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2 | front:intro | an3g | 0 | # Introduction to the Song of Songs\n\n## Part 1: General Introduction\n\n### Outline of the Song of Songs\n\n1. The bride longs for the bridegroom to arrive (1:1–2:7)\n1. The bridegroom praises the woman he loves (2:8–3:5)\n1. The bridegroom arrives and praises the bride (3:6–5:1)\n1. The bride longs for the bridegroom (5:2–6:9)\n1. The bridegroom praises the beauty of his bride (6:1–8:4)\n1. Final thoughts about love between a man and a woman (8:5–14)\n\n### What is the Song of Songs about?\n\nThe Song of Songs is a poem or a series of poems that celebrate love and intimacy between a man and a woman. Jews traditionally have interpreted the book as a picture of God’s love for his people Israel. In the same way, many Christians interpret it as a picture of love between Christ and his bride, the church of all believers.\n\n### Who wrote the Song of Songs?\n\nThe first verse of the book (“The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s”) gives the idea that King Solomon of Israel wrote it. However, people have interpreted this verse in different ways, so not everyone is persuaded that Solomon wrote it.\n\n### How should the title of this book be translated?\n\nThis book is traditionally titled “Song of Songs,” which means the very best song, or “Song of Solomon.” It may also be called “Songs of Love,” “Great Poems of Love,” or “The Love Songs of Solomon.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])\n\n## Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts\n\n### What place do the descriptions of sexual behavior have in the Song of Songs?\n\nThe Song of Songs approves of sexual behavior expressing love between a husband his wife.\n\n## Part 3: Important Translation Issues\n\n### How many characters are in the Song of Songs?\n\nThe two main characters in this book are the man and the woman, who love each other. The woman also speaks to a group of women called the “daughters of Jerusalem,” and these women make comments. However, it is possible that the group of women is not real and the woman is only imagining them.\n\nSome interpreters believe there may be more characters than these, but this is not certain. The ULT and UST versions recognize only the man, the woman, and the group of women.\n\n### What are the lines about people speaking?\n\nThe Song of Songs is a poem that shows the thoughts and words of a man, a woman, and the woman’s friends. Throughout the poem, the author does not identify the speakers and their audience. So to help readers understand the poem, some translations attempt to identify the speaker and the audience. It is not always certain who the speaker is, so sometimes translations disagree about who is speaking.\n\nBefore each speech, the ULT identifies the speaker and the audience like this: “The woman speaking to the other women,” “The woman speaking to the man,” “The man speaking to the woman,” or “The woman speaking to herself.” Translators are encouraged to include these ways of identifying the speaker and the audience, and to format them differently from the scripture text. The translators should also include a note explaining that these explanations are not actually part of the scripture.\n\n### How should one translate the Song of Songs if the readers will view certain terms as coarse, vulgar, or improper?\n\nReaders might consider many images or forms appearing in the Song of Songs as improper when translated. The translator should try to avoid offensive language if possible, by using expressions that will not cause offense. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-euphemism]])\n\n### How do I translate metaphors and similes in this book?\n\nThere are many metaphors and similes in this book. These figures of speech are often unclear. If they have sexual meanings, figures of speech describing feelings or emotions are often used to avoid offense by hiding their meaning. However, since their meanings are often unclear, ambiguity in translation is encouraged. You can translate the words as they are written in order to avoid committing to a specific meaning. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])\n\n\n### Translating terms of endearment\n\n\nThe terms “my beloved” and “my darling” appear frequently throughout this book. These terms should be translated the same consistently throughout the book. | |||
3 | 1:intro | xrm2 | 0 | # Song of Songs 1 General Notes\n\n## Special concepts in this chapter\n\n### Kisses\n\nThe kisses in this chapter are a type of kiss that was only done between a husband a wife. It is an intimate kiss. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])\n\n### Love and affection\n\nThis chapter is centered on the feelings of love, affection, and attraction. Different cultural standards may make translation difficult and the translator may use euphemisms to avoid offending people. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-euphemism]])\n\n## Important figures of speech in this chapter\n\n### Metaphors\n\nIn the ancient Near East, it was common to describe a woman using metaphors involving animals. In many cultures today, this can be considered offensive. Different metaphors of beauty are used in different cultures. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])\n\n## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter\n\n### “I am dark”\nIn the ancient Near East, rich people usually had lighter skin because they did not need to work outside in the sun. This young woman had to work out in the sun, and her skin became darker than it was when she was younger. | |||
4 | 1:1 | dsf1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry | שִׁ֥יר הַשִּׁירִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִשְׁלֹמֹֽה | 1 | This verse is the title of this book. Use whatever formatting convention is most natural in your language for indicating that something is the title of a poem or song. The ULT places this line further to the left than the other lines in this book to indicate that this verse is the title of the book. | |
5 | 1:1 | qbe2 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-possession | שִׁ֥יר הַשִּׁירִ֖ים | 1 | The possessive form is being used here to indicate a comparison with other **songs** and to show that this **song** is the best or greatest of all **songs**. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use another form to indicate this. Alternate translation: “The best song” or “The most excellent song” or “The greatest song” | |
6 | 1:1 | r5ns | לִשְׁלֹמֹֽה | 1 | The phrase **of Solomon** could mean: (1) Solomon wrote this song. Alternate translation: “Solomon wrote” (2) this song was dedicated to Solomon. Alternate translation: “is dedicated to Solomon” (3) this song was about Solomon. Alternate translation: “is about Solomon” | ||
7 | 1:2-4 | fna4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry | יִשָּׁקֵ֨נִי֙ מִנְּשִׁיק֣וֹת פִּ֔יהוּ כִּֽי־טוֹבִ֥ים דֹּדֶ֖יךָ מִיָּֽיִן׃ לְרֵ֨יחַ֙ שְׁמָנֶ֣יךָ טוֹבִ֔ים שֶׁ֖מֶן תּוּרַ֣ק שְׁמֶ֑ךָ עַל־כֵּ֖ן עֲלָמ֥וֹת אֲהֵבֽוּךָ׃ | 1 | These lines of poetry most likely indicate thoughts or words that the woman is speaking or thinking to herself while she is alone. Your language may have a way of indicating speech that is expressed toward a person who is not present to hear what is being said. | |
8 | 1:2 | tulv | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry | יִשָּׁקֵ֨נִי֙ מִנְּשִׁיק֣וֹת פִּ֔יהוּ | 1 | The author is using an emphatic form to indicate the fervor and intensity of the desired kisses. Consider using a natural way in your language to indicate this. Alternate translation: “Let him kiss me again and again with the kisses of his mouth” or “Let him cover my face with the kisses of his mouth” | |
9 | 1:2 | d9mu | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-yousingular | דֹּדֶ֖יךָ | 1 | In this book every occurrence of the words **you** and **your** are singular. Your language may require you to mark these forms. | |
10 | 1:2 | th64 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns | טוֹבִ֥ים דֹּדֶ֖יךָ מִיָּֽיִן | 1 | If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **love**, you could express the same idea with a verbal form or in another way. Alternate translation: “the way you love me is better than wine” or “your loving is better than wine” | |
11 | 1:2 | nze7 | טוֹבִ֥ים דֹּדֶ֖יךָ מִיָּֽיִן | 1 | Alternate translation: “I enjoy having you near me more than I enjoy drinking wine” or “your love is more pleasant than wine” | ||
12 | 1:3 | j5ka | לְרֵ֨יחַ֙ | 1 | The Hebrew word which the ULT translates as **As for** could: (1) indicate reference, in which case it should be translated as the ULT translates it or with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “In reference to the smell of” or (2) indicate emphasis or be making an assertion. Alternate translation: “Truly, the smell of” or “Indeed, the smell of” | ||
13 | 1:3 | si36 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | שְׁמָנֶ֣יךָ טוֹבִ֔ים | 1 | Here, **oils** refers to colognes or perfumes. In the authors culture pleasant smelling spices were mixed into olive oil in order to make a pleasant smelling perfume which was then put on the skin. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. If men do not put pleasant smelling things on their skin in your culture you could say that the man being spoken of here smells pleasant. Alternate translation: “your colognes—they are good” or “your scented oils—they are good” or “your skin—it is good” or “your body—it is good” | |
14 | 1:3 | z9t3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy | שֶׁ֖מֶן תּוּרַ֣ק שְׁמֶ֑ךָ | 1 | The woman is describing the man she loves and his reputation by association with his **name**. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: “oil poured out is your reputation” or “oil poured out is the honor that people give to you” | |
15 | 1:3 | ijen | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | שֶׁ֖מֶן תּוּרַ֣ק שְׁמֶ֑ךָ | 1 | The woman makes a comparison between the man’s reputation (which she refers to as his **name**) and scented oil that is poured out after which the good smell of the oil spreads as the air moves. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the comparison. Alternate translation: “your reputation spreads more and more like the scent of perfume which spreads after it has been poured out” | |
16 | 1:3 | pj62 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result | עַל־כֵּ֖ן | 1 | The words translated as **Therefore** indicate that what follows is a result of what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a result of what came before. Alternate translation: “As a result” | |
17 | 1:3 | vo1s | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | עֲלָמ֥וֹת | 1 | The word translated as **marriageable women** refers to a young women who is old enough to be married or to a young woman who has recently been married but not yet given birth to a child. Your language and culture may have a term for a woman during this stage of life that you could use in your translation. You could also explain the meaning of the term in the context as the ULT does or use a general phrase as modeled by the UST. | |
18 | 1:4 | gec8 | מָשְׁכֵ֖נִי | 1 | Alternate translation: “Lead me” | ||
19 | 1:4 | v83t | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-you | אַחֲרֶ֣יךָ | 1 | The word **you** refers to the man and so is singular. Your language may require you to mark this form. In this book every occurrence of the words **you** and **your** are singular. | |
20 | 1:4 | ty2p | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive | נָּר֑וּצָה | 1 | The word **us** refers to the young woman and the man that she is addressing so **us** is inclusive. Your language may require you to mark these forms. Alternate translation: “let you and I run” | |
21 | 1:4 | xpoe | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | נָּר֑וּצָה | 1 | Here, the woman uses **run** as a poetic way of expressing her desire that she and the man she loves hurry and go away together. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “let us hurry” | |
22 | 1:4 | vpdi | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ | 1 | Here, the woman speaks of the man she loves as if he were **The king**. Here, the term **king** is a term of endearment and is an affectionate way for the woman to refer to the man she loves. The woman is not speaking of an actual king but rather this is a poetic way of speaking. The woman is still speaking of the same man that she was speaking of in [1:2-3](../01/02.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning by using a simile. Alternate translation: “He whom I love is like a king to me and” or “He who is like a king to me” | |
23 | 1:4 | ieqb | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | הֱבִיאַ֨נִי הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ | 1 | The original language word which the ULT translates as **he has brought me** could be describing: (1) a request or wish that the woman has. Alternate translation: “May the king bring me” (2) an action that has already happened. Alternate translation: “The king brought me” | |
24 | 1:4 | aoaz | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | הֱבִיאַ֨נִי | 1 | Your language may say “taken” rather than **brought** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “has taken me” | |
25 | 1:4 | at7l | נָגִ֤ילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה֙ בָּ֔ךְ נַזְכִּ֤ירָה דֹדֶ֨יךָ֙ מִיַּ֔יִן | 1 | The **us** in these two lines could: (1) be a group of young women speaking about the man. Alternate translation: “We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will profess your love more than wine” (2) be the woman continuing to speak to the man she loves and using **us** to refer to herself. Alternate translation: “May I be glad and rejoice in you. May I profess your love more than wine” (3) be the woman continuing to speak and using **us** to refer to herself and the man. Alternate translation: “Let you and I be glad and rejoice in you. Let you and I profess your love more than wine”\n | ||
26 | 1:4 | isr6 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive | נָּר֑וּצָה…נָגִ֤ילָה…נַזְכִּ֤ירָה | 1 | The word **us** is inclusive all three times that it occurs in this verse. Your language may require you to mark these forms. | |
27 | 1:4 | ku0t | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet | נָגִ֤ילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה֙ | 1 | The terms **glad** and **rejoice** mean similar things. The author is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: “Let us greatly rejoice” or “Let us rejoice greatly” | |
28 | 1:4 | geq4 | נַזְכִּ֤ירָה | 1 | Alternate translation: “Let us praise” | ||
29 | 1:4 | rc0e | מִיַּ֔יִן | 1 | The phrase **more than wine** could mean: (1) that the women would **profess** the man’s **love** as **more** delightful **than wine**. Alternate translation: “as being more delightful than wine” (2) that the women would **profess** the delightfulness of the man’s **love more than** they would **profess** the delightfulness of **wine**. Alternate translation: “more than we profess wine” | ||
30 | 1:4 | pmvq | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns | דֹדֶ֨יךָ֙ מִיַּ֔יִן | 1 | If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **love**, you could express the same idea with a verbal form or in another way. Alternate translation: “the way you love is better than wine” or “the way you love me is better than wine” | |
31 | 1:4 | so9x | מֵישָׁרִ֖ים אֲהֵבֽוּךָ | 1 | Here the speaker could be: (1) the woman speaking to the man about the young women who admire him. Alternate translation: “rightly do the young women love you” (2) the young women speaking of other women who admire the man. Alternate translation: “rightly do the other young women love you” or “rightly do the young women love you”. You may wish to indicate who the presumed speaker is here by placing a heading above this section as modeled by the UST. | ||
32 | 1:4 | gxfw | אֲהֵבֽוּךָ | 1 | Alternate translation: “do they admire you” | ||
33 | 1:4 | ag8r | מֵישָׁרִ֖ים אֲהֵבֽוּךָ | 1 | Alternate translation: “it is right that other young women adore you” or “no wonder other young women adore you” | ||
34 | 1:5 | ez2x | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | שְׁחוֹרָ֤ה אֲנִי֙ | 1 | Here, **I am black** means “My skin is black” or “My skin is very dark.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “My skin is black” or “My skin is very dark” | |
35 | 1:5 | jpj9 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast | וְֽנָאוָ֔ה | 1 | Here, the word **but** is introducing a contrast. What follows the word **but** is in contrast to what was expected, because in the author’s culture it was not considered attractive for a woman to have skin that was dark as a result of much exposure to the sun. Use a natural form in your language for introducing a contrast. Alternate translation: “yet lovely” or “but still lovely” | |
36 | 1:5 | ck9k | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-possession | בְּנ֖וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם | 1 | The woman is using the possessive form to poetically describe where the young women (whom she calls **daughters**) live. The phrase **daughters of Jerusalem** refers to the young women who were from the city of Jerusalem (These are probably the same women as the “marriageable women” in [1:3](../01/03.md) and the women referred to as “they” in [1:4](../01/04.md)). If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could indicate the association between these young women and **Jerusalem** in a way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “daughters from Jerusalem” or “young women from Jerusalem” | |
37 | 1:5 | rbb3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | כְּאָהֳלֵ֣י קֵדָ֔ר כִּירִיע֖וֹת שְׁלֹמֹֽה | 1 | The Kedar were a tribe of people who used black goat skins to make their tents, thus their tents were dark in color. The woman is comparing her skin to these tents which were dark in color. The phrase **the curtains of Solomon** refers to the curtains in Solomon’s palace which were very beautiful. The point of the first comparison is that the woman’s skin was dark (referring back to and further describing the word **black**) and the point of the second comparison is that the woman was beautiful (referring back to and further describing the word **lovely**). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use equivalent comparisons from your culture or you could retain these similes and express these meanings as plainly as possible. Alternate translation: “like the dark color of the tents of the people of the tribe Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon’s palace” or “as dark as the color of the tents of Kedar, as beautiful as the curtains in Solomon’s palace” | |
38 | 1:6 | avcq | אַל־ תִּרְא֨וּנִי֙ | 1 | The phrase **Do not look at me** could mean: (1) that the woman does not want people to look at her with contempt. Alternate translation: “Do not look at me with contempt” or “Do not look down on me” or “Do not look at me disapprovingly” (2) that the woman does not want people to stare at her in admiration of her beauty. Alternate translation: “Do not stare at me because I am so beautiful” | ||
39 | 1:6 | gy5l | rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result | שֶׁאֲנִ֣י | 1 | The word **that** indicates that what follows is a reason for what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a reason for what came before. Alternate translation: “because I” | |
40 | 1:6 | nqqb | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | שֶׁאֲנִ֣י שְׁחַרְחֹ֔רֶת | 1 | Here, **I am black** means “my skin is black” or “my skin is very dark” as it did in [1:5](../01/05.md). If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “that my skin is black” or “that my skin is very dark” | |
41 | 1:6 | im6w | rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result | שֶׁשֱּׁזָפַ֖תְנִי הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ | 1 | The word **that** indicates that what follows is a reason for what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a reason for what came before. Alternate translation: “because the sun scorched me” | |
42 | 1:6 | thz7 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | שֶׁשֱּׁזָפַ֖תְנִי הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ | 1 | The phrase **the sun scorched me** refers to sunlight shining on the skin and means “the sun burned me” or “the sun tanned my skin dark.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “that the sun burned me” or “that the sun turned my skin brown” or “that the sun tanned my skin” | |
43 | 1:6 | v86f | נֹטֵרָ֣ה אֶת־הַכְּרָמִ֔ים כַּרְמִ֥י שֶׁלִּ֖י לֹ֥א נָטָֽרְתִּי | 1 | Alternate translation: “as caretaker of the vineyards—my vineyard that is mine, I have not taken care of” | ||
44 | 1:6 | w18k | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | כַּרְמִ֥י שֶׁלִּ֖י לֹ֥א נָטָֽרְתִּי | 1 | The woman is probably using the phrase **my vineyard** to refer to her complexion. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “my skin, I have not protected from the sun” or “my complexion, I have not protected from the sun” | |
45 | 1:7 | f9hi | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche | שֶׁ֤אָהֲבָה֙ נַפְשִׁ֔י | 1 | The woman is using one part of herself, her **soul**, to represent all of her. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “you whom I love” | |
