SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 2017 – Page 6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 1:7

1:7–8 The woman spoke and the man replied

There are some difficult interpretation issues in 1:7–8. One issue is the attitude of the man and woman. In 1:7, did the woman ask for information in a serious manner or did she speak in a flirting way? In 1:8, did the man scold the woman or did he reply in a flirting way? Possibly, the woman was more serious in 1:7, while the man replied in a flirting way in 1:8.

The Song uses several figurative themes that occur at different places in the book. The theme of 1:5–6 was the vineyard. In 1:7–8 the focus shifts to the theme of shepherds and pastures.

1:7a–e The woman spoke to the man

In this verse the woman asked the man where he pastured his sheep. There are two slightly different ways to understand and translate the time that she referred to:

• Maybe she referred to the place where the man usually pastured his sheep. For example:

Tell me…where you graze your flock… (New International Version)

• Maybe she referred to the place where the man planned to pasture his flock on that day (or in the near future). For example:

Where will you lead your flock to graze… (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is uncertain which option is more likely. However, either option has almost the same result in this context. The main point is that the woman wanted to know where to find her beloved when she went out to look for him. Translate in a way that is natural in your language.

1:7a–c

There are parallel parts in 1:7a–c. The woman asked her beloved where he pastured his flock and where he made them lie down at noon. The Hebrew text is more literally:

7a Tell me…

7b where you pasture ⌊your flock⌋

7c where you cause ⌊it/them⌋ to rest at noon?

Other ways to translate this request are:

My love, please tell me where you take your sheep to graze and where you will let them rest at noon.
-or-
Tell me, my love, where will you lead your flock to graze? Where will they rest from the noonday sun?

1:7a

Tell me, O one I love: Here the woman used the phrase O one I love like a name for her beloved. In Hebrew the phrase is only two words which sound poetic together. In some languages it may be more natural to put the direct address first in the sentence. For example:

O one I love, tell me

In some languages it may be more natural not to use direct address. For example:

You are the one I love. Tell me

Tell me: The phrase Tell me is a request and an indirect question. Some other ways to translate it are:

Please tell me (God’s Word)
-or-
I would like you to let me know

O one I love: The phrase O one I love is a term of affection that the woman used as she spoke to the man. Languages often have a special term of affection that is natural for the woman to use in this context. For example:

my love (Good News Translation)
-or-
My darling (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
sweetheart (New Jerusalem Bible)

1:7b

where do you pasture your sheep: This phrase refers to the place where the man usually led his flock to graze. On some days he might lead them to a different place, so the woman wanted to be sure exactly where her beloved planned to be. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

Where will you lead your flock to graze (Good News Translation)
-or-
where do you feed your sheep (New Century Version)
-or-
where you plan to lead your flock to eat today?

pasture your sheep: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pasture refers to caring for animals like sheep and goats. It especially refers to leading them to areas where they will be able to eat grass or other plants. The Berean Standard Bible supplies the implied phrase your sheep, which is not in the Hebrew text.

Some other ways to translate the meaning are:

feed your sheep (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
take your animals to graze/eat

1:7c

Where do you rest them at midday: This clause is parallel to the clause in 1:7b. It has basically the same meaning. The woman was still asking the man where he would take his flock (them). However, it adds the meaning rest and the time of day (midday). Some other ways to translate the clause are:

At noon, where will you make your sheep lie down?
-or-
Where do you let them rest at noon? (New Century Version)

In this verse it is important to understand that the woman was not primarily interested in the sheep. She asked the question because she wanted to know where her beloved planned to be.

1:7d–e

In 1:7a–c, the woman asked the man to tell her where he usually led his flock to graze. Here in 1:7d–e, she gave her reason for wanting to know where he will be. She wanted to know so that she did not need to search for him near the other shepherds. If she wandered around the shepherds’ tents, they might think that she was an immoral woman looking for pleasure.

In some languages it may be necessary to repeat part of the request from 1:7a to make the connection clear. For example:

Tell me so that I will not have to wander around beside the flocks of your companions! (similarly, the NET Bible)

Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your companions: Here the woman asked a rhetorical question. The question indicates that she did not want to be like a woman who wanders around the shepherds’ tents. If she did that, others might think that she was a prostitute. In some languages it is necessary to make this explicit in some way. For example:

For why should I wander like a prostitute among your friends and their flocks? (New Living Translation (2004))

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

• As a rhetorical question:

Why should I need to look for you among the flocks of the other shepherds? (Good News Translation)
-or-
Will it be good/proper if I walk here and there looking for you where the other shepherds pasture their flocks?

