman?

How is your beloved better than others, O most beautiful among women?: Here the Jerusalem women asked the woman a real question. They used the phrase O most beautiful among women as a praise name for her. In some languages it is more natural to begin the sentence with this praise name. For example:

Most beautiful of women, what makes your beloved better than any other beloved? (God’s Word)

5:9a

How is your beloved better than others: Scholars differ about the meaning of than here:

(1) It means “better than.” For example:

How is your beloved better than others (New International Version)

(2) It means “different from.” For example:

is your lover different from everyone else? (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Interpretations (1) and (2) are similar, but the women wanted to know what caused the woman to consider her beloved so much better than any other man.

Some other ways to translate this question are:

What makes your lover better than other lovers
-or-
What is it about your loved one that ⌊makes you think that⌋ he is better than any other lover?
-or-
why is the one you love more special than others? (Contemporary English Version)

5:9b

O most beautiful among women?: The phrase most beautiful among women also occurred in 1:8, and you should translate it the same way in both verses. It is more literally “the beautiful one among women.” The man used this phrase to show his admiration for the woman. He compared her to other women, and indicated that she was more beautiful than any of them.

Translate this comparison in a natural way in your language. In some languages it may not be natural to use a phrase like this as direct address. Some other ways to translate it are:

• As a statement. For example:

You are the most beautiful of women. (New Century Version)
-or-
You are very beautiful. Other women are not beautiful beside you.

• As an exclamation. For example:

Oh very beautiful woman among all other women!

Translate the phrase in a natural way in your language.

5:9c–d

How is your beloved better than another, that you charge us so?: In 5:9c the author repeated the question in 5:9a and added the clause in 5:9d. With this added clause, the question implies that 5:9c is the reason for 5:9d. Because her beloved was better than other lovers, she made the women swear to tell him that she longed for him.

Some other ways to translate this question are:

How is your beloved better than others that you want us to swear such an oath?
-or-
What is so wonderful about your lover that you make us swear ⌊to tell him⌋ that?
-or-
Why do you want us to swear that? What makes your lover so special?

that you charge us so?: The phrase that you charge us so means “that you want to make us swear that ⌊oath⌋.” It implies that the woman wants them to swear to give him her message because he is especially wonderful and important to her. Most English versions use the connector word that. Another way to translate 5:9c–d is:

How is your lover better than other lovers? Why do you want us to promise this? (New Century Version)

charge: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as charge means “to place/put under oath.” It indicates that someone requires another person to take an oath. Often, the oath requires the person to do something (or not to do something). Here the oath requires the women to give the woman’s message to her beloved if they see him.

In some languages oaths are connected with evil spirits that torment people who fail to perform the oath. That is not the meaning here. So if that is true in your language, use a different word that does not imply that.

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

adjure (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
make us promise

General Comment on 5:9

Some scholars suggest that in 5:9 the Jerusalem women teased the woman. They seemed to doubt that the man was so special. Their question gave the woman an opportunity to describe her beloved for them in 5:10–16. Other scholars suggest that the women wanted her to describe him to help them in their search. However, the women probably knew what he looked like. (In 1:3 the woman mentioned that they loved him.)

When the woman described the man in 5:10–18, she used figures of speech. For example, she said that “His lips are like lilies” (5:13c) and “His eyes are like doves” (5:12a). She used these figures of speech to imply her feelings about him. She did not use realistic descriptions.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 7:12

7:12

Grape buds and blossoms show that spring (the season of new growth) has come. This new growth symbolizes the new love that was “growing” between the man and woman. This theme is also found in 2:10–13.

7:12a

Let us go early to the vineyards: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Let us go early to the vineyards is literally “let us rise early to the vineyards.” It indicates that the woman wanted the man to go with her to the vineyards early in the morning.

Some other ways to translate the clause are:

We will get up early and look at the vines (Good News Translation)
-or-
Let’s go to the vineyards early. (God’s Word)
-or-
Then early in the morning we can visit the grape farms.

early: The word early here refers to early in the morning, just after daybreak. Use an appropriate word in your language to refer to this time of day.

to the vineyards: A “vineyard” is a farm where people plant and cultivate grapes. They often use the grapes to make wine. The vineyard was a quiet place. There the man and woman could be alone together and enjoy a beautiful spring morning.