46 | 1:7 | mpbu | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis | אֵיכָ֣ה תִרְעֶ֔ה | 1 | The woman is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If your readers might misunderstand this, you could supply these words from the context. Alternate translation: “where do you graze your flock” or “where do you graze your sheep” | |
47 | 1:7 | wsmm | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | אֵיכָ֣ה תִרְעֶ֔ה אֵיכָ֖ה תַּרְבִּ֣יץ בַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם | 1 | The phrase **where do you graze** and the phrase **Where do you make your flocks lie down at noontime** mean basically the same thing. The second phrase emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. Hebrew poetry was based on this kind of repetition, and it would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. However, if saying very similar things twice might confuse your readers, you could combine the phrases into one. Alternate translation: “Where do you pasture your flocks in the middle of the day” | |
48 | 1:7 | v54w | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion | שַׁלָּמָ֤ה אֶֽהְיֶה֙ כְּעֹ֣טְיָ֔ה עַ֖ל עֶדְרֵ֥י חֲבֵרֶֽיךָ | 1 | The woman is not asking for information, but is using the question form for emphasis. If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate her words as a statement, a request, or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: “I do not want to be like a woman who covers herself beside the flocks of your companions” or “Please do not let me be like a woman who covers herself beside the flocks of your companions” or “Tell me so that I will not be like a woman who covers herself beside the flocks of your companions” | |
49 | 1:7 | f5eb | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | כְּעֹ֣טְיָ֔ה עַ֖ל עֶדְרֵ֥י חֲבֵרֶֽיךָ | 1 | The phrase **covers herself** means **covers herself with a veil** and the phrase **your companions** refers to the other shepherds who pastured their animals near the flocks of the man and were probably his friends. If it would help your readers, you could express these phrases explicitly. Alternate translation: “like a woman who covers herself with a veil beside the flocks of the other shepherds” | |
50 | 1:7 | v6rs | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | שַׁלָּמָ֤ה אֶֽהְיֶה֙ כְּעֹ֣טְיָ֔ה עַ֖ל עֶדְרֵ֥י חֲבֵרֶֽיךָ | 1 | In the authors culture women who were prostitutes often covered their faces with a veil so that people would not recognize them. It would not be normal for a young unmarried woman to be wandering among shepherds and the woman did not want to be mistaken for a prostitute. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the basis of this comparison. Alternate translation: “Tell me where you pasture your flocks so that I will not need to wander around among the flocks of your companions like a prostitute when I am looking for you” or “For why should I be like a prostitute who covers herself with a veil and wanders about beside the flocks of your companions” | |
51 | 1:8 | lc64 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical | אִם־ לֹ֤א תֵדְעִי֙ לָ֔ךְ הַיָּפָ֖ה בַּנָּשִׁ֑ים צְֽאִי־ לָ֞ךְ | 1 | If it would help your readers to see that this is a conditional statement then you could supply a word like “then” in your translation. Alternate translation: “If you do not know, most beautiful among women, then go out” | |
52 | 1:8 | fu4f | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure | אִם־ לֹ֤א תֵדְעִי֙ לָ֔ךְ הַיָּפָ֖ה בַּנָּשִׁ֑ים | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language you could begin this verse with the phrase **most beautiful among women**. Alternate translation: “Most beautiful among women, if you do not know” | |
53 | 1:8 | nky4 | הַיָּפָ֖ה בַּנָּשִׁ֑ים | 1 | Alternate translation: “you who are the most beautiful of all women” | ||
54 | 1:8 | sy7k | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | צְֽאִי־ לָ֞ךְ | 1 | Your language may say “come” rather than **go** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “come out” | |
55 | 1:8 | al9c | וּרְעִי֙ אֶת־ גְּדִיֹּתַ֔יִךְ | 1 | Alternate translation: “and let your young goats graze” or “and graze your young goats” | ||
56 | 1:8 | fis9 | וּרְעִי֙ אֶת־ גְּדִיֹּתַ֔יִךְ | 1 | Alternate translation: “and graze your young goats” or “and let your young goats eat” | ||
57 | 1:9 | j8xv | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure | לְסֻסָתִי֙ בְּרִכְבֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה דִּמִּיתִ֖יךְ רַעְיָתִֽי | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language you could begin this verse with the phrase **my darling**. Alternate translation: “My darling, I liken you to a mare among the chariots of Pharaoh” | |
58 | 1:9 | gw76 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | לְסֻסָתִי֙ בְּרִכְבֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה דִּמִּיתִ֖יךְ | 1 | Here, it is implied that the man is comparing the woman to the beauty of a mare and not to other other qualities of a horse. The king of Egypt’s horses were known to be the best in the world and so they would have been very beautiful. If it would help your readers you could explain the point of this comparison. Alternate translation: “Your beauty is like the beauty of Pharaoh’s chariot horses” or “I compare your beauty to the beauty of Pharaoh’s chariot horses” | |
59 | 1:9 | zyj5 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy | בְּרִכְבֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה | 1 | The man is using the phrase **the chariots** to mean “the horses that pull the chariots.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “among the horses that pull Pharaoh’s chariots” or “among the horses that pull the chariots of Pharaoh” | |
60 | 1:9 | lnbo | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | פַרְעֹ֔ה | 1 | Here, the term **Pharaoh** does not refer to a specific Egyptian king but is a title used to designate the acting king of Egypt. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “the king of Egypt” | |
61 | 1:10 | hrjd | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | בַּתֹּרִ֔ים | 1 | The term the man uses, which the ULT translates as **earrings**, is a term which refers to strings of small ornaments or jewels which apparently hung down the side of one’s face. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of jewelry you could use a more general term and, if you are using footnotes, you could make a footnote explaining this type of jewelry. Alternate translation: “with neck ornaments” or “with strings of jewels” | |
62 | 1:10 | u7h9 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | בַּחֲרוּזִֽים | 1 | **necklaces** are a type of jewelry worn around the neck in order to make a person look more attractive. If your readers would not be familiar with **necklaces**, you could use the name of something similar in your area worn around the neck for the purpose of looking nice or you could use a more general term and, if it would help your readers, you could make a footnote explaining what a necklace is if you are using footnotes. Alternate translation: “with neck ornaments” or “with strings of jewels” | |
63 | 1:11 | yuyp | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | תּוֹרֵ֤י | 1 | See how you translated the term “earrings” in the previous verse. | |
64 | 1:11 | dza7 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-pronouns | נַעֲשֶׂה | 1 | The man speaks as if he were many people. Some versions change this to singular “I.” Other versions take these to be the words of the woman’s friends. | |
65 | 1:11 | bp6l | עִ֖ם נְקֻדּ֥וֹת הַכָּֽסֶף | 1 | Alternate translation: “with beads of silver” or “that are decorated with silver” | ||
66 | 1:12 | kec9 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | שֶׁ֤הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ | 1 | See how you translated the phrase “The king” in [1:4](../01/04.md) where it is used with the same meaning. | |
67 | 1:12 | zt7d | בִּמְסִבּ֔וֹ | 1 | The word which the ULT translates as **couch** could: (1) refer to a couch and be translated as **couch** as modeled by the ULT. (2) refer to a table. Alternate translation: “was at his table” | ||
68 | 1:12 | ur66 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | נִרְדִּ֖י | 1 | The term **nard** refers to pleasant smelling perfumed oil that was made from the roots of the **nard** plant. If your readers would not be familiar with **nard** plants, you could use a general expression or describe what **nard** is. Alternate translation: “my perfumed oil” or “my pleasant smelling perfume made from the nard plant” | |
69 | 1:12 | lp8f | נָתַ֥ן רֵיחֽוֹ | 1 | Alternate translation: “gave off its good smell” or “spread its pleasant smell” | ||
70 | 1:13 | vc5v | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | צְר֨וֹר הַמֹּ֤ר ׀ דּוֹדִי֙ לִ֔י בֵּ֥ין שָׁדַ֖י יָלִֽין | 1 | In the author’s culture women would sometimes place a small bag or pouch of myrrh on a necklace so it would hang on their neck and they could enjoy its pleasant smell. The woman makes a comparison between the enjoyable experience of having a bag of myrrh near her and the enjoyable experience of having the man she loves near her. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could use a simile to show the comparison. Alternate translation: “I enjoy having my beloved near me throughout the night like I enjoy the smell of a bag of myrrh” | |
71 | 1:13 | d77b | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | הַמֹּ֤ר | 1 | **myrrh** was a pleasant smelling incense that was made from resin taken from the bark of a certain kind of tree. One of the things it was used for was to make a person smell good. If your readers would not be familiar with **myrrh**, you could use the name of something pleasant smelling in your area that might be used for this purpose or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: “pleasant smelling perfume” | |
72 | 1:13 | bzs7 | דּוֹדִי֙ | 1 | Alternate translation: “is my lover” | ||
73 | 1:13 | f8y8 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-euphemism | צְר֨וֹר הַמֹּ֤ר ׀ דּוֹדִי֙ לִ֔י בֵּ֥ין שָׁדַ֖י יָלִֽין | 1 | If using the word **breasts** would offend your readers, you could use an appropriate euphemism for **breasts** or state the meaning of the phrase **between my breasts it stays** using a more general expression. Alternate translation: “My beloved stays very close to me during the night, like a bundle of myrrh hanging near my chest” | |
74 | 1:13 | bl0z | יָלִֽין | 1 | Here, the original language word that the ULT translates with the phrase **it stays** is ambiguous regarding what it is that **stays**. This word could: (1) indicate that the **bundle of myrrh** is what **stays**, in which case it should be translated as something similar to **it stays** as modeled by the ULT. (2) mean that the man **stays**. Alternate translation: “he stays” | ||
75 | 1:13 | jw0u | יָלִֽין | 1 | Here, the word **stays** could: (1) refer to staying in one place for a prolonged period of time in which case you could translate this word with something similar to **stays** as modeled by the ULT. (2) refer to lying down. Alternate translation: “it lies” | ||
76 | 1:14 | a6jk | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | הַכֹּ֤פֶר | 1 | The phrase **henna blossoms** refers to **blossoms** from the **henna** plant which produces clusters of flower blossoms which have a pleasant smell. If your readers would not be familiar with this plant, you could use the name of a plant in your area that has a pleasant smell, you could explain in your translation that henna is a plant that produces fragrant blossoms, or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: “fragrant flowers” or “fragrant blossoms from the henna plant” | |
77 | 1:14 | zh75 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | אֶשְׁכֹּ֨ל הַכֹּ֤פֶר ׀ דּוֹדִי֙ לִ֔י בְּכַרְמֵ֖י עֵ֥ין גֶּֽדִי | 1 | Here, **vineyards of En Gedi** is probably a reference to the woman’s body because at that time **vineyards** were often used to convey a sexual meaning and because the phrase **in the vineyards of Engedi** is in parallel to the phrase in the previous verse in which the woman refers to her body by saying that her “beloved” is like a “bundle of myrrh“ which “stays” (the night) “between” her “breasts.” In this verse the woman makes a comparison between the pleasurable experience of the smell of henna blossoms and her enjoyment of having the man she loves near her body. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could use a simile to show the comparison. Because the woman describes her body in a poetic way with images, it is recommended that you either maintain these images or select images from your context and language that communicate the same concepts. Alternate translation: “I enjoy being near my beloved’s body like I enjoy the smell of the henna flowers in the vineyards of Engedi” or “I delight in my beloved being near my body like I enjoy the smell of the henna flowers in the vineyards of Engedi” | |
78 | 1:15 | tae6 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamation | הִנָּ֤ךְ…הִנָּ֥ךְ | 1 | The man is using the term **Behold** to focus attention on what he is about to say. Your language may have a comparable expression that you could use in your translation. Alternate translation: “Look at you! … Look at you!” | |
79 | 1:15 | x2d5 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | הִנָּ֤ךְ יָפָה֙ רַעְיָתִ֔י הִנָּ֥ךְ יָפָ֖ה עֵינַ֥יִךְ יוֹנִֽים | 1 | The man uses the phrase **Behold you—you are beautiful** two times for emphasis. If saying the same thing twice might be confusing for your readers, you can combine the phrases into one and provide emphasis in a way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Behold you—you are beautiful, my darling. Your eyes are doves” | |
80 | 1:15 | m114 | רַעְיָתִ֔י | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **my darling** in [1:9](../01/09.md) | ||
81 | 1:15 | fb4x | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | עֵינַ֥יִךְ יוֹנִֽים | 1 | The man makes a comparison between the beauty and gentleness of doves and the woman’s eyes. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could use a simile to show the comparison or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “your eyes are like doves” or “your eyes are gentle and beautiful” | |
82 | 1:16 | sbi4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamation | הִנְּךָ֨ | 1 | The woman is using the term **Behold** to focus attention on what she is about to say. Your language may have a comparable expression that you could use in your translation. Alternate translation: “Look at you” | |
83 | 1:16 | febl | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure | הִנְּךָ֨ יָפֶ֤ה דוֹדִי֙ אַ֣ף נָעִ֔ים אַף־ עַרְשֵׂ֖נוּ רַעֲנָנָֽה | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language you could either begin or end this verse with the phrase **my beloved**. | |
84 | 1:16 | x3pr | דוֹדִי֙ | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **my beloved** in [1:13](../01/13.md). Alternate translation: “my lover” | ||
85 | 1:16 | km29 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis | אַ֣ף נָעִ֔ים | 1 | The woman is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If your readers might misunderstand this, you could supply these words from the context. Alternate translation: “you are truly pleasant” | |
86 | 1:16 | q43e | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | עַרְשֵׂ֖נוּ | 1 | Here, **couch** does not refer to a literal couch but rather to the place where the couple would lie down in the forest. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “the place where we lie down is” or “the place we lie down on like a bed is” | |
87 | 1:16 | xed8 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | רַעֲנָנָֽה | 1 | Here, the word that the ULT translates as **leafy** refers to plants that are a green color. You could translate **leafy** in a general way such as “green” or if it would help your readers you could indicate specifically what vegetation the word **leafy** refers to. Here, **leafy** could refer to: (1) the grass that the couple laied down on. Alternate translation: “grass” (2) the branches above their meeting place in the forest. Alternate translation: “under the cover of branches” or “shaded by branches” | |
88 | 1:17 | v14z | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | קֹר֤וֹת בָּתֵּ֨ינוּ֙ אֲרָזִ֔ים רַהִיטֵ֖נוּ בְּרוֹתִֽים | 1 | Here the woman is speaking of the forest as though it were a **house**, the cedar trees as if they were the **beams** of the **house** and **pine** trees as if they were the **rafters** of the **house**. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly or use a simile as modeled by the UST. Alternate translation: “Our meeting place is shaded by cedar and pine trees” or “Branches of cedar and pine trees will be a canopy over our meeting place” | |
89 | 1:17 | c3e5 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | בְּרוֹתִֽים | 1 | **pine** is a type of tree that grows tall and close to other trees so that they provide shade from the sun. If your readers would not be familiar with **pine** trees, you could use general phrase describing them or use the name of a tree that grows tall and densely in your area. Alternate translation: “tall leafy trees” | |
90 | 2:intro | u8uv | 0 | # Song of Songs 2 General Notes\n\n## Important figures of speech in this chapter\n\n### Metaphor\n\nWomen are compared to flowers in this chapter. This metaphor may describe a woman’s beauty and delicacy. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])\n\n### Euphemisms\n\nIt is possible that some of the metaphors used in this chapter are actually euphemisms. These euphemisms would refer to sex or the physical love between a husband a wife. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-euphemism]]) | |||
91 | 2:1 | cne2 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | אֲנִי֙ חֲבַצֶּ֣לֶת הַשָּׁר֔וֹן שֽׁוֹשַׁנַּ֖ת הָעֲמָקִֽים | 1 | The woman is speaking of herself as if she is two different types of flowers in order to make a comparison between herself and these flowers. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly, explain the comparison, or use a simile as modeled by the UST. The reason the woman compares herself to these wildflowers is to express that she thinks she has only common beauty and is no more attractive than other young women her age. Alternate translation: “I am as common as a wildflower of Sharon or a lily of the valleys” or “My beauty is as common as a wildflower in Sharon or a lily of the valleys” | |
92 | 2:1 | ps9x | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | חֲבַצֶּ֣לֶת | 1 | The original word which the ULT translates as **flower** refers to a specific type of flower which grows on the ground. The exact type of flower that the original word refers to cannot be known with certainty so you could use the name of a pretty wildflower in your area or you could use a general term as modeled by the ULT. | |
93 | 2:1 | gh6w | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | הַשָּׁר֔וֹן | 1 | **Sharon** was the name of a specific plain (a flat area) and the word itself refers to a flat, wide area and so by using the word **Sharon** the woman is probably referring to “plains” in general and expressing that she is like a wildflower that grows on the plains. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly as modeled by the UST. | |
94 | 2:1 | bw25 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | אֲנִי֙ חֲבַצֶּ֣לֶת הַשָּׁר֔וֹן שֽׁוֹשַׁנַּ֖ת הָעֲמָקִֽים | 1 | The phrase **a flower of Sharon** and the phrase **a lily of the valleys** mean very similar things. The second phrase emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. Hebrew poetry was based on this kind of repetition, and it would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. However, if saying very similar things twice might confuse your readers, you could combine the phrases into one. Alternate translation: “I am a wildflower that grows in the plains and the valleys” | |
95 | 2:1 | cxaq | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis | שֽׁוֹשַׁנַּ֖ת | 1 | The woman is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If your readers might misunderstand this, you could supply these words from the context. Alternate translation: “I am a lily of” | |
96 | 2:1 | ni5p | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | שֽׁוֹשַׁנַּ֖ת | 1 | A **lily** is a type of flower. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of flower, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “a flower of” | |
97 | 2:2 | ibi6 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | כְּשֽׁוֹשַׁנָּה֙ בֵּ֣ין הַחוֹחִ֔ים כֵּ֥ן רַעְיָתִ֖י בֵּ֥ין הַבָּנֽוֹת | 1 | The man compares the woman he loves to **a lily among thorns**. The point of this comparison is that in the same way that **a lily** is much more beautiful than **thorns** so the woman is much more beautiful than the other young women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent comparison or express this meaning in plain language. Alternate translation: “You my darling, are much more beautiful than all other women” | |
98 | 2:2 | l00i | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | כְּשֽׁוֹשַׁנָּה֙ | 1 | See how you translated the word **lily** in [2:1](../02/01.md) | |
99 | 2:2 | bi45 | רַעְיָתִ֖י | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **my darling** in [1:9](../01/09.md). | ||