• As a request:

Let me not be as one who strays

Beside the flocks of your fellows. (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
Please don’t cause me to wander around looking for you where other men take their sheep.

• As a statement:

I do not want to wander around looking for you where other men take their sheep.

Translate the meaning in a natural way in your language.

veiled: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as veiled can also mean “wander.” These two meanings are more similar than they seem. In that culture a prostitute often wore a veil over her face, so the Berean Standard Bible has “like a veiled woman.” However, it is better to translate the meaning “wanders,” since there are other reasons for wearing a veil.

The woman wanted to know where the man was going so that she did not have to wander around searching for him when she came to meet him at noon (1:7c). The theme of searching for a person and finding him is common in the Song.

1:7e

beside the flocks of your companions: The phrase beside the flocks of your companions implies that the man often pastured his flocks near other shepherds. They were probably his friends or a group of shepherds who went out together to graze their flocks. The woman implied here that she did not want to go near those other shepherds to search for her beloved. She was afraid that she might be mistaken for an immoral woman.

Other ways to translate this phrase are:

among your friends and their flocks (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
near your friends’ sheep (New Century 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.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 3:5

3:5 The woman spoke to the women of Jerusalem

This verse is a refrain, and it ends this section (2:8–3:5). It is identical to the refrain in 2:7, so the two verses should be translated in the same way.

3:5a–e

O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right: For information and translation advice on this verse, refer to the notes for 2:7a–e.

General Comment/summary for 2:8–3:5

In this section (especially in 2:8–17) the author describes the new spring plants and blossoms. He implies that the love between the man and woman was also growing. In 3:1–4 the woman searched for her beloved and longed for union with him. In 3:4 she dreamed that she found him and brought him home with her. As the man and woman became more ready to be intimate with each other, the woman warned the Jerusalem women to be careful to not influence them to express that intimate love before the right time (3:5).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 5:10

5:10–16 The woman responded to the women of Jerusalem

In 5:10–16 the woman gave the women a poetic description of her beloved. It is similar to 4:1–7 where the man praised her beauty. In both descriptions the first verse is a general statement, and the following verses give more specific descriptions. Since the woman also used the descriptions to imply her feelings for the man, she often used hyperboles.

Praise songs like this usually begin by describing the person’s head and conclude by describing his legs and feet. However, after the women described the man’s legs, she concluded by again describing his mouth in 5:16a.

5:10a

My beloved is dazzling and ruddy: The clause My beloved is dazzling and ruddy probably refers to the man’s whole body, not to one particular part. The statement indicates that the man’s skin showed that he was healthy. Languages have different ways to describe a person’s skin and his good health. It is important to use a natural way in your language to praise a person’s skin or his healthy appearance.

Some other ways to translate 5:10a are:

My beloved is radiant and healthy
-or-
My lover glows with good health
-or-
He is handsome and healthy (Contemporary English Version)

My beloved: The words My beloved here in 5:10a and in 5:16c form an inclusio.

dazzling and ruddy: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as dazzling means “bright” or “shining.” It is used in 5:11–15 to describe the metals, liquids, and jewels that the woman mentioned. When the word describes skin, as it does here, it indicates that the skin glows. (The word dazzling does not mean “white” here.)

The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ruddy probably indicates that the man’s complexion was healthy and well-tanned from being in the sun. Such ruddy skin indicates excellent health.

The words dazzling and ruddy both imply that the man was in excellent health; he was handsome and young. Use natural ways in your language for a woman to describe these qualities in her beloved. Some other ways to translate them are:

My beloved is clear-skinned and ruddy (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
My beloved is dazzling, and his skin is beautiful.
-or-
My lover is handsome and strong (Good News Translation)

5:10b

outstanding among ten thousand: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as outstanding indicates here that the man is “superior” to all other young men. The number ten thousand is the highest number that is used for comparisons in Hebrew poetry. It is not used in a literal way here, but simply indicates a very large number. The woman meant that no other man could compare to him—he was superior to all of them! Many languages have a figurative expression like this (such as “one in a million” in English).