Some ways to translate 7:12a are:

in the early morning we will go to the vineyards… (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Let us get up early and go to the vineyards… (New Living Translation (2004))

7:12b–c

In 7:12b–c the woman listed two things for her and the man to enjoy looking for when they are in the countryside together. They will look at the grapevines to see the buds and blossoms on them. The buds and blossoms are beautiful. They develop into grapes that are sweet to eat and are also used to make wine.

to see if the vine has budded, if the blossom has opened: This clause is similar to 6:11c (“to see if the vines were budding”). It gives a purpose for going to the vineyards. The woman suggested that she and the man should go to where the grapevines were planted to see whether the vines had buds and whether some of the buds had blossoms. Another way to translate this purpose is:

We will see whether the vines have new growth/buds

the vine has budded: The word vine refers specifically to a grape vine. The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as has budded can refer generally to new signs of growth. The words budded and “blossom” (7:12c) refer to two stages that grapevines go through before they produce grapes. They produce small buds, and then the buds develop and open into blossoms. The woman wanted to see if the grapevines had new buds. Describe this in a natural way in your language.

Some translation options for 7:12c are:

to see if their blossoms have opened…. (NET Bible)
-or-
to see whether the grapevines have blossomed yet.

7:12d

if the pomegranates are in bloom: This clause tells another thing that the woman and the man can look at in the countryside. They can look at the pomegranate trees and see if they are blooming. Some other ways to translate the clause are:

We can also see if the pomegranate trees are blooming.
-or-
We can look for the first blooms on the pomegranate trees.

The phrase the pomegranates are in bloom is similar to 6:11d, and you may translate in a similar way in both places.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 1:17

1:17a

The beams of our house are cedars:
This clause continues the figurative description of the couple’s forest house. The trees surround the man and woman, providing protection and privacy. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Branches of cedar trees are the “roof” of our house
-or-
Branches of cedar trees are like the roof of a house for us
-or-
Our roof is the sky, and the cedar trees are like its frame/supports

The beams: The word beams refers to large pieces of wood that support the roof of a house. In this context, the branches of the cedar trees are like these large pieces of wood in a house. The man and woman looked up at these branches of the trees, as though they were in a forest “house” looking up at the beams that support the roof.

cedars: The word “cedar” is a kind of evergreen tree that grows large and tall. Its wood is hard and smells sweet, and it is valuable for building.

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

4:4

In 4:4 the man used a simile that has two parts. He began by comparing the woman’s neck to the tower of David (4:4a–b). Then he compared her jewelry to shields, which were hanging on the tower (4:4c–d).

4:4a–b

Your neck is like the tower of David, built with rows of stones: Here the man compared the woman’s neck to the tower of David. The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rows of stones seems to describe the way that the tower was built, but the meaning of the Hebrew word is unknown. It occurs only here in the OT. There are at least three ways to interpret it:

(1) It means that woman’s neck is similar in some way to the impressive way that the tower of David was designed and constructed. For example:

Your neck is like David’s beautifully-designed tower. (God’s Word)

(2) It means “built in rows.” This may refer to the woman’s necklaces as being like rows of shields (4:4c–d) or like the way the tower was built with rows of stones. (These rows are called “courses” in some English versions.) For example:

Your neck is like the tower of David, built in courses… (New Revised Standard Version)

(3) It describes the function of the tower, either as a storage place for weapons or as a defensive structure. For example:

Your neck is like the tower of David, built for an arsenal… (Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The woman’s beautiful neck and necklaces were like the tower of David, which was tall, majestic, and beautiful. The shields that hung from it were also beautiful. They were probably decorated with gold and jewels that shone in the sun like the woman’s necklaces described in 4:4c–d.

Because the Berean Standard Bible does not follow interpretation (1), the Notes uses the New International Version as the source text for the Notes and Display of 4:4a–b.

(New International Version) Your neck is like the tower of David, built with elegance: In this comparison the author indicates that the woman’s neck was beautiful and elegant. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

Your neck is more graceful than the tower of David. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Your neck is as beautiful as the tower of David (New Living Translation (2004))

(New International Version) the tower of David: The phrase tower of David refers here to one of the towers that King David caused to be built. It does not refer to the tower near Jerusalem that is known today as the “tower of David.” That tower was built a long time after the Song of Songs was written. The tower in this verse refers to an older tower. Scholars do not have any information about this tower except what is said here in the Song, and the Bible does not refer to it anywhere else.