100 | 2:2 | y9bu | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | הַבָּנֽוֹת | 1 | Here, the phrase **the daughters** refers to the **daughters of Jerusalem** mentioned in [1:5](../01/05.md) and probably refers not just to the young women of Jerusalem but also to all women. If it would help your readers you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “the young women of Jerusalem” or “the other young women” | |
101 | 2:3 | xz7y | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | כְּתַפּ֨וּחַ֙ בַּעֲצֵ֣י הַיַּ֔עַר כֵּ֥ן דּוֹדִ֖י בֵּ֣ין הַבָּנִ֑ים | 1 | The woman is saying that the man is like an **apple tree** because in the same way that **an apple tree** is more pleasant than the other **trees of the forest**, so the man she loves is more pleasant than other men. If it would be helpful in your language, you could explain the basis of this comparison. Alternate translation: “As apple trees are more pleasant than other trees, so you my beloved are more pleasant than other men” | |
102 | 2:3 | jjo5 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure | כְּתַפּ֨וּחַ֙ בַּעֲצֵ֣י הַיַּ֔עַר כֵּ֥ן דּוֹדִ֖י בֵּ֣ין הַבָּנִ֑ים | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: “Among the other young men my beloved is like an apple tree among the trees of the forest” or “Compared to other men my beloved is like an apple tree among the trees of the forest” | |
103 | 2:3 | yr6x | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | כְּתַפּ֨וּחַ֙ | 1 | An **apple tree** is a tree that produces **apples**, a round, pleasant tasting fruit that is about the size of an adult human’s fist and has a pleasant smell. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of fruit, you could use the name of a similar fruit in your area that grows on trees or you could use a more general term. (Bible scholars are not totally certain that the word the ULT translates as **apple** refers to an apple. It could refer to an apricot or another type of fruit so if your readers are not familiar with apples but they are familiar with apricots you could “apricot” instead of a general term. Alternate translation: “Like a tree that produces pleasant tasting fruit” or “Like a fruit tree” “Like an apricot tree” | |
104 | 2:3 | qtmu | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | בַּעֲצֵ֣י הַיַּ֔עַר | 1 | The phrase **the trees of the forest** refers to the other trees of the forest which were considered common when compared to an apple tree. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “among the other trees of the forest” or “compared to the common trees of the forest” | |
105 | 2:3 | q7kl | דּוֹדִ֖י | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **my beloved** in [1:13](../01/13.md). | ||
106 | 2:3 | eogn | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | בֵּ֣ין הַבָּנִ֑ים | 1 | Here, the phrase **the sons** refers to the other young men. In the previous verse the man compared the woman to the other “daughters” (young women). Here the woman compares the man she loves to the other young men, whom she calls **the sons**. If it would help your readers you could indicate explicitly what **the sons** means here. Alternate translation: “among the other young men” or “when compared to all the other men” | |
107 | 2:3 | pii3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | בְּצִלּוֹ֙ חִמַּ֣דְתִּי וְיָשַׁ֔בְתִּי וּפִרְי֖וֹ מָת֥וֹק לְחִכִּֽי | 1 | Here the woman continues speaking of the man as if he were **an apple tree**. The word **shadow** refers to the shade of an apple tree which would give protection from the sun and refreshment. To **sit** represents being near or in the presence of the man. The phrase **his fruit is sweet** means that he causes the woman to experience pleasurable feelings in a way that is comparable to eating sweet fruit. If it is possible in your language you should try to retain the images used here, or substitute a comparable image if needed. If you are not able to retain the metaphors without causing misunderstanding, you could use similes or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “He provides me with refreshment and protection when I am in his presence, he gives me great pleasure” or “I sit in his presence and he refreshes and protects me. He is delightful to me like sweet fruit” | |
108 | 2:3 | fkm3 | בְּצִלּוֹ֙ חִמַּ֣דְתִּי וְיָשַׁ֔בְתִּי | 1 | Alternate translation: “In his shade I took delight, and I sat” | ||
109 | 2:3 | bfja | חִמַּ֣דְתִּי | 1 | Alternate translation: “I passionately desired” | ||
110 | 2:4 | o9vh | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | הֱבִיאַ֨נִי֙ | 1 | See how you translated the phrase “has brought me” in [1:4](../01/04.md). The original language word which the ULT translates here as **He brought me** could be describing: (1) a request or wish that the woman has and not something that has already happened. Alternate translation: “May he bring me” or ”I desire him to bring me” (2) an action that has already happened. Alternate translation: “He has brought me” | |
111 | 2:4 | f7e2 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | הֱבִיאַ֨נִי֙ | 1 | Your language may say “took” rather than **brought** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “He took me” | |
112 | 2:4 | ift6 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | בֵּ֣ית הַיָּ֔יִן | 1 | In the author’s culture the phrase **house of wine** was used to refer to a location that people went for the purpose of drinking wine. The phrase does not necessarily indicate a **house** or building so here it could be referring a private location that the couple used as their meeting place, possibly the “house” (location) where they spent time together in the forest (described in [1:17](../01/17.md)). If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly or use a general expression that allows for either meaning. Alternate translation: “the place where wine is drunk” or ”the place where wine is served” or ”our meeting place” | |
113 | 2:4 | hxuz | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-euphemism | בֵּ֣ית הַיָּ֔יִן | 1 | Here, **house of wine** most likely does not refer to a literal **house of wine** but instead the woman is probably using this phrase to poetically describe a private meeting place where they could enjoy expressing their love for each other. She is describing their meeting place by using an image that was meaningful in that culture. If it would be helpful in your language, you could retain the literal translation **house of wine** and explain the meaning in a footnote (if you are using them), or you could express the meaning using a different expression that is meaningful in your culture, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “our meeting place so that we could enjoy our love” or ”the place where we could celebrate our love for each other” or ”the place where we could consummate our love” | |
114 | 2:4 | rp8q | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | וְדִגְל֥וֹ עָלַ֖י אַהֲבָֽה | 1 | The woman is speaking of the man’s **love** for her as if it were a **banner**. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and he publicly displays his love for me and his intention is to protect me” or “and he covers me with his love” | |
115 | 2:4 | jgbx | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | וְדִגְל֥וֹ | 1 | A **banner** is a flag made out of a large piece of cloth that is attached to the top of a long wooden pole. People groups and kings had their own unique banners by which they identified themselves. If your readers would not be familiar with this term, you could use the name of something used for a similar purpose in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “and his flag” | |
116 | 2:4 | cms6 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns | וְדִגְל֥וֹ עָלַ֖י אַהֲבָֽה | 1 | If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **love**, you could express the same idea with a verbal form as modeled by the UST. | |
117 | 2:5 | ddvu | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | סַמְּכ֨וּנִי֙ בָּֽאֲשִׁישׁ֔וֹת רַפְּד֖וּנִי בַּתַּפּוּחִ֑ים | 1 | These two phrases mean very similar things. In the author’s culture both raisins and **apples** were believed to give people strength for love.The second phrase emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. Hebrew poetry was based on this kind of repetition, and it would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. However, if your readers are unfamiliar with raisins and/or **apples** and you do not have an equivalent food or foods that you could substitute for them here you could combine these two phrases into one and use a general expression. Alternate translation: “Sustain and refresh me with fruit” or “strengthen me with fruit” or “strengthen me for love with fruit” | |
118 | 2:5 | ukb7 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-plural | סַמְּכ֨וּנִי֙…רַפְּד֖וּנִי | 1 | The phrases **Sustain me** and **refresh me** are plural imperative forms in the original language. The woman is addressing the man using plural forms to show the intensity of her feelings. Your language may allow you to do the same thing. The ULT indicates the intensity that these two plural forms indicate by placing an exclamation point at the end of this verse. Use a natural form in your language for showing intensity of emotion. | |
119 | 2:5 | t16z | rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result | סַמְּכ֨וּנִי֙ בָּֽאֲשִׁישׁ֔וֹת רַפְּד֖וּנִי בַּתַּפּוּחִ֑ים כִּי־ חוֹלַ֥ת אַהֲבָ֖ה אָֽנִי | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of the phrases in this verse, since the second part gives the reason for the result that the first part describes. Alternate translation: “Because I am sick with love, sustain me with raisin cakes and refresh me with apples” | |
120 | 2:5 | khc1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | בָּֽאֲשִׁישׁ֔וֹת | 1 | A **raisin** is a dried grape. Raisin cakes were cakes made of dried grapes pressed together. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of fruit, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “with cakes made of dried fruit” | |
121 | 2:5 | gs2a | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | בַּתַּפּוּחִ֑ים | 1 | See how you translated the word **apple** in [2:3](../02/03.md). Alternate translation: “with fruit” | |
122 | 2:5 | y4qy | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole | כִּי־חוֹלַ֥ת אַהֲבָ֖ה אָֽנִי | 1 | The woman speaks of feeling **sick with love** because her feelings of love are so strong for the man that they overwhelm her body as if they were a kind of sickness. She is exaggerating in order to emphasize the strength of her feelings for the man. Alternate translation: “for my love for you is so strong that I feel as if I were sick with love” or “because my love for you overwhelms me like a sickness” | |
123 | 2:5 | ijwy | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns | אַהֲבָ֖ה | 1 | If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **love**, you could express the same idea with a verbal form as modeled by the UST. | |
124 | 2:6 | m6ys | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | שְׂמֹאלוֹ֙ תַּ֣חַת לְרֹאשִׁ֔י וִימִינ֖וֹ תְּחַבְּקֵֽנִי | 1 | This verse could be describing: (1) an action that the man was doing in which case it should be translated in a similar way to the way that the ULT translates it. (2) a request or wish that the woman has and not something that has already happened. Alternate translation: “I hope he puts his left arm under my head and holds me close with his right arm” or ”I want him to put his left arm under my head and hold me close with his right arm” | |
125 | 2:7 | l67b | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-apostrophe | הִשְׁבַּ֨עְתִּי אֶתְכֶ֜ם בְּנ֤וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ | 1 | Here, the author portrays the woman speaking to the **daughters of Jerusalem** as if they were present and could hear her but most likely they are not present but rather the author is depicting the woman as addressing the **daughters of Jerusalem** as a poetic way of giving voice to the woman’s feelings. Because the author does this intentionally for poetic effect it is suggested that you do the same. If it would be helpful in your language, you could indicate this in a footnote if you are using them. | |
126 | 2:7 | f8kj | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-oathformula | הִשְׁבַּ֨עְתִּי אֶתְכֶ֜ם…בִּצְבָא֔וֹת א֖וֹ בְּאַיְל֣וֹת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה | 1 | **I adjure you** and the word **by** are both parts of Hebrew oath or promise formulas. You can use a natural way of making a promise in your culture that would be appropriate in this context. Alternate translation: “I urge you to promise me … with the female gazelles or the does of the field as our witnesses” or “Please, promise me … with the female gazelles or the does of the field as our witnesses” or “I want you to make an oath … with the female gazelles or the does of the field listening” | |
127 | 2:7 | to30 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-possession | בְּנ֤וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **daughters of Jerusalem** in [1:5](../01/05.md). | |
128 | 2:7 | n4wq | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-possession | בִּצְבָא֔וֹת א֖וֹ בְּאַיְל֣וֹת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה | 1 | Here, the woman is using the possessive form to indicate that **female gazelles** and **does** live in **the field** and therefore are wild rather than domesticated animals. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could explain the meaning of the phrase **of the field** in your translation. Alternate translation: “by the wild female gazelles and does” or “by the wild female gazelles or the wild does” or “by the female gazelles or the does that live in the wild” | |
129 | 2:7 | sz5c | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | בִּצְבָא֔וֹת א֖וֹ בְּאַיְל֣וֹת | 1 | A gazelle is an animal that is a small antelope and looks like a deer, moves quickly like a deer, and is very similar in size to a deer. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of animal, you could use the name of something similar in your area or if you do not have two deer-like animals in your area or if your language does not have two different words for deer-like animals you could combine the terms **female gazelles** and **does** into one term. Alternate translation: “by the female deer of” or “by the female gazelles of” | |
130 | 2:7 | nt79 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | בְּאַיְל֣וֹת | 1 | The term **does** refers to female deer. If it would be helpful to your readers you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “the female deer of” | |
131 | 2:7 | ekc3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification | אִם־ תָּעִ֧ירוּ ׀ וְֽאִם־ תְּעֽוֹרְר֛וּ אֶת־ הָאַהֲבָ֖ה עַ֥ד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּֽץ | 1 | Here **love** is spoken of as if it were a person who could sleep and be awakened and as if it were a person who could have **desires**. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “do not encourage people to love romantically until the appropriate time” or “do not encourage people to have romantic feelings until the appropriate time” | |
132 | 2:7 | fz3j | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet | אִם־תָּעִ֧ירוּ ׀ וְֽאִם־ תְּעֽוֹרְר֛וּ | 1 | Here, the words **awaken** and **stir** mean basically the same thing. The repetition is used for emphasis. If your language does not use repetition to do this, you could use one phrase and provide emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: “do not awaken” or “do not stir up feeling of” | |
133 | 2:7 | z2xm | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns | הָאַהֲבָ֖ה | 1 | If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **love**, you could express the same idea with a verbal form as modeled by the UST. | |
134 | 2:8 | fq0o | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | ק֣וֹל דּוֹדִ֔י | 1 | Here the original language word which the ULT translates as **voice** is being used to get the readers attention. If it would help your readers you can indicate that explicitly in your translation. Alternate translation: “Listen, I hear my beloved speaking” or “Listen, I hear my beloved approaching” | |
135 | 2:8 | okuh | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamation | הִנֵּה | 1 | **Behold** is an exclamation word that is used to bring attention to something. Here it is used to bring attention to the man’s approach. Use an exclamation that is natural in your language for communicating this. See how you translated “Behold” in [1:15](../01/015.md). Alternate translation: “Look” | |
136 | 2:8 | happ | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | בָּ֑א | 1 | Your language may say “going” rather than **coming** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “is going” | |
137 | 2:8 | tymi | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | מְדַלֵּג֙ עַל־ הֶ֣הָרִ֔ים מְקַפֵּ֖ץ עַל־ הַגְּבָעֽוֹת | 1 | These two phrases mean the same thing. The woman says the same thing twice, in slightly different ways, to give emphasis to what she is saying. If saying the same thing twice might be confusing in your language, or if you do not have two words for steeply elevated inclines you could combine these two phrases and provide emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: “jumping over the mountains!” or “leaping over the hills!” | |
138 | 2:8-9 | fr67 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | מְדַלֵּג֙ עַל־הֶ֣הָרִ֔ים מְקַפֵּ֖ץ עַל־הַגְּבָעֽוֹת & דּוֹמֶ֤ה דוֹדִי֙ לִצְבִ֔י א֖וֹ לְעֹ֣פֶר | 1 | The woman speaks of the man as if he were **a gazelle or a young stag**. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the basis of this comparison. Alternate translation: “leaping over the mountains, jumping over the hills. My beloved is agile and fast and he exudes freedom and strength like a gazelle or young stag” | |
139 | 2:8-9 | gatn5 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure | מְדַלֵּג֙ עַל־הֶ֣הָרִ֔ים מְקַפֵּ֖ץ עַל־הַגְּבָעֽוֹת & דּוֹמֶ֤ה דוֹדִי֙ לִצְבִ֔י א֖וֹ לְעֹ֣פֶר | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: “My beloved resembles a gazelle or a young stag, leaping over the mountains, jumping over the hills” or “My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag, leaping over the mountains, jumping over the hills” | |
140 | 2:9 | kq5f | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | לִצְבִ֔י | 1 | See how you translated the plural form “gazelles” in [2:7](../02/07.md) and translate this word as the singular of “gazelles.” | |
141 | 2:9 | qbs9 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | הָֽאַיָּלִ֑ים | 1 | A **stag** is a male deer. If it would help your readers you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “male deer” | |
142 | 2:9 | s6z4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamation | הִנֵּה־זֶ֤ה עוֹמֵד֙ | 1 | **Behold** is an exclamation word that is used to bring attention to something. Here it is used to draw attention to the man’s arrival. Use an exclamation that is natural in your language in this context. Alternate translation: “Look! Here he is! Standing” | |
143 | 2:9 | pppj | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | זֶ֤ה | 1 | Here, the phrase **this one** refers to the man who the woman calls **My beloved** in the first part of this verse. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “this man” or “my beloved” | |
144 | 2:9 | umf5 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive | אַחַ֣ר כָּתְלֵ֔נוּ | 1 | Here, the word **our** refers to the woman and her family and does not include the man, so use the exclusive form of that word in your translation if your language marks that distinction. Alternate translation: “behind the wall of my house” or “on the other side of the wall of my family’s house” | |
145 | 2:9 | kf9u | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | מַשְׁגִּ֨יחַ֙ מִן־הַֽחֲלֹּנ֔וֹת מֵצִ֖יץ מִן־הַֽחֲרַכִּֽים | 1 | These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. Hebrew poetry was based on this kind of repetition, and it would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. However, if it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the phrases with a word other than **and** in order to show that the second phrase is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “gazing through the windows, yes, looking through the lattice” | |
146 | 2:9 | nuxr | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-plural | הַֽחֲלֹּנ֔וֹת…הַֽחֲרַכִּֽים | 1 | Here, the words **windows** and **lattices** are plural forms and could: (1) have a plural meaning here indicating that the man was walking around the house and looking into the house through different windows and lattices. If you decide that these two terms have a plural meaning here you can translate them in a similar way to the ULT. (2) be used with singular meanings here. Alternate translation: “the window … the lattice” | |
147 | 2:9 | s9xt | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | הַֽחֲרַכִּֽים | 1 | A “lattice” is a cover inside a window frame that is made by weaving strips of wood together. **lattices** have holes that people can look through. If your readers would not be familiar with **lattices**, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could describe **lattices** as modeled by the UST. Alternate translation: “the screen” | |