Some other ways to translate this figure of speech are:

he is the best among ten thousand others.
-or-
he is more desirable than all other young men.
-or-
no other man is ⌊excellent⌋ like him.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 7:13

7:13a

The mandrakes send forth a fragrance: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as mandrakes refers to a certain kind of plant that has sweet-smelling flowers. The phrase The mandrakes send forth a fragrance indicates that the scent of the mandrake plants was in the air.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 2:1

2:1–7 The man and woman praised each other

Lines 2:1–7 are the end of the first poetic section in the Song. In them, the man and woman praised each other. He brought her to his banquet room and embraced her. In 2:7 she cautioned the women of Jerusalem not to awaken love before the right time.

2:1 The woman compared herself to common flowers

2:1a

I am a rose of Sharon:
The statement I am a rose of Sharon is a metaphor. The woman compared herself to a flower on the plains of Sharon. There are three ways to interpret this statement:

(1) She was being humble. She implied that she was only an ordinary girl, and she had a common beauty like many other girls. For example:

I am only a wild flower in Sharon… (Good News Translation)

(2) She was being proud or self-confident. She implied that she was unusually beautiful. For example:

I am the rose of Sharon. (New Jerusalem Bible)

(3) The statement does not indicate clearly whether she was humble or proud. For example:

I am a rose of Sharon. (New International Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). She implied that she was pretty like a common flower, but she was not unusually beautiful. In 2:2 the man responded by reassuring her that she was indeed very beautiful and not common. The discussion in 1:5–6 also suggests that the woman was humble about her appearance. Some other ways to translate 2:1a are:

I am only a wild flower in Sharon… (Good News Translation)
-or-
I am a meadow flower from Sharon… (NET Bible)
-or-
I am an asphodel in Sharon… (New English Bible)

rose: The exact meaning of the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates rose is uncertain. Many English versions translate it as “rose,” but nearly all Bible scholars agree that the flower was not a rose. Roses were unknown in ancient Israel. The Hebrew word more likely refers to a “crocus,” “asphodel” or “narcissus.” Some ways to translate the word are:

• Use a general term for a common flower that grows naturally without being cultivated. For example:

wildflower
-or-
meadow flower

• Use a specific word that refers to a beautiful wildflower that grows in your area. Some examples of wildflowers that grow in Israel are:

crocus
-or-
asphodel
-or-
narcissus

Here the woman described herself in a humble way, so it is probably best not to use a flower that is grown for its special beauty.

Sharon: Sharon was the name of a large level plain in Israel. It was located between the Mediterranean Sea and the mountains. In some languages it may be helpful to indicate what the name Sharon refers to. For example:

⌊ the plain of⌋Sharon

You may also choose to include a footnote with more information. For example:

The name Sharon refers to a large plain beside the coast. It is a well-watered and fertile land, and many wild flowers grow there.

2:1b

In this part of the verse the woman gave another example of a common wild flower to which she compared herself. In some languages it may be more natural to connect 2:1a and 2:1b with a conjunction.

a lily of the valley: There is an ellipsis here. In the phrase a lily of the valley the woman gave another example of a wild flower that she was like. The full form is “⌊I am⌋ a lily of the valley.” This lily is a common flower that is usually red or purple.

Here the phrase is a metaphor like the one in 2:1a. The woman used it to indicate that she was as ordinary as one of the many lilies that grow in the valleys. Some other ways to translate the metaphor are:

• Use a simile. For example:

⌊ I am⌋like a lily of the valley.
-or-
like a lily growing in the valley.

• Indicate how the woman was like a lily of the valley. For example:

as ⌊common as⌋ a lily in the valley.

Translate the metaphor in a natural way in your language.

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

4:5

In 4:5 the man compared the woman’s breasts to two gazelles grazing among lilies. In some cultures it may not be appropriate to describe a woman’s breasts openly, but in the author’s culture it was an acceptable and common part of love poetry. For more information, see the comments on “Respectable speech and actions in the Song” in the introduction to 4:1–7.

