SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 2017 – Page 7

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.

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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.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 7:2

7:2a–b

Your navel is a rounded goblet; it never lacks blended wine: Here the man used a metaphor. He compared the woman’s navel to a goblet that always has wine in it. It is the goblet that is filled with wine, not the woman’s navel. Her navel is like the goblet because it is round and can hold liquid. The wine in the goblet is a symbol of romantic love. This metaphor implies that the woman’s love excited the man, as if he were drinking wine.

Some ways to translate the metaphor are:

• Use the metaphor and adapt it for your culture. For example:

your navel is a wine glass filled to overflowing. (Contemporary English Version)

• Use a simile. For example:

Your navel is like a round drinking cup always filled with wine. (New Century Version)
-or-
Your navel is like a gourd filled with wine.

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

Your navel is perfectly formed like a goblet filled with mixed wine. (New Living Translation (2004))

• Translate the meaning without mentioning the bowl or cup. For example:

Your navel is as exciting as the best wine.

navel: In ancient Israel and all the countries near it, a woman’s navel was considered especially beautiful. Except for the Good News Translation, all English versions refer explicitly to the navel. See the footnote for more information.

rounded goblet: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rounded goblet is literally “bowl the-roundness.” This type of goblet was often wide and round. Here the man used it to describe the woman’s navel. In some cultures it may not be appropriate to compare a woman’s navel to a goblet. It also may not be natural to describe the navel as “round.”

If that is true in your language, you may use a different comparison. For example:

your navel is like a wine glass
-or-
your navel is like a gourd ⌊for drinking⌋

it never lacks blended wine: There are two main ways to interpret the Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as it never lacks blended wine :

(1) It is a statement that describes the woman’s navel. For example:

that never lacks blended wine… (New International Version)

(2) It is a wish or desire. For example:

Let mixed wine not be lacking… (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

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

blended wine: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as blended wine is used only here in the OT. It probably refers to a special wine that is mixed with spices. Some other ways to translate it are:

spiced wine (Good News Translation)
-or-
wine
-or-

⌊ delicious⌋wine

For more information on how to translate wine, see the note on wine in 1:2b.

7:2c–d

Your waist is a mound of wheat encircled by the lilies: The statement is 7:2c–d is a metaphor. It indicates that the woman’s waist was beautiful and nourishing like a pile of wheat surrounded by lilies. wheat was used to make bread, which was an important food in Palestine. lilies were very beautiful flowers.

Here wheat implies abundant food, and lilies imply beauty. Together these words imply that the woman’s love was like food and beauty for the man. Her navel satisfied him like food and made him feel happy. Some other ways to translate the metaphor are:

• Use a simile. For example:

Your stomach is like a pile of wheat surrounded with lilies. (New Century Version)

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

Your belly is lovely, like a heap of wheat set about with lilies. (New Living Translation (1996))

7:2c

Your waist is a mound of wheat: Here the man praised the woman by comparing her waist to a mound of wheat. Scholars are not sure how her waist was like a mound of wheat. They are also uncertain whether the mound of wheat refers to a pile of wheat grains or to wheat sheaves before a farmer removes the grains from them.

The pile of wheat grains probably had curved sides. The author may imply that the woman’s waist had similar curves and maybe also a golden color like ripe wheat grains or sheaves.

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)

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 7:2

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

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

American Bible Society