148 | 2:10 | gr22 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | וּלְכִי־לָֽךְ | 1 | Your language may say “go” rather than **come** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “and go” | |
149 | 2:11 | yv91 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamation | הִנֵּ֥ה הסתו | 1 | The man is using the term **Behold** to focus attention on what he is about to say. Use an exclamation that is natural in your language for communicating this. Alternate translation: “see that the winter” | |
150 | 2:11 | jmbh | rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result | כִּֽי | 1 | Here, the word **for** indicates that what follows is the motivation or reason for what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a reason for what came before. Alternate translation: “because” | |
151 | 2:11 | e658 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | הסתו | 1 | In Israel **winter** is the time of year when it is cold and rains more heavily than during other seasons. If the seasons do not vary much in your location, you could explain this with a general expression such as “the cold season” as modeled by the UST. Alternate translation: “the cold rainy season” or “the cold wet season” | |
152 | 2:11 | asu3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | הסתו עָבָ֑ר הַגֶּ֕שֶׁם חָלַ֖ף | 1 | These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. Hebrew poetry was based on this kind of repetition, and it would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the clauses with a word that shows that the second clause is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “the winter has gone; yes, the rain has passed” | |
153 | 2:11 | qxz4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | עָבָ֑ר | 1 | Your language may not say **gone** in contexts such as this. Alternate translation: “is finished” or “is over” | |
154 | 2:11 | b8gp | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | הָלַ֥ךְ לֽוֹ | 1 | Your language may not say **went** in contexts such as this. Alternate translation: “it ended” or “it left” | |
155 | 2:11 | eh4t | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet | חָלַ֖ף הָלַ֥ךְ לֽוֹ | 1 | The terms **passed** and **went away** mean similar things. The author is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: “is over and gone” or “has gone away” | |
156 | 2:12 | j8f3 | בָאָ֔רֶץ | 1 | Alternate translation: “throughout the land” | ||
157 | 2:12 | zmw4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive | וְק֥וֹל הַתּ֖וֹר נִשְׁמַ֥ע | 1 | If your language does not use the passive form, you could express the idea of the phrase **the turtledove is heard** in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the action, it is clear from the context that it is people. Alternate translation: “and people hear the voice of the turtledove” or “and people hear the turtledove cooing” | |
158 | 2:13 | mk2y | rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns | הַתְּאֵנָה֙ חָֽנְטָ֣ה פַגֶּ֔יהָ | 1 | The word **tree** is a singular noun that refers to all the fig trees in that region. If your language does not use singular nouns in that way, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “The fig trees are ripening their green figs” or “The figs on the trees are becoming ripe” | |
159 | 2:13 | ef3j | וְהַגְּפָנִ֥ים ׀ סְמָדַ֖ר | 1 | Alternate translation: “and the grapevines are flowering” or “and the grapevines are blossoming” | ||
160 | 2:13 | xg4l | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | נָ֣תְנוּ רֵ֑יחַ | 1 | Here, the word **they** refers to blossoms on the grapevines. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “their flowers give off a pleasant smell” or “their blossoms have a sweet smell” | |
161 | 2:13 | xhn3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | ק֥וּמִי לכי\n \nרַעְיָתִ֥י יָפָתִ֖י וּלְכִי־לָֽךְ | 1 | See how you translated the similar phrase in [2:10](../02/10.md). Alternate translation: “Get up, go, my darling, my beauty, and go” | |
162 | 2:14 | m3n1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | יוֹנָתִ֞י | 1 | Here, the phrase **My dove** could be: (1) a form of address in which the man is speaking directly to the woman. Alternate translation: “O my dove” (2) the man speaking about the woman rather than addressing her directly. Alternate translation: “The woman I love is a dove” | |
163 | 2:14 | wv7q | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | יוֹנָתִ֞י בְּחַגְוֵ֣י הַסֶּ֗לַע בְּסֵ֨תֶר֙ הַמַּדְרֵגָ֔ה | 1 | Here, the man uses a term of affection for the woman, speaking of her as if she were a **dove**. He then explains the way in which she is like a dove. If it would be helpful in your language, you could turn this metaphor into a simile and explain the basis of the comparison. Alternate translation: “O my one who is like a dove. You are like a gentle and timid dove which hides in the clefts of the rock and in the hiding places of the cliff” or “You are like a dove. You are like a gentle and shy dove which hides in the clefts of the rock and in the hiding places of the cliff” or “You are like a dove. Far away in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the cliff” | |
164 | 2:14 | y6rv | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | בְּחַגְוֵ֣י הַסֶּ֗לַע בְּסֵ֨תֶר֙ הַמַּדְרֵגָ֔ה | 1 | These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea (that the woman seems difficult to reach and far away) with different words. Hebrew poetry was based on this kind of repetition, and it would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. However, if it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the phrases with a word such as “yes” in order to show that the second phrase is repeating a similar idea to the first one, not saying something additional. However, if saying similar things twice would confuse your readers you could combine the two lines as modeled by the UST. Alternate translation: “in the clefts of the rock, yes, in the hiding places of the cliff” | |
165 | 2:14 | zje5 | בְּחַגְוֵ֣י הַסֶּ֗לַע | 1 | Alternate translation: “in the cracks of the rock” or “in the cracks of the rock cliff” | ||
166 | 2:14 | kkup | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry | הַרְאִ֨ינִי֙ אֶתּ־מַרְאַ֔יִךְ הַשְׁמִיעִ֖ינִי אֶת־קוֹלֵ֑ךְ כִּי־קוֹלֵ֥ךְ עָרֵ֖ב וּמַרְאֵ֥יךְ נָאוֶֽה | 1 | Here two ideas are presented and then they are further explained in reverse order. This is called a chiasm. Biblical Hebrew sometimes uses this literary device. If possible, try to follow this AB-BA sequence of presenting the information here. See the [book introduction](../front/intro.md) for more information regarding chiasms. | |
167 | 2:14 | be0w | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-imperative | הַרְאִ֨ינִי֙ אֶתּ־ מַרְאַ֔יִךְ הַשְׁמִיעִ֖ינִי | 1 | The phrases **show me** and **make me hear** are imperatives, but they communicate a polite request rather than a command. Use forms in your language that communicate a polite request. It may be helpful to add an expression such as “please” or “let” to make this clear. Alternate translation: “please let me see your appearance, please make me hear” or “let me see you, let me hear” | |
168 | 2:14 | datu | קוֹלֵ֥ךְ עָרֵ֖ב | 1 | Alternate translation: “your voice is sweet-sounding” or “your voice sounds beautiful” | ||
169 | 2:15 | xns5 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | אֶֽחֱזוּ־לָ֨נוּ֙ שֽׁוּעָלִ֔ים שֽׁוּעָלִ֥ים קְטַנִּ֖ים מְחַבְּלִ֣ים כְּרָמִ֑ים וּכְרָמֵ֖ינוּ סְמָדַֽר | 1 | Here, **the foxes** represent things that could harm the man and woman’s developing love relationship with each other. One interpretation is that the harmful things which **the foxes** symbolize are other men. Catching **the foxes** represents removing these harmful things or protecting against them. The term **vineyards** represents the love the man and woman have for each other. The phrase **in blossom** means that the love they have for each other is developing positively and growing, similar to how a plant blossoms and grows. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning of this verse plainly. Alternate translation: “Get rid of the harmful things that hinder and ruin our relationship, for our relationship is blossoming” or “Remove the little things that destroy our growing relationship” or “There are other men who are like little foxes that ruin vineyards; do not allow those men to attack me” | |
170 | 2:15 | dac9 | לָ֨נוּ֙ שֽׁוּעָלִ֔ים שֽׁוּעָלִ֥ים קְטַנִּ֖ים | 1 | The original language word that the ULT translates as **foxes** could refer to: (1) **foxes** in which case you could translate the term as the ULT does. (2) “jackals” which are a wild dogs that resemble wolves and coyotes. Alternate translation: “the jackals for us, the little jackals” | ||
171 | 2:15 | 170A | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | לָ֨נוּ֙ שֽׁוּעָלִ֔ים שֽׁוּעָלִ֥ים קְטַנִּ֖ים | 1 | Both **foxes** and jackals are land animals that are similar to small dogs and would ruin vineyards by digging up and eating the budding blossoms that could eventually produce grapes. If your readers would not be familiar with these animals and their habits, you could describe the animal you chose to use in your translation (a fox or a jackal) in general terms or use the name of something similar in your area. Alternate translation: “the dog-like animals for us, the little dog-like animals” | |
172 | 2:15 | v31m | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive | לָ֨נוּ֙ & וּכְרָמֵ֖ינוּ | 1 | Here, the words **us** and **our** refer to the woman and the man, so use the exclusive forms of these words if your language marks that distinction. | |
173 | 2:15 | kg0i | וּכְרָמֵ֖ינוּ סְמָדַֽר | 1 | Alternate translation: “because the grapevines in our vineyards are blooming” or “because our grapevines are in bloom” | ||
174 | 2:16 | zb2r | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person | דּוֹדִ֥י לִי֙ וַאֲנִ֣י ל֔וֹ | 1 | The woman is speaking as if she is talking about the man to another person even though she is most likely speaking directly to the man. This is common in Hebrew poetry. If this would not be natural in your language you can translate this in a way that indicates that the woman is speaking directly to the man. Alternate translation: “My beloved, you belong to me, and I belong to you” | |
175 | 2:16 | lxy4 | הָרֹעֶ֖ה בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּֽים | 1 | The phrase **the man grazing among the lilies** could mean: (1) that the man himself is grazing among the lilies in which case you can translate this phrase as the ULT does. (2) that the man grazes his flock of animals among the lilies. Alternate translation: “the man grazing his flock among the lilies” | ||
176 | 2:16 | n6c3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | הָרֹעֶ֖ה בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּֽים | 1 | The woman is speaking of the man as if he were “a gazelle or a young stag” ([2:9](../02/09.md)) that eats **among the lilies**. She is using **lilies** to represent herself as she did in [2:1](../02/01.md). Here, **the lilies** probably specifically represent the woman’s lips. The meaning here is that the man finds sustenance and enjoyment through being with the woman and kissing her lips. If it would help your readers, you could state the meaning plainly as modeled by the UST or you could explain the meaning in a footnote if you are using footnotes in your translation. Alternate translation: “my beloved gets pleasure grazing among the lilies” or “my beloved gets pleasure as he grazes among the lilies” | |
177 | 2:16 | x5db | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּֽים | 1 | See how you translated “lily” (the singular form of **lilies**) in [2:1](../02/01.md). | |
178 | 2:17 | p2uq | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification | שֶׁיָּפ֨וּחַ֙ הַיּ֔וֹם וְנָ֖סוּ הַצְּלָלִ֑ים | 1 | The phrases **the day breathes** and **the shadows flee** are parallel ideas which have similar meanings. Together they both either refer to: (1) the evening time when the evening breeze blows (**breathes**) and the shadows cast by the sun disappear (**flee**). Alternate translation: “the evening time when the breeze blows and the shadows cast by the sun disappear” (2) the morning when the light from the sun dawns and the morning breeze blows (**breathes**). Alternate translation: “dawn tomorrow morning, when the darkness disappears”\n | |
179 | 2:17 | h2b1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis | וְנָ֖סוּ הַצְּלָלִ֑ים | 1 | Here, the author is leaving out the word **until** which in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply this words from earlier in the sentence if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “and until the shadows flee” | |
180 | 2:17 | scgd | סֹב֩ דְּמֵה־לְךָ֨ דוֹדִ֜י | 1 | Alternate translation: “turn; my beloved, and be like” | ||
181 | 2:17 | d8mw | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | לִצְבִ֗י | 1 | See how you translated the plural form “gazelles” in [2:7](../02/07.md) and translate this word as the singular form of “gazelles.” | |
182 | 2:17 | iwlq | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-transliterate | הָ֥רֵי בָֽתֶר | 1 | The word **Bether** is a transliteration of a Hebrew word which refers to a cleft place with gorges and could: (1) refer to a specific place in Israel. If you choose this option then in your translation you can spell it the way it sounds in your language as modeled by the ULT. (2) be used generically here as a general description for **the mountains**. Alternate translation: “the cleft mountains” or “the rugged mountains” or “the mountain gorges” | |
183 | 3:intro | t72h | 0 | # Song of Songs 3 General Notes\n\n## Special concepts in this chapter\n\n### Longing\n\n[3:1-3](../03/01.md) describes the feeling of longing that the woman had for the man she loved and it describes her diligently seeking the man loved. [3:4](../03/04.md) describes the woman finding the man that she loved and her response to finding him, holding onto him and bringing him to her mother’s house. \n\n## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter\n\n\n### Whether [3:1-4](../03/01.md) describe a dream, a real event or something imagined\n\nBible scholars do not know for certain whether the events described in [3:1-4](../03/01.md) are a real event or something that the woman dreamed in a dream or something that the woman imagined. Many Bible scholars think that [3:1-4](../03/01.md) describe a dream. If you are using footnotes you may wish to explain this in a footnote or you could indicate in a section header whether you think this is a dream, a real event or something that the woman imagined. You could also use a general section header such as “The woman searches for the man she loves at night and finds him” which does not comment on whether this was a dream, a real event or something imagined. | |||
184 | 3:1 | gagz | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-extrainfo | עַל־ מִשְׁכָּבִי֙ בַּלֵּיל֔וֹת | 1 | Because Bible scholars do not know if the events described in [3:1-4](../03/01.md) describe real events or things that happened in a dream or things the woman imagined, you should not expand on or explain the phrase **On my bed in the night** in the actual text of your translation (by adding a phrase like “I dreamed I was” or “I imagined I was”) though you may wish to use a header or a footnote. See the section “Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter” in the Introduction to this chapter for more information. | |
185 | 3:1 | eds0 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-plural | בַּלֵּיל֔וֹת | 1 | In the original language the phrase **in the night** uses a plural form of **night** and could mean: (1) that the woman sought the man during the night. Alternate translation: “during the night” (2) that the woman sought the man throughout the night. Alternate translation: “throughout the night” or “all night long” (3) that the woman sought the man on many nights. Alternate translation: “night after night” or “night upon night” | |
186 | 3:1 | ks2u | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry | בִּקַּ֕שְׁתִּי אֵ֥ת שֶׁאָהֲבָ֖ה נַפְשִׁ֑י בִּקַּשְׁתִּ֖יו | 1 | The phrase **I sought him** is repeated for emphasis. Hebrew poetry often uses repetition for emphasis. You may be able to use the same construction in your language to show the emphasis here. Alternatively, your language may have another way of showing the emphasis. Alternate translation: “I desperately sought him whom my soul loves” or “I earnestly sought him whom my soul loves” | |
187 | 3:1 | hu3u | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche | אֵ֥ת שֶׁאָהֲבָ֖ה נַפְשִׁ֑י | 1 | See how you translated the similar phrase “you whom my soul loves” in [1:7](../01/07.md). Alternate translation: “him whom I love” | |
188 | 3:2 | zqaa | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | אָק֨וּמָה נָּ֜א | 1 | The woman is thinking or saying this to herself. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly by beginning this section with an introductory phrase as modeled by the UST. Alternate translation: “I thought to myself, “I will get up now” | |
189 | 3:2 | uyu7 | וַאֲסוֹבְבָ֣ה בָעִ֗יר | 1 | Alternate translation: “and walk through the city” | ||
190 | 3:2 | x9ki | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | וּבָ֣רְחֹב֔וֹת | 1 | The word **squares** refers to spacious open places where people gathered to sell things and conduct other business matters and handle legal matters. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of place, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “and in the open plazas” or “and in the wide open places” | |
191 | 3:2 | afu9 | אֲבַקְשָׁ֕ה…בִּקַּשְׁתִּ֖יו | 1 | Alternate translation: “I will look for … I looked for him” | ||
192 | 3:2 | tqsh | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche | אֵ֥ת שֶׁאָהֲבָ֖ה נַפְשִׁ֑י | 1 | See how you translated the similar phrase “you whom my soul loves” in [1:7](../01/07.md). Alternate translation: “him whom I love” | |
193 | 3:3 | rdd5 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | הַשֹּׁ֣מְרִ֔ים | 1 | Here, the word **guards** refers to men who had the job of walking about the city during the night for the purpose of keeping the people safe. If your readers would not be familiar with this term you could use the name of a similar role in your area or you could use a more general term as modeled by the UST. | |
194 | 3:3 | ha13 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | אֵ֛ת שֶׁאָהֲבָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י רְאִיתֶֽם | 1 | The woman is asking the **guards** a question. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly by introducing this question with words that indicate that this is a question. Alternate translation: “I said to them, “Have you seen him whom my soul loves’” | |
195 | 3:3 | pab8 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche | אֵ֛ת שֶׁאָהֲבָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י | 1 | See how you translated the similar phrase “you whom my soul loves” in [1:7](../01/07.md). Alternate translation: “him whom I love” | |
196 | 3:3 | j24q | אֵ֛ת שֶׁאָהֲבָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י רְאִיתֶֽם | 1 | Alternate translation: “Do you know where the man who I love is?” | ||
197 | 3:4 | x68x | כִּמְעַט֙ | 1 | Alternate translation: “Scarcely” | ||
198 | 3:4 | frj6 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche | אֵ֥ת שֶׁאָהֲבָ֖ה נַפְשִׁ֑י | 1 | See how you translated the similar phrase “you whom my soul loves” in [1:7](../01/07.md). Alternate translation: “him whom I love” | |
199 | 3:4 | zhgq | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | שֶׁ֤הֲבֵיאתִיו֙ | 1 | Your language may say “taken” rather than **brought** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “I had taken him” | |
200 | 3:4 | xfcj | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | שֶׁ֤הֲבֵיאתִיו֙ אֶל־ בֵּ֣ית אִמִּ֔י וְאֶל־ חֶ֖דֶר הוֹרָתִֽי | 1 | These two phrases are parallel. The second phrase adds additional information to the first one. This is common in Hebrew poetry and it would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. However, if it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the phrases with a word such as “then” in order to show that the second phrase is adding additional information. Alternate translation: “I had brought him to the house of my mother and then to the room of the woman who had conceived me” | |
201 | 3:5 | a3y1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry | הִשְׁבַּ֨עְתִּי אֶתְכֶ֜ם בְּנ֤וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ בִּצְבָא֔וֹת א֖וֹ בְּאַיְל֣וֹת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה אִם־תָּעִ֧ירוּ ׀ וְֽאִם־תְּעֽוֹרְר֛וּ אֶת־הָאַהֲבָ֖ה עַ֥ד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּֽץ | 1 | This verse is identical to [Song of Songs 2:7](../02/07.md). Translate this verse exactly as you translated that verse. This verse is a refrain (a repeated phrase). Refrains are a common feature of poetry. This refrain closes section 2:8-3:5. | |
202 | 3:6 | c84r | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion | מִ֣י זֹ֗את עֹלָה֙ מִן־הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר כְּתִֽימֲר֖וֹת עָשָׁ֑ן מְקֻטֶּ֤רֶת מוֹר֙ וּלְבוֹנָ֔ה מִכֹּ֖ל אַבְקַ֥ת רוֹכֵֽל | 1 | Here, the phrase **Who is that** could: (1) be rhetorical question that is used to create a sense of expectation and interest. If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate these words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way as modeled by the UST. (2) be a request for information. Alternate translation: “Who is it that I see arising from the wilderness like columns of smoke, fragrant smoke of myrrh and frankincense from all the powders of the merchant?” | |