Your breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle grazing among the lilies: In this phrase the man praised the woman. He implied that he felt strong love for her as he looked at her. Her breasts made him feel as happy as if he were in a beautiful place where fawns grazed among sweet-smelling lilies. Translate in a beautiful, poetic way that will express the feelings of the man as he spoke to the woman.

Some ways to do this in English are:

Your breasts remind me of twin fawns of a gazelle grazing in ⌊a field of⌋ lilies.
-or-
When I see your breasts, I think of young gazelle twins feeding on ⌊sweet-smelling⌋ lilies.

It is likely that in this statement, the man described some characteristics of the woman that the gazelles and lilies suggested. He described how she affected him, rather than what she looked like.

4:5a

Your breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle: In this phrase the man compared the woman’s breasts to two young gazelles (fawns). He describes her breasts as being like twins born to the same mother. This figure of speech implies that her breasts are identical, just as twin fawns are identical. Another way to translate this comparison is:

Your two breasts are like young twins of a gazelle

Your breasts: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as breasts is literally, “your two breasts.” It’s possible the Hebrew includes the word two because it begins with the same sound as the word for breasts. In many languages the word two is not needed here, as in the Berean Standard Bible.

like two fawns, twins: The word, twins, implies that the woman’s breasts are exactly alike, but the text does not explicitly say how they are like fawns. The fawns that the man referred to here are young gazelles. In Israel people considered them to be graceful, gentle, beautiful, shy, and quick. It is uncertain which specific quality the author referred to here, but it is clear that the woman’s breasts were beautiful and pleasing to the man. Consider how to communicate this meaning in a poetic way.

In some languages it may seem insulting to compare the woman’s breasts to fawns, or it may imply a wrong meaning. If that is true in your language, you may be able to use a more general description. Since the man described his feelings about her breasts, it may be helpful to indicate that he considered them to be beautiful. For example:

Your breasts are as ⌊lovely⌋ as two ⌊beautiful⌋ twin fawns

4:5c

grazing among the lilies: The phrase grazing among the lilies describes the place where the fawns were feeding. It also implies that the man had strong loving feelings as he looked at the woman. He felt happy when he was with her. Here the beautiful fawns among the lilies represent the woman’s breasts and the woman herself.

Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

that feed in the midst of lilies.
-or-
that eat where lily flowers grow.

lilies: lilies smell sweet, and they may be associated with romance. The lilies are part of the description of the woman’s breasts. The text may imply that her breasts were like lilies because they were perfumed.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 6:5

6:5a–b

Turn your eyes away from me, for they have overcome me: In the Song the man often referred to the woman’s eyes (1:15; 4:1; 4:9; 6:5; 7:4). Here he asked the woman not to look directly into his eyes, because that made him feel confused. The sentence is more literally, “Turn your eyes from me which they confuse me.” Her beautiful eyes delighted him, but he could not see their beauty and still think clearly. However, he did not really want her to turn away.

Some other ways to translate 6:5a–b are:

Turn your eyes from me, because they excite me too much. (New Century Version)
-or-
Turn your eyes away from me—I am overcome when you gaze at me!

In some cultures people may not understand the reason for the man’s request. They may think that the woman tried to use spiritual power to enchant him. If that is true in your culture, you should translate in a different way that will not imply that wrong meaning. Other ways to translate it are:

• Add implied information to make the meaning clear. For example:

Your eyes confuse me ⌊with their beauty⌋. Turn them aside ⌊so I can think clearly⌋ !

• Use a saying or figure of speech that has the same meaning in your own language.

Turn your eyes away from me: This clause implies that the woman was looking directly into the man’s eyes. He asked her not to gaze into his eyes, but at the same time, he did not really want her to look away. He implied that when she looked at him like that, he felt weak from love and desire.

In some languages there may be a special way to express this meaning. In other languages there may be a figure of speech to translate it. Translate the meaning in a natural way that will fit this context in your culture.

for they have overcome me: The phrase they have overcome me is similar to the phrase “You have captured my heart” in 4:9. In 4:9 the man felt helpless, but he also felt pleasure. Here in 6:5 the meaning is similar, but his feeling when he looked into her eyes was even stronger. Some other ways to translate it are:

they overwhelm me! (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
they are holding me captive. (Good News Translation)
-or-
they overpower me. (New Living Translation (2004))

6:5c–d

Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down from Gilead: The comparison here is identical to the one in 4:1d–e. Translate it in the same way here. For more information, see the notes on 4:1d–e.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 8:11

8:11–12

In these verses the author mentioned a vineyard, as he did in 1:6. The verses probably imply that the value of true love (see 8:7c–d) is much greater than the value of wealth and power. King Solomon symbolized that type of power and riches. The text implies that a person should value love more than any amount of money.