The Song implies that the tower was large, impressive, and beautiful. Probably David did not actually build it himself. He provided the money and instructions for it to be built. Some other ways to translate the phrase the tower of David are:

the tower that David ⌊built⌋
-or-
the tower which David ⌊caused to be built⌋

tower: A tower in ancient Israel was a building that was much taller (and often not as wide) as the buildings around it. Most towers were made of stone, but some of the towers that King David built were made of white marble. Marble is a beautiful, smooth, expensive stone. It is also hard and durable.

A tower was usually used to watch for signs that enemies were coming to attack. It was also a place that was hard for enemies to enter, so it protected the soldiers and other people during battle. In some languages it may be helpful to make the meaning more explicit. For example:

watchtower
-or-
tall building ⌊where men⌋ guarded ⌊the city⌋

(New International Version) built with elegance: The meaning of the Hebrew word that the New International Version translates as built with elegance is unknown. However, the context indicates that the tower was beautiful and well-built. Another way to translate this meaning is:

beautifully designed (God’s Word)

4:4c–d

In 4:4c–d the author continued to compare the woman’s neck to the watchtower. Here he compared the jewelry on her neck to the shields that hung from the tower. These shields were impressive and beautiful. They were probably decorated with gold and jewels to make them shine in the sun. The woman’s jewelry was also impressive and beautiful. Translate in a way that communicates that picture.

on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as shields refers to small round shields that soldiers (warriors) carried in battle. The phrase on it hang a thousand shields indicates that a thousand of these shields were hanging from the tower. The text indicates that the woman’s necklaces or ornaments and these shields were similar to each other in some way.

Some other way to translate the whole comparison are:

Your neck is like the tower of David, round and smooth, with a necklace like a thousand shields hung around it. (Good News Translation)
-or-
Your neck is as beautiful as the tower of David, jeweled with the shields of a thousand heroes. (New Living Translation (2004))

all of them shields of warriors: The phrase all of them shields of warriors is parallel to a thousand shields. It repeats the idea of shields and adds the information that they were warriors’ shields. It was common to hang shields on walls for decoration. They were considered beautiful ornaments.

The author probably focused here on the beauty of the ornamental shields that he compared to the beauty of the woman’s jewelry and to her own beauty. The magnificence of the tower with military shields suggests that the woman was like a beautiful queen.

See the preceding note for examples of how to translate this comparison.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 6:4

Section 6:4–8:4

The man praised the woman and sang about springtime

In this section the man described the woman in two separate speeches (6:4–10 and 7:1–10). Some verses are difficult to understand, especially 6:11–13, and it is important to think about them carefully. The woman responded to the man in 7:11 and continued to speak to the end of the section at 8:4.

The verse numbering in the Hebrew text is different from the Berean Standard Bible and a majority of English versions. The Hebrew text begins chapter 7 where the Berean Standard Bible begins 6:13, so in chapter 7 the verses in the Hebrew text are one number higher than the verse numbers in the Berean Standard Bible. For example, 6:13–7:13 in the Berean Standard Bible is 7:1–14 in the Hebrew text (and also in the New Jerusalem Bible and Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures). It is helpful to be aware that some commentaries follow the Hebrew verse numbering. The Notes will follow the verse numbers in the Berean Standard Bible (along with the majority of English versions).

6:4–10 The man described the woman

In 6:4–10, the man spoke to the woman. In 6:4–7, he spoke directly to her with forms like “you” and “your.” But in 6:8–10, he spoke about her, using forms like “she” and “her.” In 6:10 the man probably quoted what the other women said to praise her beauty.

This section begins and ends with the same phrase. The Berean Standard Bible translates the phrase in 6:4c as “as majestic as troops with banners,” and in 6:10 it repeats this phrase. However, the context is different, so scholars are not certain whether the meaning of the phrase is the same or different in the two verses. The notes for 6:10 will discuss this issue.

In 6:4–10 the man sang his second praise song to describe the woman. This song is similar in some ways to his first praise song in 4:1–5, and it repeats some portions of that song. However, here his words seem less intimate. In 4:9 the man indicated that she is superior to all other women.