203 | 3:6 | si0q | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | זֹ֗את עֹלָה֙ מִן־הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר | 1 | The word translated as **that** here could refer to: (1) Solomon’s “litter,” which is named in the following verse. Alternate translation: “is that group of people that is arising from the wilderness” (2) the woman. Alternate translation: “is this woman that is arising from the wilderness” | |
204 | 3:6 | y8wr | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | עֹלָה֙ | 1 | The phrase **coming up** is used by the author because the group of people described is traveling **from the wilderness** to Jerusalem. They must travel upward in elevation in order to reach Jerusalem because **the wilderness** is low in the Jordan valley and Jerusalem is built on hills and is therefore high. Use a word or phrase that expresses moving upward in elevation. Alternate translation: “moving upward” or “arising” | |
205 | 3:6 | z138 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | עֹלָה֙ | 1 | Your language may say “going” rather than **coming** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “going up” | |
206 | 3:6 | y4z0 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | כְּתִֽימֲר֖וֹת עָשָׁ֑ן מְקֻטֶּ֤רֶת מוֹר֙ וּלְבוֹנָ֔ה | 1 | The word **like** is introducing a comparison. Here, the phrase **a column of smoke** is most likely describing a dust cloud created by a group of people traveling in a dry and dusty area. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate the basis of comparison. Alternate translation: “creating a dust cloud that resembles a column of smoke, which resembles the fragrant smoke of myrrh and frankincense” | |
207 | 3:6 | ej84 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry | כְּתִֽימֲר֖וֹת עָשָׁ֑ן מְקֻטֶּ֤רֶת מוֹר֙ וּלְבוֹנָ֔ה | 1 | Here, the phrase **fragrant smoke of myrrh and frankincense** could: (1) be further describing the word **arising**. Alternate translation: “creating dust clouds that resemble rising columns of smoke. Yes, creating dust clouds that resemble the fragrant smoke of myrrh and frankincense” (2) describing the phrase **column of smoke**. Alternate translation: “like a column of smoke, incensed with myrrh and frankincense” | |
208 | 3:6 | vbjm | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis | מְקֻטֶּ֤רֶת | 1 | The author is leaving out a word that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If your readers might misunderstand this, you could supply this word from the context. Alternate translation: “like fragrant smoke of” | |
209 | 3:6 | w7kr | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | מוֹר֙ | 1 | **myrrh** is a pleasant smelling ointment which is made from resin taken from the myrrh tree. If your readers would not be familiar **myrrh** you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternately, you could describe **myrrh** with a descriptive phrase and/or you could include a footnote explaining what myrrh is. Alternate translation: “the sweet smelling incense made from the resin of a myrrh tree” | |
210 | 3:6 | i42j | rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases | מִכֹּ֖ל אַבְקַ֥ת רוֹכֵֽל | 1 | The word translated as **from all** could: (1) be introducing **the powders of the merchant** as additional information about **myrrh and frankincense**. Alternate translation: “which are among the powders of the merchant” (2) indicate that **the powders of the merchant** are being introduced as additional things **the merchant** sells. Alternate translation: “and other powders of the merchants” | |
211 | 3:7 | ldh8 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamation | הִנֵּ֗ה | 1 | **Behold** is an exclamation that is being used to draw people’s attention to what was “arising from the wilderness”. Use an exclamation that would express that meaning in your language as modeled by the UST. | |
212 | 3:7 | sa19 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | מִטָּתוֹ֙ | 1 | A **litter** was a portable bed or couch that important people were carried on from place to place. It was carried by wooden poles that were attached to it. This **litter** probably had a canopy on top of it that functioned as a roof and curtains around it that could be opened and closed. If your readers would be unfamiliar with this term you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a descriptive phrase as modeled by the UST. Alternate translation: “portable couch” | |
213 | 3:7 | ui2b | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | מִטָּתוֹ֙ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹ֔ה | 1 | The phrase **his litter, which belongs to Solomon** could mean: (1) that the woman was riding on the **litter** which belonged to **Solomon** and which he had sent for her. The UST models this interpretation. (2) that **Solomon** himself was riding in the **litter**. Alternate translation: “Solomon riding in his royal portable chair” | |
214 | 3:8 | v2yx | מְלֻמְּדֵ֖י מִלְחָמָ֑ה | 1 | Alternate translation: “all of them have been trained in warfare” or “all of them have been trained to use their swords” | ||
215 | 3:8 | cttn | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | אִ֤ישׁ חַרְבּוֹ֙ עַל־יְרֵכ֔וֹ מִפַּ֖חַד בַּלֵּילּֽוֹת׃ | 1 | The phrase **Each one has his sword at his thigh** means that each warrior has his **sword** strapped to his thigh so that it is ready to use to defend **against the terrors in the nights**. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “Each warrior has his sword strapped to his thigh so that it is ready to use against the terrors in the nights” or “Each warrior has his sword ready to use to defend against the terrors in the nights” | |
216 | 3:8 | z214 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | מִפַּ֖חַד בַּלֵּילּֽוֹת | 1 | The phrase **against the terrors in the nights** means “ready to defend against the terrifying things that could happen on any given night.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly as modeled by the UST. Alternate translation: “ready to guard against dangers that happen during the night” or “ready to defend against the dangers of the night.” | |
217 | 3:9-10 | tq2c | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background | אַפִּרְי֗וֹן עָ֤שָׂה לוֹ֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה מֵעֲצֵ֖י הַלְּבָנֽוֹן & עַמּוּדָיו֙ עָ֣שָׂה כֶ֔סֶף רְפִידָת֣וֹ זָהָ֔ב מֶרְכָּב֖וֹ אַרְגָּמָ֑ן תּוֹכוֹ֙ רָצ֣וּף אַהֲבָ֔ה מִבְּנ֖וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם\n\n | 1 | These two verses give background information. Use the natural form in your language for expressing background information. | |
218 | 3:9-10 | iko4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | אַפִּרְי֗וֹן עָ֤שָׂה לוֹ֙ … עַמּוּדָיו֙ עָ֣שָׂה כֶ֔סֶף | 1 | These phrases mean that Solomon had people make **a palanquin** for him. It does not mean that he made the **palanquin** himself. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “He had craftsmen make him a palanquin…He had craftsmen make its post with silver” or “He had a palanquin made for him…He had its posts made with silver” | |
219 | 3:9 | nnm6 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | אַפִּרְי֗וֹן | 1 | Here, the term **palanquin** refers to the same object that the term “litter” referred to in [3:7](../03/07.md). The term **litter** is a general term meaning “couch” or “bed” and the term **palanquin** is a more descriptive word meaning “sedan chair.” You could translate the term **palanquin** the same way you translated “litter” in [3:7](../03/07.md) or you could use a different word or phrase here. Alternate translation: “portable couch” or “sedan chair” | |
220 | 3:9 | hlf4 | הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה מֵעֲצֵ֖י הַלְּבָנֽוֹן | 1 | Alternate translation: “King Solomon had it made from the trees in Lebanon” | ||
221 | 3:10 | xnj4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | עַמּוּדָיו֙ עָ֣שָׂה כֶ֔סֶף | 1 | The **posts** were made of wood and overlaid with **silver**. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “He made its posts of wood that was overlaid with silver” or “He made its posts of wood covered in silver” | |
222 | 3:10 | q4nz | רְפִידָת֣וֹ זָהָ֔ב | 1 | The phrase **its back gold** could mean: (1) that the base or foundation of the “palanquin” was covered in **gold**. Alternate translation: “its foundation of gold” or “its base of gold” (2) the back of the chair was covered in **gold**. Alternate translation: “its back made from gold” | ||
223 | 3:10 | akoo | מֶרְכָּב֖וֹ אַרְגָּמָ֑ן | 1 | Alternate translation: “and covered the cushion with purple cloth” | ||
224 | 3:10 | clqf | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive | תּוֹכוֹ֙ רָצ֣וּף אַהֲבָ֔ה מִבְּנ֖וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם | 1 | If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “The daughters of Jerusalem fitted its interior with love” | |
225 | 3:10 | m0yx | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns | תּוֹכוֹ֙ רָצ֣וּף אַהֲבָ֔ה מִבְּנ֖וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם | 1 | If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **love**, you could express the same idea with an adverb as modeled by the UST or in some other way that is natural in your language. | |
226 | 3:10 | oki8 | תּוֹכוֹ֙ רָצ֣וּף אַהֲבָ֔ה מִבְּנ֖וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם | 1 | Alternate translation: “The inside of it was lovingly inlaid with decorations by the women of Jerusalem.” | ||
227 | 3:10 | bjfn | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-possession | מִבְּנ֖וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **daughters of Jerusalem** in [1:5](../01/05.md). | |
228 | 3:11 | zwp2 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | צְאֶ֧ינָה | 1 | Your language may say “Come out” rather than **Go out** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “Come out” | |
229 | 3:11 | i961 | בְּנ֥וֹת צִיּ֖וֹן | 1 | The possessive form is used here to describe where the young women live. The phrase **daughters of Zion** is a poetic way of referring to the young women who were from the city of Jerusalem (These are probably the same women as the “marriageable women” in [1:3](../01/03.md) and the women referred to as “daughters of Jerusalem” in [2:7](../02/07.md) and [3:5](../03/05.md)). If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could indicate the association between these young women and **Zion** in a way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “young women from Zion” or “young women from the city of Zion” or “you young women who live in Zion” | ||
230 | 3:11 | sfn3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | בְּי֣וֹם חֲתֻנָּת֔וֹ וּבְי֖וֹם שִׂמְחַ֥ת לִבּֽוֹ | 1 | These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. Hebrew poetry was based on this kind of repetition, and it would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the clauses with a word that shows that the second clause is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “on the day of his wedding, yes, on the day of the joy of his heart” | |
231 | 3:11 | zhva | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns | וּבְי֖וֹם שִׂמְחַ֥ת לִבּֽוֹ | 1 | If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **joy**, you could express the same idea with an adjective such as “joyful” or in some other way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “on the day his heart was exceedingly joyful” or “on the day when his heart was very joyful” | |
232 | 3:11 | ei7z | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy | וּבְי֖וֹם שִׂמְחַ֥ת לִבּֽוֹ | 1 | Solomon’s inner being is being described by association with his **heart**, which the Jews viewed as being the center of a persons being and therefore the center of their mind and inner feelings. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language as modeled by the UST. | |
233 | 4:intro | r3aw | 0 | # Song of Songs 4 General Notes\n\n## Special concepts in this chapter\n\n### Beauty\n\nThe man describes the woman he loves as the epitome of beauty and attractiveness in [4:1-4:5](../04/01.md) and in [4:7](../04/07.md). \n\n\n### Feelings of longing to be with one’s lover who seems distant and temporarily inaccessible\n\nIn [4:8](../04/08.md) the man speaks of the woman he loves as if she were far away from him and he invites her to “come with” him and “descend from” the height of three high places and be with him. The woman is not actually dwelling in these places but rather the man is using imaginative and poetic language to describe how he feels about being separated from her and to describe his desire to be with her. In [4:12](../04/12.md) the man uses poetic language to describe the fact that the woman he loves is temporarily inaccessible.\n\n\n## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter\n\n### Metaphors\n\n\n### The Garden Metaphor \n\n[4:12-5:1](../04/12.md) is an extended metaphor. This metaphor is a conversation between the man and the woman he loves in which the man first compares the woman he loves to “a locked garden” (in [4:12-4:15](../04/12.md)) where many delightful things grow and then the woman responds by inviting the man to come to her garden (in [4:16](../04/16.md)). The man then responds to her invitation in [5:1](../05/1.md). The term **garden** is used as a metaphor for the woman in [4:12](../04/12.md), in [4:16](../04/16.md) (two times), and in [5:1](../05/01.md). You should be consistent in how you translate these terms. In [4:13](../04/13.md) the man speaks of the woman’s body as “an orchard of pomegranate trees with delicious fruits” and then in [4:16](../04/16.md) the woman invites the man to **come to his garden and eat its delicious fruit**. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exmetaphor]])\n\n### The “sister” metaphor\n\nThe phrase **my sister** is used in 4:9; 4:10, 4:12, 5:1, and 5:2. The man uses this phrase as a term of endearment for the woman he loves. The woman is not actually his sister. You should translate this phrase the same way each of the five times it occurs in this book because the author uses it with the same meaning every time. See the note at the first occurrence of this phrase in 4:9 for more information regarding this phrase.\n\n | |||
234 | 4:1 | rg3f | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | הִנָּ֨ךְ יָפָ֤ה רַעְיָתִי֙ הִנָּ֣ךְ יָפָ֔ה | 1 | See how you translated these two parallel phrases in [1:15](../01/15.md). | |
235 | 4:1 | m3g6 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | עֵינַ֣יִךְ יוֹנִ֔ים מִבַּ֖עַד לְצַמָּתֵ֑ךְ | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **Your eyes are doves** in [1:15](../01/15.md). | |
236 | 4:1 | pnn4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | שַׂעְרֵךְ֙ כְּעֵ֣דֶר הָֽעִזִּ֔ים שֶׁגָּלְשׁ֖וּ מֵהַ֥ר גִּלְעָֽד | 1 | Both the color and the motion of the woman’s **hair** is being compared to **a flock of goats that hop down from the slopes of Gilead**. Goats in Israel were black so the original readers would have understood this comparison to mean that the woman’s hair was black. Seen from a distance, a flock of black goats descending down from the high elevation of **Mount Gilead** would have created a majestic visual effect because the goats would have looked like one long flowing mass of black. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly these two points of comparison. Alternate translation: “Your black hair moves in graceful waves like a flock of black goats moving down the slopes of Mount Gilead” or “Your long black hair flows in graceful waves like a flock of black goats coming down the slopes of Mount Gilead” | |
237 | 4:2 | bdg1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | שִׁנַּ֨יִךְ֙ כְּעֵ֣דֶר הַקְּצוּב֔וֹת שֶׁעָל֖וּ מִן־ הָרַחְצָ֑ה | 1 | The color (white) of the woman’s teeth is being compared to the color (white) of sheep after they have had their wool cut off and then washed in the water of a stream. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly these two points of comparison as modeled by the UST. | |
238 | 4:2 | cj59 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive | הַקְּצוּב֔וֹת | 1 | If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who did the action, it is implied that “shepherds” did it. Alternate translation: “sheep whose wool shepherds have cut off” or “sheep whose wool people have cut off” | |
239 | 4:2 | cqgq | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | מַתְאִימ֔וֹת | 1 | Alternate translation: “give birth to twins” | |
240 | 4:2 | jw1w | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | שֶׁכֻּלָּם֙ מַתְאִימ֔וֹת וְשַׁכֻּלָ֖ה אֵ֥ין בָּהֶֽם | 1 | Here the woman’s teeth are being compared to a flock of female sheep which all have birthed twin lambs. The author is saying that in a similar way to how twin lambs have a matching sibling that resembles it so each of the woman’s teeth has a matching tooth on the other side of her mouth. She has not lost any of her teeth. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the basis of this comparison. If it would help your readers you could also start a new sentence as modeled by the UST. Alternate translation: “As a flock of female sheep that has born twin lambs without losing any, so your mouth has its teeth, each with a match, and none of them are missing” | |
241 | 4:2 | sb14 | וְשַׁכֻּלָ֖ה אֵ֥ין בָּהֶֽם | 1 | Alternate translation: “and there is not one among them which has died” | ||
242 | 4:3 | t9kf | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | כְּח֤וּט הַשָּׁנִי֙ שִׂפְתֹתַ֔יִךְ | 1 | **Scarlet** is a term that describes a bright red color. The woman’s lips were a beautiful red color. The woman’s lips are being compared to the color of scarlet thread and not to the thinness of the thread. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the basis of this comparison. Also, if it would help your readers you could use a term for a material that is thicker than **thread** such as ribbon. Alternate translation: “Your lips are a beautiful red like scarlet thread” or “Your lips are a beautiful red like scarlet ribbon” | |
243 | 4:3 | x68e | כְּפֶ֤לַח הָֽרִמּוֹן֙ רַקָּתֵ֔ךְ | 1 | The term translated as **cheeks** could refer to: (1) the **woman’s two cheeks** on the side of her mouth as rendered by the ULT. (2) the woman’s two temples on the side of her forehead. Alternate translation: “Like a slice of pomegranate are your temples” (3) the woman’s forehead. Alternate translation: “Like a slice of pomegranate is your forehead” | ||
244 | 4:3 | j2a3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | כְּפֶ֤לַח הָֽרִמּוֹן֙ רַקָּתֵ֔ךְ | 1 | This comparison could be comparing: (1) the shape of the woman’s **cheeks** to the shape of a **pomegranate** which has been sliced in half and to the outside color of a **pomegranate** (which is the color red). Alternate translation: “Your cheeks are red and rounded like a slice of pomegranate” or “Your cheeks resemble the color and shape of a slice of pomegranate” (or if you decided that the term **cheek** refers to the woman’s temples “Your temples are red like a slice of pomegranate”) (2) the way the woman’s cheeks looked through the inside of the veil to the color and pattern of the inside of a pomegranate which has been sliced in half. Alternate translation: “Your cheeks resemble the color and pattern of the inside of a slice of pomegranate” (or if you decided that the term **cheeks** refers to the woman’s temples “Your temples are the color of the inside of a slice of pomegranate”) | |
245 | 4:3 | y47i | מִבַּ֖עַד לְצַמָּתֵֽךְ | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **from behind your veil** in [4:1](../04/01.md). | ||
246 | 4:4 | i3qt | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | כְּמִגְדַּ֤ל דָּוִיד֙ צַוָּארֵ֔ךְ בָּנ֖וּי לְתַלְפִּיּ֑וֹת | 1 | The woman’s **neck** is being compared to **the tower of David** which was a tall fortress **built of layers** or rows. A long neck was considered beautiful in the author’s culture. King David built some of his towers of beautiful white marble rock. It is probable that this tower was made from white marble rock since this tower is compared to the beauty of the woman’s neck. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the basis of this comparison. Alternate translation: “Your neck is long and beautiful like the tower of David” or “Your neck is beautiful like the tower of David” | |
247 | 4:4 | gvns | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | כְּמִגְדַּ֤ל דָּוִיד֙ | 1 | The **tower of David** was a tall building that was built for defense. Towers were significantly taller than other buildings and often built more narrow so that they were not wide. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of structure, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “Like the tall, narrow defense structure of David is” or “Like David’s tall thin rock defense building is” | |
248 | 4:4 | v4ae | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive | בָּנ֖וּי לְתַלְפִּיּ֑וֹת | 1 | If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who did the action, the context implies that David instructed men to build it. Alternate translation: “that men built in layers” or “which David instructed men to build of layers” or “that David had men build of layers” | |
