5:13

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

5:13a–b

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

Some other ways to translate the comparison are:

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

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

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

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

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

yielding perfume… (New International Version)

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

Banks of perfume… (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

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

5:13c

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

• Use a metaphor. For example:

His lips are lilies

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

His lips ⌊smell as sweet⌋ as lilies

• Translate the meaning more directly. For example:

His lips smell sweet

Translate the meaning in a natural way in your language.

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

5:13d

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

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

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

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

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