6:4–10 The man spoke

6:4a–c

The two lines, 6:4a and 6:4b, are parallel. In each line the man compared the woman’s beauty to the beauty of an important city. In 6:4a he compared her beauty to Tirzah, and in 6:4b he compared it to Jerusalem. In the third line, he compared the woman to troops carrying banners.

When the man compared the woman to cities and armies, he implied that she was beautiful, grand, splendid, and strong like those cities and armies. He felt awe when he was with her, just as he felt awe when he was in the royal cities or looked at the powerful armies. Be sure that your translation communicates this meaning.

6:4a

You are as beautiful, my darling, as Tirzah: Here the man used the phrase my darling as a loving name for the woman, as he did in 1:9. You can translate it in the same way here. In some languages it is more natural to translate the phrase in a different place in the sentence. For example:

My darling, you are as beautiful as Tirzah (NET Bible)
-or-
You are beautiful, my true love, like Tirzah (God’s Word)

You are as beautiful…as Tirzah: Here the man compared the woman’s beauty to an important city called Tirzah. It had beautiful streets and grand buildings. The man implied that the woman was as grand and beautiful as that city. Some other ways to translate this comparison are:

as lovely as the city of Tirzah (Good News Translation)
-or-
you are beautiful…like the splendid/magnificent city of Tirzah

beautiful: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as beautiful is a common word that is used often in the Song. It is used in the phrase “most beautiful of women” in 6:1. Here it compares the woman’s beauty to the beauty of a city. In some languages it is natural to use different words to refer to the beauty of a woman and the beauty of a city. For example:

You are as beautiful as the grand city of Tirzah

Tirzah: Tirzah was the name of a city that King Solomon favored. It was known for its royal splendor and beauty. It became the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel soon after Solomon died. To many people, the name Tirzah is not familiar, so it may be helpful to make explicit that it is the name of a city. For example:

as lovely as the city of Tirzah (Good News Translation)
-or-
beautiful like Tirzah city is beautiful

my darling: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as my darling literally means “my friend” or “my companion.” But in a context like the Song, it has a romantic sense. This word is the most common way the man used to refer to the woman in the Song. It was first used in 1:10–11, and you may translate it as you did there.

6:4b

as lovely as Jerusalem: Here the man compared the woman to the city of Jerusalem. He used a different Hebrew word from the word “beautiful” in 6:4a. This word refers to a type of beauty that is appropriate for what is being described. In this situation it is the kind of beauty that is fitting for the woman and also for those great cities.

This word was also used in Song 1:4, 2:14, and 4:3. Refer to how you translated it in these verses. Some other ways to translate the comparison here are:

you are as comely as Jerusalem
-or-
you are awesome/grand like the city of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem: Jerusalem was the capital city of the southern kingdom of Judah. It was known for its royal splendor and was famous for its great beauty.

6:4c

as majestic as troops with banners: In this clause the man continued to describe the woman. There are several ways to interpret the clause:

(1) It refers to being as awe-inspiring as an army of soldiers, in which some of the soldiers carried large flags (banners). For example:

as majestic as troops with banners. (New International Version)

(2) It refers to being as awe-inspiring as the sky and all its stars. For example:

more powerful than all of the stars in the heavens. (Contemporary English Version)

(3) It refers to the splendor of these cities without mentioning an army or banners. For example:

as breathtaking as these great cities. (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most English versions.

majestic: In this context the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as majestic probably indicates that the woman was awesome and imposing. The man respected her and felt awed by her great beauty. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

awesome as an army with banners. (English Standard Version)
-or-
as awe-inspiring as bannered armies! (NET Bible)

In some languages it may be distracting or strange to compare a woman to an army. If that is true in your language, you may be able to compare her to a queen leading her army. For example:

You are as ⌊majestic⌋ as ⌊a queen coming with⌋ an army waving flags.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 8:10

8:10 The woman spoke

8:10a–b

In 8:10a the poet used the image of a “wall” to imply that the woman was pure and chaste. In 8:10b he used the image of a “tower” to indicate that she was physically mature.