249 | 4:4 | vwef | בָּנ֖וּי לְתַלְפִּיּ֑וֹת | 1 | Alternate translation: “built using rows of stones” | ||
250 | 4:4 | c4nk | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | אֶ֤לֶף הַמָּגֵן֙ תָּל֣וּי עָלָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל שִׁלְטֵ֥י הַגִּבּוֹרִֽים | 1 | In the authors culture it was a common practice to hang **shields** on walls as decorations. Here, the man compares the beauty of the woman’s neck with **shields** hanging on **the tower of David**. This comparison probably included the decorations of the woman’s necklaces which probably went around her neck many times. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the basis of this comparison. Alternate translation: “The beauty of your neck jeweled in necklaces is like a thousand warriors shields hanging from a tower” | |
251 | 4:4 | byh2 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers | אֶ֤לֶף | 1 | In the authors culture the number **a thousand** was often used to represent a very large, but not precise, amount. This is how the number is being used here. Alternate translation: “with many” | |
252 | 4:4 | swd3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | אֶ֤לֶף הַמָּגֵן֙ תָּל֣וּי עָלָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל שִׁלְטֵ֥י הַגִּבּוֹרִֽים | 1 | The phrase **all the shields of the warriors** is parallel to the statement **a thousand shields hanging on it** and adds the additional information that the **shields** belonged to **warriors**. Hebrew poetry often used this kind of parallel statement, in which the second line gives additional information, so it would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect these two parallel phrases with “each of which” or “each one” in order to show that the second phrase is not repeating the first one, but rather is saying something additional. Alternate translation: “a thousand shields hanging on it, each of which belongs to the warriors” or “a thousand shields hanging on it, each one belonging to the warriors” | |
253 | 4:5 | ea9j | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | שְׁנֵ֥י שָׁדַ֛יִךְ כִּשְׁנֵ֥י עֳפָרִ֖ים תְּאוֹמֵ֣י צְבִיָּ֑ה הָרוֹעִ֖ים בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּֽים | 1 | Here, the man compares the woman’s **two breasts** to two young twin gazelles that are grazing. The context does not explicitly indicate how exactly the woman’s **two breasts** are like two young gazelles so you could simply say that they resemble young gazelles or if it would be helpful to your readers, you could use a general point of comparison between the woman’s **breasts** and the young gazelles such as their beauty as modeled by the UST. | |
254 | 4:5 | gu86 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | צְבִיָּ֑ה | 1 | See how you translated the plural form “gazelles” in [2:7](../02/07.md). | |
255 | 4:5 | bb93 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּֽים | 1 | See how you translated the singular form “lily” in [2:1](../02/01.md). | |
256 | 4:6 | y1xu | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification | עַ֤ד שֶׁיָּפ֨וּחַ֙ הַיּ֔וֹם וְנָ֖סוּ הַצְּלָלִ֑ים | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **Until the day breathes and the shadows flee** in [2:17](../02/17.md). | |
257 | 4:6 | xt1n | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | אֵ֤לֶךְ לִי֙ | 1 | Your language may say “come” rather than **go** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “I myself will come” | |
258 | 4:6 | yze6 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | הַמּ֔וֹר | 1 | See how you translated **myrrh** in [1:13](../01/13.md). | |
259 | 4:6 | re83 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | אֵ֤לֶךְ לִי֙ אֶל־הַ֣ר הַמּ֔וֹר וְאֶל־גִּבְעַ֖ת הַלְּבוֹנָֽה | 1 | The phrases **the mountain of myrrh** and **the hill of frankincense** are both metaphors that refer to the woman’s “breasts” (mentioned in the previous verse). The man is discreetly indicating that the woman’s breasts are pleasant smelling and that he wants to enjoy them (The man and the woman are now married). It would be good to retain this discreet and beautiful poetic imagery if possible. If you are using footnotes you could indicate what these two metaphors mean there. If you decide that it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning using a simile. Alternate translation: “I myself will go to your breasts which are like two sweet-smelling mountains” or “I myself will be close to your breasts, which are like two pleasant smelling hills” | |
260 | 4:7 | wt7k | כֻּלָּ֤ךְ יָפָה֙ | 1 | Alternate translation: “Every part of you is beautiful” | ||
261 | 4:8 | ojmm | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | אִתִּ֤י מִלְּבָנוֹן֙ כַּלָּ֔ה אִתִּ֖י מִלְּבָנ֣וֹן תָּב֑וֹאִי תָּשׁ֣וּרִי ׀ מֵרֹ֣אשׁ אֲמָנָ֗ה מֵרֹ֤אשׁ שְׂנִיר֙ וְחֶרְמ֔וֹן מִמְּעֹנ֣וֹת אֲרָי֔וֹת מֵֽהַרְרֵ֖י נְמֵרִֽים | 1 | This entire verse is a metaphor. This is poetry and the author is not literally indicating that the woman is physically in the mountains and near wild and dangerous animals. Rather, the author is using this metaphor to express the man’s feelings regarding being physically distant from the woman and his strong desire to have the woman near him and away from anything that could harm her. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly using a simile as modeled by the UST. | |
262 | 4:8 | h4yw | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | אִתִּ֤י…תָּב֑וֹאִי | 1 | Your language may say “go” rather than **come** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “Go with me … go” | |
263 | 4:8 | hwn4 | תָּשׁ֣וּרִי | 1 | The word translated as **Descend** here could mean: (1 to come down from a height. If you choose this meaning you can follow the model of the ULT and UST. Alternate translation: “Climb down” (2) to bend down and look. Alternate translation: “Bend down and look” | ||
264 | 4:8 | m2km | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names | מֵרֹ֣אשׁ אֲמָנָ֗ה מֵרֹ֤אשׁ שְׂנִיר֙ וְחֶרְמ֔וֹן | 1 | **Hermon** is a mountain range in northern Israel and **Amana** and **Senir** are both mountain peaks. | |
265 | 4:8 | l03h | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | מִמְּעֹנ֣וֹת אֲרָי֔וֹת מֵֽהַרְרֵ֖י נְמֵרִֽים | 1 | These two phrases mean very similar things. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same general idea with different words. Hebrew poetry was based on this kind of repetition, and it would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. However, if saying the same thing twice might be confusing for your readers, you could combine these two phrases into one as modeled by the UST. | |
266 | 4:9 | waew | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure | לִבַּבְתִּ֖נִי אֲחֹתִ֣י כַלָּ֑ה לִבַּבְתִּ֨ינִי֙ | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these phrases. If it would help your readers you could also add the word “yes” to show that the phrase **you have enchanted my heart** is repeated in order to add emphasis. Alternate translation: “My sister, my bride; you have enchanted my heart. Yes, you have enchanted my heart” | |
267 | 4:9 | d7n7 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom | לִבַּבְתִּ֖נִי…לִבַּבְתִּ֨ינִי֙ | 1 | The phrase translated as **you have enchanted my heart** is an idiom which could mean: (1) to steal or capture a person’s heart. In Jewish thinking the **heart** was the center of a persons thinking. To capture a person’s **heart** probably also had the added meaning of causing them to be so in love that they could not think clearly because they were so overcome with feelings of love. Alternate translation: “You have captured my heart … you have captured my heart” or “It is as though you have captured my heart … it is as though you have captured my heart” or “You have made me feel so in love with you that it is as if I have lost my mind … you have made me feel so in love with you that it is as if I have lost my mind“ (2) the the woman had made the man’s **heart** beat faster. Alternate translation: “You have caused my heart to beat fast … you have caused my heart to beat fast” (3) that the woman had encouraged the man’s **heart**. Alternate translation: “You have encouraged my heart … you have encouraged my heart” or “You have given me heart … you have given me heart” | |
268 | 4:9 | vdf7 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | אֲחֹתִ֣י | 1 | The man and woman are not actually brother and sister. The phrase **my sister** is a term of endearment which expresses affection between lovers. This phrase indicates that the man and woman have a close companionship and deep emotional bond. If calling a lover **my sister** would be offensive or socially inappropriate in your culture you could use a different term of endearment or indicate the meaning of **my sister** with a footnote. Alternately, you could indicate the meaning explicitly as modeled by the UST. | |
269 | 4:10 | qy7v | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamation | מַה־…מַה־ | 1 | Here, the word **How** is used as an exclamation to emphasize two statements about how wonderful the woman’s **love** is. Use an exclamation that is natural in your language for communicating this. | |
270 | 4:10 | v1gy | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | אֲחֹתִ֣י | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **my sister** in [4:9](../04/09.md). | |
271 | 4:10 | pb12 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure | מַה־יָּפ֥וּ דֹדַ֖יִךְ אֲחֹתִ֣י כַלָּ֑ה מַה־טֹּ֤בוּ דֹדַ֨יִךְ֙ מִיַּ֔יִן | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: “My sister, my bride; how your love is beautiful! How your love is better than wine” | |
272 | 4:10 | ibb8 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns | מַה־יָּפ֥וּ דֹדַ֖יִךְ…מַה־טֹּ֤בוּ דֹדַ֨יִךְ֙ מִיַּ֔יִן | 1 | If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **love**, you could express the same idea with a verb form as modeled by the UST or in some other way that is natural in your language. | |
273 | 4:10 | d1m6 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | שְׁמָנַ֖יִךְ | 1 | Here, **oils** refers to perfumes. In the author’s culture pleasant smelling spices were mixed into olive oil in order to make a pleasant smelling perfume which was then put on the skin. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “your scented oils” or “the perfumed oils on your skin” | |
274 | 4:10 | ts8k | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis | שְׁמָנַ֖יִךְ | 1 | The author is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If your readers might misunderstand this, you could supply the words “is better” from the context as modeled by the ULT. | |
275 | 4:11 | fw88 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | נֹ֛פֶת תִּטֹּ֥פְנָה שִׂפְתוֹתַ֖יִךְ | 1 | Here the the woman’s **lips** refer to the kisses from her **lips**. The man says that her **lips drip with nectar** to indicate the pleasantness of her kisses. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a simile or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Your kisses are so pleasant that it is as if your lips drip with nectar” or “Your kisses are delightfully sweet” or “Being kissed by you is as enjoyable as eating honey” | |
276 | 4:11 | l8xe | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | נֹ֛פֶת | 1 | The word translated as **nectar** refers specifically to honey which drips or flows from honeycomb. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly by translating it as “honey” as modeled by the UST. | |
277 | 4:11 | vc6y | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | דְּבַ֤שׁ וְחָלָב֙ תַּ֣חַת לְשׁוֹנֵ֔ךְ | 1 | The phrase **honey and milk are under your tongue** could mean: (1) that the taste of the woman’s kisses were as pleasant as milk and honey. Alternate translation: “your kisses are like milk and honey to me” or “your kisses are as pleasant and delightful as milk and honey” (2) that the woman’s words were as pleasant as milk and honey. Alternate translation: “your words are as pleasant as milk and honey” (3) that both the woman’s kisses and her words were as pleasant as milk and honey. Alternate translation: “the kisses from your mouth and your words are as pleasant as milk and honey to me” | |
278 | 4:11 | nyc9 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | וְרֵ֥יחַ שַׂלְמֹתַ֖יִךְ כְּרֵ֥יחַ לְבָנֽוֹן | 1 | **Lebanon** is known for its forests of cedar trees. Cedar trees have a very pleasant smell. The phrase **the smell of your garments is like the smell of Lebanon** probably means that the woman’s clothes smelled like the smell of cedar wood. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “and the smell of your garments is like the smell of Lebanon’s pleasant smelling cedar” | |
279 | 4:12 | ik5j | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure | גַּ֥ן ׀ נָע֖וּל אֲחֹתִ֣י כַלָּ֑ה גַּ֥ל נָע֖וּל מַעְיָ֥ן חָתֽוּם | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: “My sister, my bride; you are a locked garden, a locked spring, a sealed fountain” | |
280 | 4:12 | j45u | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | גַּ֥ן ׀ נָע֖וּל אֲחֹתִ֣י כַלָּ֑ה | 1 | The man is speaking of the woman as if she were a **locked garden**. He uses **garden** as a poetic way of referring to the woman herself and by saying she is a **locked garden** he means that the woman is both beautiful and seemingly inaccessible like a **locked garden**. If it would help your readers you could express the meaning as a simile. Alternate translation: “You are like a locked garden my sister, my bride” | |
281 | 4:12 | nxse | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | גַּ֥ן ׀ נָע֖וּל אֲחֹתִ֣י כַלָּ֑ה | 1 | The word translated as **garden** refers to a large enclosed area where bushes, flowers, plants, and trees grow. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of garden, you could use the name of something similar in your area that would fit this context or you could use a descriptive phrase to explain it or explain it in a footnote. Alternate translation: “A locked park where many trees and plants grow is my sister, my bride” | |
282 | 4:12 | whp4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | אֲחֹתִ֣י | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **my sister** in [4:9](../04/09.md). | |
283 | 4:12 | i5nb | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exmetaphor | גַּ֥ל נָע֖וּל מַעְיָ֥ן חָתֽוּם | 1 | The man continues to draw an extended comparison between the woman he loves and a **garden** by speaking of the woman as if she were **a locked spring** and **a sealed fountain** within a **locked garden**. The man means that the woman’s body is beautiful and seemingly inaccessible like a **a locked spring** or **a sealed fountain**. If you translated **A locked garden is my sister, my bride** as a simile then you should also translate these two phrases as similes. Alternate translation: “you are like a locked spring, you are like a sealed fountain” | |
284 | 4:12 | z4b8 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | גַּ֥ל נָע֖וּל מַעְיָ֥ן חָתֽוּם | 1 | The phrase **a locked spring** and the phrase **a sealed fountain** mean basically the same thing. The author is saying the same thing twice, in slightly different ways, for emphasis. If saying the same thing twice might be confusing for your readers, you can combine the phrases into one, as modeled by the UST, and show the emphasis in some other way. | |
285 | 4:13-14 | unsg | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exmetaphor | שְׁלָחַ֨יִךְ֙ פַּרְדֵּ֣ס רִמּוֹנִ֔ים עִ֖ם פְּרִ֣י מְגָדִ֑ים כְּפָרִ֖ים עִם־נְרָדִֽים…נֵ֣רְדְּ ׀ וְכַרְכֹּ֗ם קָנֶה֙ וְקִנָּמ֔וֹן עִ֖ם כָּל־עֲצֵ֣י לְבוֹנָ֑ה מֹ֚ר וַאֲהָל֔וֹת עִ֖ם כָּל־רָאשֵׁ֥י בְשָׂמִֽים | 1 | The man is making a comparison between these things and the woman by speaking of her as if she is **an orchard of pomegranate trees** and as as if she is various other spices and pleasant smelling plants and trees that are in the “locked garden” ([4:12](../04/12.md)). If you translated [4:12](../04/12.md) as a simile you should also translate these two verses as a simile. Alternate translation: “You are like an orchard of pomegranate trees with delicious fruits; henna with nard, nard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes with all the best spices” | |
286 | 4:13-14 | ad8b | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry | שְׁלָחַ֨יִךְ֙ פַּרְדֵּ֣ס רִמּוֹנִ֔ים עִ֖ם פְּרִ֣י מְגָדִ֑ים כְּפָרִ֖ים עִם־נְרָדִֽים…נֵ֣רְדְּ ׀ וְכַרְכֹּ֗ם קָנֶה֙ וְקִנָּמ֔וֹן עִ֖ם כָּל־עֲצֵ֣י לְבוֹנָ֑ה מֹ֚ר וַאֲהָל֔וֹת עִ֖ם כָּל־רָאשֵׁ֥י בְשָׂמִֽים | 1 | Here the man is poetically describing how wonderful the woman is by describing her as if she is a garden where all types of pleasant plants and trees grow. These plants and trees would not normally grow in the same location (garden) because they normally grew in different climates (areas) but because this is poetry the author imaginatively places these plants in one garden to create a poetic comparison for how wonderful the woman he loves is. If it would help your readers, you could indicate in a footnote that the author is using plants and trees from different areas to create an imaginative image of how wonderful the woman is. | |
287 | 4:13 | nsr3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exmetaphor | שְׁלָחַ֨יִךְ֙ | 1 | The word translated as **shoots** refers to the parts of something that come out from it. Here, the word refers to the stems and roots that come out (shoot out) from trees and plants. The word **shoots** is used here to refer to the woman so if it would help your readers you could translate the phrase **Your shoots** as “You” as modeled by the UST. Alternately, you could translate **shoots** with a general word that your language uses to speak of what grows out of plants and trees. Alternate translation: “Your sprouts are” | |
288 | 4:13-14 | dju5 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | כְּפָרִ֖ים עִם־נְרָדִֽים…נֵ֣רְדְּ | 1 | See how you translated the word **nard** in [1:12](../01/12.md) and the word **henna** in [1:14](../01/14.md). | |
289 | 4:14 | dxj9 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | וְכַרְכֹּ֗ם קָנֶה֙ וְקִנָּמ֔וֹן…וַאֲהָל֔וֹת | 1 | The word **saffron** refers to a beautiful flowering plant that produces purple flowers and the word **calamus** refers to a cane. Both **saffron** and **calamus** were used to make a pleasant smelling oil. The term **cinnamon** refers to a spice made from the bark of the **cinnamon** tree. The term **aloes** refers to the pleasant smelling resin that comes from specific trees in Asia. If one or more of these plants are unknown in your area you could use use the name of something similar in your area or you could retain the name and use a footnote explaining what the plant is. Alternate translation: “and saffron flowers, calamus canes and cinnamon trees … pleasant smelling resin called aloes” | |
290 | 4:15 | z2an | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exmetaphor | מַעְיַ֣ן גַּנִּ֔ים בְּאֵ֖ר מַ֣יִם חַיִּ֑ים וְנֹזְלִ֖ים מִן־לְבָנֽוֹן | 1 | Here, the man continues the metaphor that he began in [4:12](../04/12.md) and speaks of the woman he loves as if she were **a fountain** in a garden, **a well of living water** and **flowing streams from Lebanon**. If you translated [4:12-14](../04/12.md) as a simile you should also translate this verse as a simile See how you translated the word “garden” in [4:12](../04/12.md). Alternate translation: “you are like a fountain of gardens, like a well of living water and like flowing streams from Lebanon” | |
291 | 4:15 | bj5a | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | מַעְיַ֣ן גַּנִּ֔ים | 1 | The term translated as **fountain** refers to a spring or underground well that is dug in order to be used as a water source. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “a garden spring” or “a garden well” | |
292 | 4:15 | t9ch | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-plural | מַעְיַ֣ן גַּנִּ֔ים | 1 | Here, the author could be using the plural form **gardens** to: (1) designate the kind of **fountain** that would be in **gardens**. Alternate translation: “a garden fountain” (2) designate a large garden. Alternate translation: “a fountain in a large garden” | |
293 | 4:15 | ke0n | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | מַ֣יִם חַיִּ֑ים | 1 | Here, the term **living** means that the water is fresh and flowing. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “fresh water” or “flowing water” | |
294 | 4:16 | jv5g | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-apostrophe | ע֤וּרִי צָפוֹן֙ וּב֣וֹאִי תֵימָ֔ן הָפִ֥יחִי גַנִּ֖י יִזְּל֣וּ בְשָׂמָ֑יו | 1 | The woman is speaking to the **wind** which she knows cannot hear her. She is doing this to communicate her strong desire that the pleasant smell of her body will flow through the air and attract the man she loves so that he will come to her. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate these words as a wish or desire. Alternate translation: “I wish that the north wind and south wind would come and blow on my garden and let its spices flow” | |
295 | 4:16 | x71g | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | וּב֣וֹאִי…יָבֹ֤א דוֹדִי֙ | 1 | Your language may say “go” rather than **come** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “and go … Let my beloved go” | |