Scholars differ about who spoke in 8:11–12.

(1) The woman spoke. For example, the New International Version identifies the speaker as:

She (New International Version)

(2) The man spoke. For example, the Good News Translation identifies the speaker as:

The Man (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most English versions. This interpretation fits well with the woman’s comments about her vineyard in 1:6.

8:11a

Solomon had a vineyard in Baal-hamon: Many scholars believe that the statement Solomon had a vineyard in Baal-hamon has two meanings. It refers to a literal vineyard, and it also refers figuratively to the large number of wives that King Solomon had. Solomon spent much money to keep his many wives safe. He put them in a special place reserved only for them. Here the woman compared this place to a vineyard.

The author probably mentioned Solomon here as a contrast to the young man whom the woman loved. Solomon’s vineyard is a good example of the fact that wealth cannot buy love (as stated in 8:7c–d).

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Solomon owned a ⌊large⌋ grape farm at Baal-hamon
-or-
Solomon has a vineyard in a place called Baal Hamon (Good News Translation)

vineyard: The word vineyard is used eight times in the Song. It is good to translate it in a similar way in each place where it is used. For more information and translation examples, see the note on vineyard at 1:6e. In the Song the word sometimes has both a literal and a figurative meaning. It refers literally to an actual vineyard with vines and grapes, and figuratively to a human body and to sexuality, especially to women’s sexuality.

Some other ways to translate it are:

a grape farm
-or-
a farm with delicious fruit

Baal-hamon: The name Baal-hamon is the name of a place, but the location of the place is unknown. The name literally means “master (Baal) of wealth,” “wealthy master,” so the author may use this name because of its meaning. A “master of wealth” contrasts with a person who has true love. Money cannot buy love.

English versions write Baal-hamon as a name without translating its meaning. It may be helpful to include a footnote in your translation to tell the meaning of the name. An example of a possible footnote is:

The name Baal-hamon means “master of wealth, wealthy master.”

8:11b

He leased it to the tenants: The clause He leased it to the tenants means that Solomon, the owner, rented his vineyard to tenants so that the tenants would care for it. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

He rented the vineyard for others to tend
-or-
he has hired people to care for his vineyard
-or-
He entrusted that vineyard to caretakers. (God’s Word)
-or-
There are farmers who rent it from him (Good News Translation)

Figuratively, the “vineyard” in this clause may refer to the harem of King Solomon, where his many wives lived. If that is the meaning of “vineyard” here, the clause implies that Solomon hired people to take care of his wives in the harem.

to the tenants: The word tenants refers here to tenant farmers. Such farmers paid rent money so that the owner would allow them to farm on his land. They received some of the fruit of the land as their payment. The rest of the fruit belonged to the owner, along with the land itself. Use a natural way in your language to refer to such workers. Some other ways to refer to them in English are:

some farmers (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
other people to take care of it
-or-
tenant farmers (New Living Translation (2004))

8:11c

For its fruit, each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver: This part of the verse tells what each tenant farmer must pay for the right to farm Solomon’s land. Each farmer was required to pay Solomon a thousand pieces of silver. That gave the tenant the right to work Solomon’s land and receive some of its produce.

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

Each of the farmers pays a thousand silver coins for the right to harvest its fruit.
-or-
For its fruit one would have to pay a thousand silver pieces. (New American Bible)

its fruit: The phrase its fruit refers to the fruit of Solomon’s vineyard (grape farm). The grapes of that vineyard were expensive, and the tenants had to pay a fee of 1000 silver pieces.

a thousand shekels of silver: The phrase a thousand shekels of silver refers to a thousand silver coins. The phrase may also be used figuratively to refer to a very large amount of money. In some languages people are not familiar with silver or they do not use pieces of it as money. If that is true in your language, another way to translate the meaning is:

a thousand silver coins

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