I am a wall: Here the young woman responded to what her brothers said. She used a wall as a figure of speech in the same way as her brothers did to indicate that she was chaste. She did not allow men to be sexually intimate with her. It is good to translate this figure of speech in a similar way to what you did in 8:9a. For example:

• Use a simile. For example:

I am like a wall
-or-
I am like a barrier

• Use a figure of speech and indicate the meaning. For example:

If I ⌊protect my purity⌋ like a wall ⌊protects a city/home⌋

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

If I am chaste/pure
-or-
If I have kept/protected myself from having sexual relations ⌊with anyone⌋

and my breasts are like towers: The woman used a hyperbole, my breasts are like towers, to respond to what her brothers said in 8:8. (They said “she has no breasts.”) Here in 8:10 the woman disagreed with them. She said that her breasts were large and beautiful like towers. She implied that she was fully mature and ready for marriage.

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

• Translate the hyperbole and indicate its meaning. For example:

My breasts are large like towers/buildings.

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

My breasts are fully mature.

• Use an appropriate figure of speech or other way to describe mature breasts in your language.

My breasts show that I am ready for love.

am…are: The Berean Standard Bible includes the verbs am and are. In Hebrew, there is no verb. Scholars differ about the time that the woman referred to.

(1) She referred to the time period when she was speaking. At that time, she was like a wall, and her breasts were mature. For example:

I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. (New International Version)

(2) She referred to a time before she was speaking. At that time, she was like a wall, and her breasts were mature. For example:

I was a wall, and my breasts were like fortress towers. (NET Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). She was probably telling her brothers that now she is mature, yet still chaste.

8:10c

So: In this context the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So introduces the result of the woman’s being chaste (“like a wall”) and being ready for love (implied by her mature breasts). He could be confident that she was completely true to him. He was the only one who would enjoy her love.

Some other ways to translate the connection between 8:10b and 8:10c are:

So (God’s Word)
-or-
As a result
-or-
Thus (New International Version)

I have become in his eyes like one who brings peace: This clause tells about what the man thought about the woman. There are two ways to interpret it:

(1) The man thought that the woman caused him to have peace. For example:

Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment. (New International Version)

(2) The man thought that he caused the woman to have peace. For example:

My lover knows that with him I find contentment and peace. (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). To the man the woman was a person who caused him to have peace. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

So he thinks of me as a person who makes him feel content.
-or-
So I was to him, as one who brings happiness. (New Century Version)
-or-
so he looks at me and thinks, “She makes me happy/content.”

one who brings peace: This phrase indicates that the woman caused the man to feel peaceful, contented, and happy. For translation examples, see the preceding note on “I was in his eyes as one who brings peace.”

peace: The Hebrew word shalom that the Berean Standard Bible translates as peace refers to well-being, contentment, and completeness. It does not indicate only that a person does not have conflict with other people. It implies here that the woman made him content, complete, and blessed.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 2:11

2:11–13

In these verses the man spoke about the beautiful season of springtime after the cold time ended. The plants were growing again and were fruitful. He implied to the woman that it was also the season for their love to grow. It was the “time of singing,” and he wanted her to come with him.

Notice that 2:13d is exactly the same as 2:10b, making 2:10–13 a chiasm that emphasizes the man’s invitation. Translate 2:10b and 2:13d in the same way in your language.

2:11

The two parts of this verse are parallel to each other. In some languages it may be more natural to combine 2:11a and 2:11b. See the General Comment on 2:11 at the end of the notes for 2:11b for an example.

2:11a

For now the winter is past: In this verse the man began to talk about the weather to persuade the woman to come out with him. He implied that in winter she might not want to come out. The winter is the cold time, when many plants die or stop blooming. Animals try to find a covered place to hide from the cold weather. That cold time was over.

Some other ways to translate For now the winter is past are:

for the cold season/time is already over
-or-
Look, the cold/bad weather is gone!