296 | 4:16 | l273 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exmetaphor | ע֤וּרִי צָפוֹן֙ וּב֣וֹאִי תֵימָ֔ן הָפִ֥יחִי גַנִּ֖י יִזְּל֣וּ בְשָׂמָ֑יו יָבֹ֤א דוֹדִי֙ לְגַנּ֔וֹ וְיֹאכַ֖ל פְּרִ֥י מְגָדָֽיו | 1 | Here, the woman continues the “garden” metaphor (that the man began in [4:12](../04/12.md)) by referring to her body as **my garden** and then **his garden**. In this verse the woman calls to the wind to blow on her **garden** so that **its spices flow** into the air and attract the man she loves. The woman then offers her body to the man she loves by inviting him to **come to his garden** (a poetic way of inviting him to come to her and enjoy her body). You should translate the term **garden** here the same way you did in [4:12](../04/12.md) because both uses refer to the woman’s body. In [4:13](../04/13.md) the man spoke of the woman’s body as “an orchard of pomegranate trees with delicious fruits” and here the woman invites the man to **come to his garden and eat its delicious fruit**. If you translated [4:12-15](../04/12.md) as a simile, you should also translate the sentence **Let my beloved come to his garden and eat its delicious fruit** as a simile. | |
297 | 4:16 | kdi9 | יִזְּל֣וּ בְשָׂמָ֑יו | 1 | Alternate translation: “and carry the pleasant smell of its spices through the air” or “and make the pleasant smell of its spices flow through the air” | ||
298 | 5:intro | kdw4 | 0 | # Song of Songs 5 General Notes\n\n## Structure and formatting\n\n\n5:1 The conclusion of the garden metaphor\n\n5:2-8 The theme of longing and searching. \n\n5:9 The women of Jerusalem ask the young women why she thinks the man she loves is special\n\n5:10-16 The woman responds to the question the young women of Jerusalem asked her\n\n## Special concepts in this chapter\n\n### The attractiveness of the man\n\nThe woman describes the man as the epitome of male attractiveness.\n\n## Important figures of speech in this chapter\n\n### Metaphors\n\nAs the author has done throughout this book so far, he continues to use metaphors to describe feeling and events that are common to romantic relationships. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])\n\n## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter\n\n### Order of events\n\n5:2-8 seems to describe events that would have chronologically and logically occurred before the events described in 3:6-5:1. The solution to this seeming problem is to understand that this book is poetry and that the author is poetically describing emotions and feelings that occur between a man and woman who romantically love each other. Because the author is using poetry to describe the couple’s romantic relationship and its associated feelings, he does not need to follow the conventions of chronological story telling.\n\n### Whether 5:2-8 describes events that really happened or that happened in a dream.\n\nThere are two main views among Bible scholars regarding the events described in 5:2-8. One view is that the events which 5:2-8 describe happened in a dream. The other view is that the events that 5:2-8 describe actually happened after the man awakened the women from sleeping or from being nearly asleep. The vast majority of Bible scholars think that the first view is correct, that the events described in 5:2-8 happened in a dream.\n\n### The “sister” metaphor\n\nThe phrase **my sister** is used in 4:9; 4:10, 4:12, 5:1, and 5:2. The man uses this phrase as a term of endearment for the woman he loves. The woman is not actually his sister. You should translate this phrase in 5:1, and 5:2 the same way as you translated it in 4:9; 4:10, and 4:12 because the author uses it with the same meaning in this chapter. See the note at the first occurrence of this phrase in 4:9 for more information regarding this phrase.\n\n | |||
299 | 5:1 | f2qr | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exmetaphor | בָּ֣אתִי לְגַנִּי֮ אֲחֹתִ֣י כַלָּה֒ אָרִ֤יתִי מוֹרִי֙ עִם־בְּשָׂמִ֔י אָכַ֤לְתִּי יַעְרִי֙ עִם־דִּבְשִׁ֔י שָׁתִ֥יתִי יֵינִ֖י עִם־חֲלָבִ֑י | 1 | Here, the man continues using the “garden” metaphor that he began in [4:12](../04/12.md) and again refers to the woman’s body as a **garden**. Here the man accepts the woman’s invitation (that she gave in the previous verse) to enjoy her body. The lines **I have plucked my myrrh with my spice** and **I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey** and **I have drunk my wine with my milk** are all metaphors for the man enjoying the woman’s body. If you used similes to translate [4:12-16](../04/12.md) you should continue to do so here. Alternate translation: “You who are as dear to me as a sister, my bride, I am ready to go with you and enjoy the delights of your body, it will be as though I will be gathering myrrh with my other spices, and eating my honey and honeycomb, and drinking my wine and my milk” | |
300 | 5:1 | dr7h | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | בָּ֣אתִי לְגַנִּי֮ אֲחֹתִ֣י כַלָּה֒ אָרִ֤יתִי מוֹרִי֙ עִם־בְּשָׂמִ֔י אָכַ֤לְתִּי יַעְרִי֙ עִם־דִּבְשִׁ֔י שָׁתִ֥יתִי יֵינִ֖י עִם־חֲלָבִ֑י | 1 | Though the man is speaking as if he has already done these things. He is actually getting ready to do them. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “I am going to come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I will pluck my myrrh with my spice. I will eat my honeycomb with my honey; I will drink my wine with my milk” | |
301 | 5:1 | m575 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | בָּ֣אתִי | 1 | Your language may say “gone” rather than **come** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “I have gone” | |
302 | 5:1 | jf09 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure | בָּ֣אתִי לְגַנִּי֮ אֲחֹתִ֣י כַלָּה֒ | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: “My sister, my bride, I have come to my garden” | |
303 | 5:1 | tgd7 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | אֲחֹתִ֣י | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **my sister** in [4:9](../04/09.md). | |
304 | 5:1 | bxja | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-extrainfo | אִכְל֣וּ רֵעִ֔ים שְׁת֥וּ וְשִׁכְר֖וּ דּוֹדִֽים | 1 | The author does not say who is speaking to the couple here so you should not indicate the speakers explicitly in the text of your translation. However, if you are using section headers to indicate who is speaking, as the UST does, the speakers could be: (1) the “daughters of Jerusalem” who spoke earlier in the book. The daughters of Jerusalem are speaking to the couple at the couple’s wedding. If you are using section headers you can use a phrase such as “The young women of Jerusalem speaking to the couple” or “The young women of Jerusalem speak to the couple at their wedding” (2) a group of people who are the couple’s friends and wedding guests. If you are using section headers you can use a phrase such as “The couple’s friends speak ” or “The couple’s wedding guests speak” | |
305 | 5:1 | i16q | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | אִכְל֣וּ רֵעִ֔ים שְׁת֥וּ וְשִׁכְר֖וּ דּוֹדִֽים | 1 | Eating and drinking are metaphors which are used to represent the newly married couple enjoying their sexual union. The phrase **be drunk with love** is an encouragement to fully enjoy the delights of their sexual union. If it would help your readers you could express the meaning with a simile. Alternate translation: “Enjoy your marital intimacy and make love until you are fully satisfied as if you are eating food until full and drinking wine freely” | |
306 | 5:1 | doim | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns | אִכְל֣וּ רֵעִ֔ים שְׁת֥וּ וְשִׁכְר֖וּ דּוֹדִֽים | 1 | If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **love**, you could express the same idea with a verb phrase, as modeled by the UST, or you could translate it in some other way that is natural in your language. | |
307 | 5:2 | biy3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy | אֲנִ֥י יְשֵׁנָ֖ה וְלִבִּ֣י עֵ֑ר | 1 | Here, the term **heart** could represent: (1) the woman’s thoughts and mental awareness which would make the phrase **my heart is awake** mean that her mind is alert and dreaming after she had started to sleep. Alternate translation: “I am asleep, but my mind is dreaming” or “I am asleep, but my mind is alert and dreaming” (2) the woman’s entire person which would make the phrase **my heart is awake** mean that she had been awakened after falling **asleep** or awakened after she was almost **asleep**. Alternate translation: “I was almost asleep, now I am awakened” or “I was asleep, but now I have been awakened” | |
308 | 5:2 | kri6 | ק֣וֹל ׀ דּוֹדִ֣י דוֹפֵ֗ק | 1 | Alternate translation: “I hear a sound, it is my beloved knocking” or “I hear a sound, it is the sound of my beloved knocking on my door” | ||
309 | 5:2 | tk43 | דּוֹדִ֣י | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **my beloved** in [1:13](../01/13.md). Alternate translation: “my lover” | ||
310 | 5:2 | rx38 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | אֲחֹתִ֤י רַעְיָתִי֙ | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **my sister** in [4:9](../04/09.md) and the phrase **my darling** in [1:9](../01/09.md). | |
311 | 5:2 | us5k | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | יוֹנָתִ֣י | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **my dove** in [2:14](../02/14.md). | |
312 | 5:2 | yh2r | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom | שֶׁרֹּאשִׁי֙ נִמְלָא־טָ֔ל | 1 | Here, the phrase **full of** is a Hebrew idiom which means “wet with.” If your readers would not understand this, you could use an equivalent idiom or use plain language. Alternate translation: “because my head is wet with dew” | |
313 | 5:2 | d3gt | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis | קְוֻּצּוֹתַ֖י | 1 | The words “is full of” are understood from the previous phrase. If it would help your readers, they can be repeated here as modeled by the ULT. | |
314 | 5:3 | m1u3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks | פָּשַׁ֨טְתִּי֙ אֶת־כֻּתָּנְתִּ֔י אֵיכָ֖כָה אֶלְבָּשֶׁ֑נָּה רָחַ֥צְתִּי אֶת־רַגְלַ֖י אֵיכָ֥כָה אֲטַנְּפֵֽם | 1 | In this verse, the author quotes: (1) what the woman thought to herself. Alternate translation: “I thought to myself; I have taken off my robe; how will I put it on? I have washed my feet; how could I get them dirty?” (2) the woman speaking directly to the man. Alternate translation: “I said to the man I love; I have taken off my robe; how will I put it on? I have washed my feet; how could I get them dirty?” | |
315 | 5:3 | g6z2 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion | אֵיכָ֖כָה אֶלְבָּשֶׁ֑נָּה רָחַ֥צְתִּי אֶת־רַגְלַ֖י אֵיכָ֥כָה אֲטַנְּפֵֽם | 1 | The woman is using the question form for emphasis. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation and express the emphasis in a way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “I do not want to put it back on! I have already washed my feet so I do not want to get them dirty again!” | |
316 | 5:4 | nns1 | דּוֹדִ֗י | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **my beloved** in [1:13](../01/13.md). | ||
317 | 5:4 | xks3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy | וּמֵעַ֖י הָמ֥וּ עָלָֽיו | 1 | Here, **belly** represents the center of a person’s emotions. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and my feelings for him roared” | |
318 | 5:4 | az6q | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | וּמֵעַ֖י הָמ֥וּ עָלָֽיו | 1 | Here, the phrase **my belly roared** means that the woman’s feelings were aroused. The term **belly** represents the woman’s feelings and the woman saying that her feelings **roared** is a poetic way of saying that her feelings were aroused. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or express the meaning in plain language. Alternate translation: “and my feelings for him were aroused” | |
319 | 5:5 | w3k2 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | וְיָדַ֣י נָֽטְפוּ־מ֗וֹר וְאֶצְבְּעֹתַי֙ מ֣וֹר עֹבֵ֔ר | 1 | The phrase **my hands dripped with myrrh** and the phrase **my fingers dripped with flowing myrrh** mean basically the same thing. The second phrase emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. Hebrew poetry was based on this kind of repetition, and it would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. However, if it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the phrases with a word other than **and** in order to show that the second phrase is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “and my hands dripped with myrrh, yes, my fingers dripped with flowing myrrh” | |
320 | 5:5 | ycr1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | מ֣וֹר עֹבֵ֔ר | 1 | The phrase translated as **flowing myrrh** refers to liquid myrrh. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “liquid myrrh” | |
321 | 5:5 | yfag | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis | וְאֶצְבְּעֹתַי֙ | 1 | The woman is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If your readers might misunderstand this, you could supply these words from the context as modeled by the ULT which adds the words “dripped with.” | |
322 | 5:6 | b7qk | לְדוֹדִ֔י וְדוֹדִ֖י | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **my beloved** in [1:13](../01/13.md). | ||
323 | 5:6 | y1yc | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | עָבָ֑ר | 1 | Your language may say “went” rather than **gone** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “and went” | |
324 | 5:6 | fxej | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | נַפְשִׁי֙ יָֽצְאָ֣ה | 1 | Your language may say “gone” rather than **went** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “My soul had gone out” | |
325 | 5:6 | z8na | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom | נַפְשִׁי֙ יָֽצְאָ֣ה | 1 | Here, **soul** represents the entire person, and the phrase **My soul went out** is a Hebrew idiom that means to feel extreme despair. If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “My heart sank” or “I felt great despair” | |
326 | 5:6 | h4tj | בְדַבְּר֔וֹ | 1 | Here, the word translated as **when he departed** could mean: (1) **when he departed**. If you choose this option use the translation of the ULT as a model. (2) “when he spoke.” Alternate translation: “when he spoke” | ||
327 | 5:6 | s6qy | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | וְלֹ֥א עָנָֽנִי | 1 | The reason the man did not answer is because he was not there. If your readers might mistakenly think that the phrase **he did not answer** implies that the man was present, you could state explicitly that the man was not there or you could use a different phrase to express the meaning such as “but there was no answer.” Alternate translation: “but he did not answer me because he was not there” or “but there was no answer” | |
328 | 5:7 | a9yk | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | מְצָאֻ֧נִי הַשֹּׁמְרִ֛ים הַסֹּבְבִ֥ים בָּעִ֖יר | 1 | See how you translated the sentence **The guards going about in the city found me** in [3:3](../03/03.md). | |
329 | 5:7 | fr13 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure | הִכּ֣וּנִי פְצָע֑וּנִי נָשְׂא֤וּ אֶת־רְדִידִי֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י שֹׁמְרֵ֖י הַחֹמֽוֹת | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: “The guards of the walls beat me and wounded me; they lifted my shawl from me” | |
330 | 5:7 | ektd | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | הִכּ֣וּנִי פְצָע֑וּנִי | 1 | The reason that the city watchmen **beat** and **wounded** the woman is because they thought she was a prostitute. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly as modeled by the UST. | |
331 | 5:7 | nnql | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | אֶת־רְדִידִי֙ | 1 | The word translated as **shawl** could refer to: (1) a light article of clothing like a **shawl** or cloak that was worn as an outer garment and wrapped around the body. Alternate translation: “my cloak” (2) a large veil. Alternate translation: “my veil” | |
332 | 5:7 | euu8 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | שֹׁמְרֵ֖י הַחֹמֽוֹת | 1 | The men called **the guards of the walls** are the same men as **The guards going about in the city** mentioned earlier in the verse. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “those guards who were going about in the city guarding the walls” | |
333 | 5:8 | czu7 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-oathformula | הִשְׁבַּ֥עְתִּי אֶתְכֶ֖ם בְּנ֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem** in [2:7](../02/07.md). | |
334 | 5:8 | v5m3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole | שֶׁחוֹלַ֥ת אַהֲבָ֖ה אָֽנִי | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **sick with love am I** in [2:5](../02/05.md) | |
335 | 5:8 | r20s | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis | שֶׁחוֹלַ֥ת אַהֲבָ֖ה אָֽנִי | 1 | The woman is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If your readers might misunderstand this, you could supply these words from the context as modeled by the ULT. | |
336 | 5:9 | tgep | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry | מַה־דּוֹדֵ֣ךְ מִדּ֔וֹד הַיָּפָ֖ה בַּנָּשִׁ֑ים מַה־דּוֹדֵ֣ךְ מִדּ֔וֹד שֶׁכָּ֖כָה הִשְׁבַּעְתָּֽנוּ | 1 | The phrase **What is your beloved more than another beloved** is repeated for emphasis. This is a common feature of Hebrew poetry, and it would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. However, if asking the same question twice would be confusing to your readers you could combine them into one. Alternate translation: “What is your beloved more than another beloved, most beautiful among women, that thus you adjure us” or “Most beautiful among women, what is your beloved more than another beloved, that thus you adjure us” | |
337 | 5:9 | vbc6 | מַה־דּוֹדֵ֣ךְ מִדּ֔וֹד | 1 | Alternate translation: “What makes the man you love better than other men” or “What is so special about the man you love” | ||
338 | 5:9 | zeav | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure | מַה־דּוֹדֵ֣ךְ מִדּ֔וֹד הַיָּפָ֖ה בַּנָּשִׁ֑ים | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: “Most beautiful among women, what is your beloved more than another beloved” | |
339 | 5:9 | eap5 | הַיָּפָ֖ה בַּנָּשִׁ֑ים | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **most beautiful among women** in [1:8](../01/08.md). | ||
340 | 5:9 | sj0b | שֶׁכָּ֖כָה הִשְׁבַּעְתָּֽנוּ | 1 | Alternate translation: “with the result that thus you adjure us” or “with the result that you request us to promise that we tell him that” or “that would make you want to thus adjure us” | ||
341 | 5:9 | zp43 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-oathformula | הִשְׁבַּעְתָּֽנוּ | 1 | See how you translated the word **adjure** in the previous verse. | |
342 | 5:10 | xuy2 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | דּוֹדִ֥י צַח֙ וְאָד֔וֹם | 1 | The word translated here as **shimmering** refers to something that is “radiant” or “glowing.” Here it means that the man’s skin had a healthy glow. The word **red** refers to the man’s healthy color of skin that was a brownish red or reddish brown color. These two words are used together to indicate that the man’s skin and complexion looked healthy and handsome. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate explicitly that these two words refer to his skin or you could summarize what they indicate when used together as modeled by the UST. Alternate translation: “My beloved has radiant and healthy skin” or “My beloved’s skin glows and is a handsome reddish brown” or “My beloved’s skin is radiant and reddish-brown” | |
343 | 5:10 | ie7h | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive | דָּג֖וּל מֵרְבָבָֽה | 1 | If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state the phrase **able to be distinguished from** in active form or use an adjective such as “distinguishable” or “outstanding,” or express the meaning in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “he is distinguishable from ten thousand other men” | |
344 | 5:10 | hms2 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | דָּג֖וּל מֵרְבָבָֽה | 1 | In the Hebrew language **ten thousand** is the highest number that was used when making comparisons so the woman uses this number here to stand for an uncountable number of **other people**. If you have a similar expression in your culture you could use that. Alternately, if it would help your readers, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “better than anyone else” or “there is no one else like him” or “one in a million” | |
345 | 5:11 | s23z | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | רֹאשׁ֖וֹ כֶּ֣תֶם פָּ֑ז | 1 | The woman is speaking of the man’s **head** as if it were **gold**. Because she speaks of the appearance of the man’s **hairs** in the following line she probably intends to speak of the man’s face in this line and express that his face resembles the dazzling, beautiful appearance of gold. The phrase **refined gold** indicates that the **gold** is very special and valuable. By saying that the man’s **head** is **refined gold** the woman is probably indicating that the man she loves is special and has great worth. If it would help your readers you could use a simile to express the meaning or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “His head is like gold that is refined” or “His face is beautiful and gleams like gold. He is precious and valuable like refined gold” or “His face gleams. He is precious and valuable” | |
346 | 5:11 | mojr | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | שְׁחֹר֖וֹת כָּעוֹרֵֽב | 1 | A **raven** is a large bird with dark black feathers. Ravens are as big as some hawks and are similar in color and appearance to crows but larger. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of bird, you could use the name of a similar bird in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “black like a bird with dark black feathers” or “black like a dark black bird” | |