For now: The phrase For now introduces the man’s statements in 2:11–13c in an emphatic way. The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as now indicates that what comes after it is especially important or interesting. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

for lo (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
For see (New Jerusalem Bible)

In some languages it is not necessary to have a word like For because it is already clear that in 2:11–13 the man gave reasons why the woman should come away with him. Here is another way to translate this:

Look! The winter is past. (God’s Word)

In other languages it may also not be natural to use extra emphasis. Here is another way to translate this:

Winter is past (Contemporary English Version)

Translate the invitation in a way that is natural and poetic in your language.

winter: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as winter is used only here in the OT. In Palestine, winter is a cold and rainy season of the year, which extends from October to March. Some other ways to translate winter are:

wintertime
-or-
rainy season

2:11b

the rain is over and gone: The clause the rain is over and gone has a similar meaning to “the winter is past” in 2:11a. In Palestine the heavy rains occurred in winter. The man implied that if the woman comes out with him now, she will enjoy nice weather. Another way to translate the clause is:

the rains have stopped (Good News Translation)
-or-
the winter rains are over and gone (NET Bible)

Translate the clause in a way that will appeal to a woman in your culture.

is over and gone: In Hebrew the phrase is over and gone is more literally “⌊it⌋ has passed away, ⌊it⌋ has gone.” Using two verbs adds emphasis to the change of season. The man implied that there was no rain now, so it was fine weather for the woman to join him outside.

In some languages it may be more natural to add emphasis in a different way. For example:

the rains are completely gone.
-or-
the rainy time has ended.

General Comment on 2:11

The two clauses in this verse have almost the same meaning. In some languages it may be more natural to combine the clauses. For example:

The cold rainy season has definitely ended.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 4:15

4:15

In 4:15 the man stopped describing the wonderful plants of the garden (4:13–14). He began to describe the spring inside the garden that gave it water.

4:15a–b

You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water: The phrases a garden spring and a well of fresh water use two different metaphors to express the same meaning. Both phrases describe an abundant source of fresh water that flows out and waters the garden to help the fruits and spices mentioned in 4:13–14 to grow. The water is a metaphor to describe the woman as a source of joy and life.

4:15a

a garden spring: In this verse the man continued to speak to the woman. He compared her to a fountain (or spring) in a garden. In some languages it is necessary to make this comparison explicit, as many English versions do. For example:

You are like a garden fountain (New Century Version)

In Hebrew the word garden is plural, and the phrase a garden spring is literally “a fountain of gardens.” This phrase is a figure of speech to emphasize that the fountain produces abundant water. Another way to translate that meaning is:

You are like many springs that make the garden moist.

spring: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as spring refers to water that flows out from an opening in the ground. This type of spring is often called a “fountain” in English (as in the Revised Standard Version). A spring produces a constant flow of fresh water. This is in contrast to a well where the water stays in one place and can become stagnant. Use a word in your language that refers to a natural spring, not a man-made fountain.

4:15b

a well of fresh water: As in 4:15a, the man continued to speak to the woman. He indicated that she was like a well of fresh water. In an ordinary well, the water does not flow or move, so the water can become dirty and stagnant. The woman is like an unusual well that produces flowing (fresh) water.

The phrase fresh water indicates that the water continues to flow inside the well, as if it were in a stream. It contrasts with water in an ordinary well that does not move or flow. Some scholars suggest that the source of the well is a spring, which causes the water in the well to keep moving.

Some ways to translate a well of fresh water are:

a well of living water (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
a well that has flowing water
-or-
a spring of pure water

4:15c

flowing down from Lebanon: Here the man compared the woman to streams that flow from Lebanon. The author implies that the Lebanon mountains are the source of the best fresh water. (Those mountains were also the source of wonderful fragrances in 4:11c.) Some ways to translate the comparison are:

⌊ You are like⌋a refreshing stream that flows from Lebanon.
-or-
and streams flowing from Lebanon. (New American Standard Bible)

flowing: The word flowing has a similar meaning to “spring” in 4:15a and the well “of fresh water” in 4:15b. The phrase describes this water as being like water that comes down from the Lebanon mountains. It is clear, fresh and flowing.

from Lebanon: Here Lebanon is the source of flowing streams of water. In 4:11 Lebanon was the source of wonderful fragrances.

In 4:8 the man implied that the Lebanon mountains isolated the woman from him. Here the metaphor of the Lebanon mountains changes. The man describes the flowing streams from the Lebanon mountains as a source of life and joy. The reference to Lebanon in 4:8a–b and 4:15 form an inclusio.

Other ways to translate from Lebanon here are:

from the Lebanon Mountains. (Good News Translation)
-or-
down the mountains in Lebanon.

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