347 | 5:11 | m1w4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | קְוּצּוֹתָיו֙ תַּלְתַּלִּ֔ים שְׁחֹר֖וֹת כָּעוֹרֵֽב | 1 | The point of the comparison **black like the raven** is that the man’s hair is dark **black** like the color of a **raven**. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express this meaning in plain language. Alternate translation: “his hair is wavy and dark black”\n\n | |
348 | 5:12 | m6e7 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | עֵינָ֕יו כְּיוֹנִ֖ים עַל־אֲפִ֣יקֵי מָ֑יִם רֹֽחֲצוֹת֙ בֶּֽחָלָ֔ב יֹשְׁב֖וֹת עַל־מִלֵּֽאת | 1 | In [1:15](../01/15.md) the man said to the woman, “your eyes are doves.” Here, the woman uses the word **like** instead of “are” and compares the man’s **eyes** to **doves** that are **bathing in milk** and are by water. The phrase **bathing in milk** explains what color the **doves** (eyes) are. The two phrases, **beside stream beds of water** and **sitting by the pools**, both describe the **doves** as being by water. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could add the words “that are” and “and” to show that the comparison continues throughout the verse. Alternately, you could express the meaning in plain language as modeled by the UST. Alternate translation: “His eyes are like doves beside stream beds of water, that are bathing in milk and sitting beside the pools” | |
349 | 5:12 | knr8 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | עֵינָ֕יו כְּיוֹנִ֖ים עַל־אֲפִ֣יקֵי מָ֑יִם רֹֽחֲצוֹת֙ בֶּֽחָלָ֔ב יֹשְׁב֖וֹת עַל־מִלֵּֽאת | 1 | The phrases **beside stream beds of water** and **sitting by the pools** mean basically the same thing. They both describe the **doves** as being by water. Hebrew poetry was based on this kind of repetition, and it would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. However, if it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine them. Alternate translation: “His eyes are like doves beside stream beds of water, bathing in milk” or “His eyes are like doves bathing in milk, sitting by the pools” | |
350 | 5:13 | mem2 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | לְחָיָו֙ כַּעֲרוּגַ֣ת הַבֹּ֔שֶׂם מִגְדְּל֖וֹת מֶרְקָחִ֑ים | 1 | Here, the man’s **cheeks** are compared to a garden, or an area in a garden, used for planting **spices**. The phrase **yielding herbal spices** further describes the first line. The point of this comparison is that the man’s **cheeks** smell **like planters of spices, yielding herbal spices**. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the basis of this comparison. Alternate translation: “His cheeks smell like a bed of spices that produce herbal spices” | |
351 | 5:13 | h8iu | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | כַּעֲרוּגַ֣ת הַבֹּ֔שֶׂם | 1 | Here, the term translated as **bed** refers to an area in a garden used for planting. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “like an area for planting spices” or “like a garden bed of spices” or “like planters of spices” | |
352 | 5:13 | a4hu | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | שִׂפְתוֹתָיו֙ שֽׁוֹשַׁנִּ֔ים נֹטְפ֖וֹת מ֥וֹר עֹבֵֽר | 1 | Here, the woman compares the man’s **lips** to **lilies** that are **dripping with flowing myrrh**. The woman probably compares his lips with **lilies, dripping with flowing myrrh** because of the sweet smell of both **lilies** and **myrrh**, because of the beauty and softness of **lilies**, and because the man’s kisses are wet like **flowing myrrh**. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express the meaning with a simile or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “His lips are beautiful, fragrant, and soft. His kisses are sweet-smelling and moist” | |
353 | 5:13 | t4f1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | שֽׁוֹשַׁנִּ֔ים | 1 | See how you translated **lilies** in [2:16](../02/16.md). | |
354 | 5:13 | x8c2 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | מ֥וֹר עֹבֵֽר | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **flowing myrrh** in [5:5](../05/05.md). | |
355 | 5:14 | nl6y | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | יָדָיו֙ גְּלִילֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב מְמֻלָּאִ֖ים בַּתַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ | 1 | Here, the woman compares the man’s **arms** to **rods of gold mounted with topaz**. The woman uses this comparison because **rods of gold** were powerful, had an attractive color, and had a finely rounded shape and **topaz** would have made the **rods of gold** even more nice to look at. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express the meaning with a simile or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “His arms are powerful, nicely rounded, and beautiful like rods of gold mounted with topaz” | |
356 | 5:14 | r9p1 | יָדָיו֙ | 1 | The word that the ULT translates as **arms** could: (1) refer to **arms** in which case you can use the ULT’s translation as a model. (2) refer to “hands.” Alternate translation: “His hands are” | ||
357 | 5:14 | h4kv | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | בַּתַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ | 1 | **topaz** is a beautiful looking gem stone used in jewelry and also to add decoration to other things. Bible scholars are not certain exactly what stone the word the ULT translates as **topaz** refers to. Many different stones have been proposed such as **topaz**, chrysolite, beryl and others. If you have one of these types of stones in your area you could use it in your translation or you could use a general term. Alternate translation: “with beautiful stones” or “with jewels” | |
358 | 5:14 | bg51 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | מֵעָיו֙ עֶ֣שֶׁת שֵׁ֔ן מְעֻלֶּ֖פֶת סַפִּירִֽים | 1 | Here, the woman compares the man’s **belly** to **a plate of ivory covered with sapphires**. Both **ivory** and **sapphires** are very beautiful. By comparing the man’s **belly** **a plate of ivory covered with sapphires** she is saying that the man’s belly looks beautiful and is probably also trying to indicate the specialness or uniqueness of his appearance since **ivory** and **sapphires** were rare and costly. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express the meaning with a simile or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “his belly is beautiful and precious” or “his belly is handsome” | |
359 | 5:14 | xnyk | מֵעָיו֙ | 1 | Alternate translation: “his stomach is” | ||
360 | 5:14 | k5ga | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | שֵׁ֔ן | 1 | The word **ivory** refers to the tusks of a large animal called an elephant. **ivory** is a white color and is very beautiful and costly. If your readers would not be familiar with **ivory** you could explain this term in a footnote. | |
361 | 5:14 | ws92 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | סַפִּירִֽים | 1 | **sapphires** are a beautiful blue gem stone. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of stone, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “with blue gem stones” or “with beautiful blue gem stones” | |
362 | 5:15 | i1xz | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | שׁוֹקָיו֙ עַמּ֣וּדֵי שֵׁ֔שׁ מְיֻסָּדִ֖ים עַל־אַדְנֵי־פָ֑ז | 1 | Here, the woman compares the man’s **thighs** to **pillars of alabaster set on bases of gold**. The woman means that the man’s legs are strong and majestic looking like **pillars of alabaster set on bases of gold**. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express the meaning with a simile or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “His thighs are strong and majestic like pillars of alabaster set on bases of gold” | |
363 | 5:15 | urlk | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | שׁוֹקָיו֙ | 1 | The word the ULT translates as **thighs** most likely refers to the entirety of a person’s legs so you could translate this term as **legs** as the UST does, if you desire. | |
364 | 5:15 | juu1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | שֵׁ֔שׁ | 1 | The word translated as **alabaster** can refer to either **alabaster** or marble. Both **alabaster** and marble are types of strong stone that are nice looking and are used to make large columns, statues and other things. If your readers would not be familiar with one of these types of stone use the name of the other one. If they are not familiar with either you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “marble” or “stone” | |
365 | 5:15 | z75c | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | מַרְאֵ֨הוּ֙ כַּלְּבָנ֔וֹן בָּח֖וּר כָּאֲרָזִֽים | 1 | **Lebanon** was a beautiful mountainous region and the cedar trees that grew there were tall and strong and considered to be the best wood. The word **choice** here means “excellent quality” so the phrase **as choice as the cedars** means that the man is of excellent quality like the **cedars** in **Lebanon**. The point of this comparison is that the man is majestic like the mountainous, wooded area of **Lebanon** and is tall and strong and stately like the **cedars**. Also, similar to how the **cedars** are better than other trees so he is outstanding in comparison to other men. If it would be helpful in your language, you could explain the point of this comparison or express this meaning in plain language. Alternate translation: “His appearance is tall and strong and stately. He is outstanding among other men” or “His appearance is majestic. He is strong and tall and better than other men” | |
366 | 5:16 | sc8p | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy | חִכּוֹ֙ מַֽמְתַקִּ֔ים | 1 | Here, **mouth** could refer to: (1) the man’s kisses. Alternate translation: “His kisses are most sweet” (2) the man’s words. Alternate translation: “His speech is most sweet” or “The words from his mouth are most sweet” | |
367 | 5:16 | w3vr | וְכֻלּ֖וֹ מַחֲמַדִּ֑ים | 1 | Alternate translation: “and every part of him is very desirable” | ||
368 | 5:16 | r6zc | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-possession | בְּנ֖וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **daughters of Jerusalem** in [1:5](../01/05.md). | |
369 | 6:intro | fa9a | 0 | # Song of Songs 6 General Notes\n\n## Special concepts in this chapter\n\n### Beauty\n\nThe woman is described as the epitome of beauty in ancient Israel. Not all cultures share the same standards of beauty.\n\n## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter\n\n### Metaphors\n\nIn the ancient Near East, it was common to describe a woman using metaphors involving animals. In many cultures today, this can be considered offensive. Different metaphors of beauty are used in different cultures. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])\n\n\n### The meaning of 6:12\n\n6:12 is very difficult to understand and its meaning is uncertain. Bible scholars have a variety of different opinions on the exact meaning of this verse because it is a very difficult verse and therefore there are a variety of different opinions on how the words and phrases relate to each other and what the exact meaning of some of the words are in context. Published versions of the Bible differ significantly from one another in their rendering of this verse. The ULT seeks to offer a reasonable translation of this verse. But if a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may find that it differs from the ULT in the way that it translates this verse. If there is a Bible translation in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If not, you may wish to follow the reading of ULT.\n\n\n### The meaning of the phrase “like the dance of two armies” in 6:13\n\nThe meaning of the phrase “like the dance of two armies” is uncertain and Bible scholars have different opinions on the exact meaning of this verse. The ULT offers one possible translation of this verse. But if a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may find that it differs from the ULT in the way that it translates this verse. If there is a Bible translation in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If not, you may wish to follow the reading of ULT. | |||
370 | 6:1 | xnv3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | אָ֚נָה הָלַ֣ךְ דּוֹדֵ֔ךְ הַיָּפָ֖ה בַּנָּשִׁ֑ים אָ֚נָה פָּנָ֣ה דוֹדֵ֔ךְ וּנְבַקְשֶׁ֖נּוּ עִמָּֽךְ | 1 | The question **Where did he go, your beloved** and the question **Where did he turn, your beloved** have basically the same meaning. This type of repetition is a common feature of Hebrew poetry. This question is asked twice, in slightly different ways, for emphasis and poetic effect. It would be good to retain this repetition if possible but if saying the same thing twice might be confusing for your readers, you can combine the phrases into one. Alternate translation: “Where did he go, your beloved, most beautiful woman among women? Let us seek him with you” or “Most beautiful woman among women, where did he turn your beloved? Let us seek him with you” | |
371 | 6:1 | tgqz | אָ֚נָה הָלַ֣ךְ דּוֹדֵ֔ךְ & אָ֚נָה פָּנָ֣ה דוֹדֵ֔ךְ | 1 | Alternate translation: “Where did your beloved go … Where did your beloved turn” | ||
372 | 6:1 | emy4 | הַיָּפָ֖ה בַּנָּשִׁ֑ים | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **most beautiful woman among women** in [1:8](../01/08.md). | ||
373 | 6:1 | pypx | אָ֚נָה פָּנָ֣ה דוֹדֵ֔ךְ | 1 | Alternate translation: “Which way did your beloved go” | ||
374 | 6:1 | ise2 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis | וּנְבַקְשֶׁ֖נּוּ עִמָּֽךְ | 1 | The women of Jerusalem are leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If your readers might misunderstand this, you could supply these words from the context. Alternate translation: “tell us, so that we can seek him with you” or “tell us, and let us seek him with you” | |
375 | 6:2 | vrq9 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | דּוֹדִי֙ יָרַ֣ד לְגַנּ֔וֹ לַעֲרוּג֖וֹת הַבֹּ֑שֶׂם לִרְעוֹת֙ בַּגַּנִּ֔ים וְלִלְקֹ֖ט שֽׁוֹשַׁנִּֽים | 1 | Here, the word **garden** and **gardens** both refer to the woman’s body. The woman resumes the “garden” metaphor that was used in [4:12-5:1](../04/12.md) by again referring to her body as a **garden**. The phrase **graze in the gardens** and **glean lilies** are both metaphors for the man enjoying the woman’s body. If you used similes to translate [4:12-5:1](../04/12.md) you should continue to use similes here. Alternate translation: “My beloved went to me. I am like a garden where beds of spices grow. He came to me in order to enjoy my body like a gazelle enjoys grazing in gardens and like a person enjoys gleaning lilies” | |
376 | 6:2 | jgeu | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | דּוֹדִי֙ יָרַ֣ד לְגַנּ֔וֹ לַעֲרוּג֖וֹת הַבֹּ֑שֶׂם | 1 | The phrase **to the beds of spices** explains where in the **garden** the man **went down to**. This phrase is not describing a separate location from the **garden** (woman). If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “My beloved went down to the beds of spices in his garden” or “My beloved went to me who is like his spice garden” | |
377 | 6:2 | twm5 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | יָרַ֣ד | 1 | Your language may say “gone” rather than **went** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “has gone down” | |
378 | 6:2 | pr3t | לַעֲרוּג֖וֹת הַבֹּ֑שֶׂם | 1 | See how you translated the similar phrase **bed of spices** in [5:13](../05/13.md). | ||
379 | 6:2 | uprg | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | בַּגַּנִּ֔ים | 1 | Here, the phrase **the gardens** refers to the woman just like the phrase **his garden** earlier in the verse does. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly by translating the phrase **the gardens** as “his gardens” or “his garden.” Alternate translation: “in his gardens” or “in his garden” | |
380 | 6:3 | lr7w | אֲנִ֤י לְדוֹדִי֙ וְדוֹדִ֣י לִ֔י | 1 | See how you translated the similar phrase “My beloved belongs to me and I belong to him” in [2:16](../02/16.md). | ||
381 | 6:3 | p4l4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | הָרֹעֶ֖ה בַּשׁוֹשַׁנִּֽים | 1 | See how you translated the similar phrase “the man grazing among the lilies” in [2:16](../02/16.md). | |
382 | 6:4 | xk88 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | יָפָ֨ה אַ֤תְּ רַעְיָתִי֙ כְּתִרְצָ֔ה נָאוָ֖ה כִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם | 1 | The man is saying that the woman is **like** the city of **Tirzah** and **like** the city of **Jerusalem** because both of these cities were beautiful. These lines are parallel and both mean basically the same thing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the point of comparison explicitly. Alternately, you could combine the lines if it would help your readers. Alternate translation: “You are beautiful, my darling, like the beautiful city of Tirzah, lovely like the lovely city of Jerusalem” or “You are beautiful and lovely, my darling, like the cities of Tirzah and Jerusalem”\n | |
383 | 6:4 | bbrm | יָפָ֨ה אַ֤תְּ רַעְיָתִי֙ | 1 | See how you translated the phrase “you are beautiful, my darling” in [1:15](../01/15.md). | ||
384 | 6:4 | qymv | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure | יָפָ֨ה אַ֤תְּ רַעְיָתִי֙ כְּתִרְצָ֔ה | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: “My darling, you are beautiful like Tirzah” | |
385 | 6:4 | rjr5 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis | נָאוָ֖ה כִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם אֲיֻמָּ֖ה כַּנִּדְגָּלֽוֹת | 1 | The man is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If your readers might misunderstand this, you could supply these words from the context. Alternate translation: “you are lovely like Jerusalem, you are awe-inspiring like bannered armies” | |
386 | 6:4 | ydky | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | אֲיֻמָּ֖ה כַּנִּדְגָּלֽוֹת | 1 | The man is saying that the woman is **awe-inspiring like bannered armies** because looking at her causes the man to feel a sense of awe that is comparable to seeing an army with its banners above it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “and the awe I feel when looking at you is like the awe I would feel if I were to see armies with their banners” or “and the awe I feel when looking at you is like the awe I feel when I see armies with their banners above them” | |
387 | 6:4 | v9dx | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | כַּנִּדְגָּלֽוֹת | 1 | See how you translated the term **banner** in [2:4](../02/04.md). | |
388 | 6:5 | lbz1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | שַׂעְרֵךְ֙ כְּעֵ֣דֶר הָֽעִזִּ֔ים שֶׁגָּלְשׁ֖וּ מִן־הַגִּלְעָֽד | 1 | See how you translated the similar sentence “Your hair is like a flock of goats that hop down from the slopes of Gilead” in [4:1](../04/01.md). | |
389 | 6:6 | lxi1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | שִׁנַּ֨יִךְ֙ כְּעֵ֣דֶר הָֽרְחֵלִ֔ים שֶׁעָל֖וּ מִן־הָרַחְצָ֑ה שֶׁכֻּלָּם֙ מַתְאִימ֔וֹת וְשַׁכֻּלָ֖ה אֵ֥ין בָּהֶֽם | 1 | See how you translated the almost identical verse in [4:2](../04/02.md). The only difference between this verse and 4:2 is that 4:2 has the phrase “shorn sheep” instead of **ewes**. | |
390 | 6:6 | j7se | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | הָֽרְחֵלִ֔ים | 1 | The term **ewes** refers to female sheep. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate explicitly what the term **ewes** refers to. Alternate translation: “female sheep” | |
391 | 6:7 | zid1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | כְּפֶ֤לַח הָרִמּוֹן֙ רַקָּתֵ֔ךְ מִבַּ֖עַד לְצַמָּתֵֽךְ | 1 | See how you translated [4:3](../04/03.md) which is identical to this verse. | |
392 | 6:8-9 | v080 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | שִׁשִּׁ֥ים הֵ֨מָּה֙ מְּלָכ֔וֹת וּשְׁמֹנִ֖ים פִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑ים וַעֲלָמ֖וֹת אֵ֥ין מִסְפָּֽר & אַחַ֥ת הִיא֙ יוֹנָתִ֣י תַמָּתִ֔י אַחַ֥ת הִיא֙ לְאִמָּ֔הּ בָּרָ֥ה הִ֖יא לְיֽוֹלַדְתָּ֑הּ | 1 | This is a comparison that expresses that the woman is superior to women in a king’s royal court. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could add words that explicitly indicate that this is a comparison. Alternate translation: “When compared to sixty queens, and eighty concubines and marriageable women without number, none of them are as special as my dove; my perfect one who is special to her mother and pure to the woman who bore her” or “Even if compared to sixty queens, and eighty concubines and marriageable women without number, still none of them would be as special as my dove; my perfect one who is special to her mother and pure to the woman who bore her” | |
393 | 6:8 | o3wm | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure | שִׁשִּׁ֥ים הֵ֨מָּה֙ מְּלָכ֔וֹת | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of words in the phrase **Sixty are they, queens**. Alternate translation: “They are sixty queens” | |
394 | 6:8 | iwkm | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry | שִׁשִּׁ֥ים הֵ֨מָּה֙ מְּלָכ֔וֹת וּשְׁמֹנִ֖ים פִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑ים | 1 | The man is using the numbers, **Sixty** and **eighty** as a poetic way to make a comprehensive statement. The man is using the typical 3, 4 pattern that was commonly used at that time, and for emphasis he multiples the numbers 3 and 4 by the number 20 resulting in the numbers **Sixty** and **eighty** which he thinks is sufficient to illustrate his point. If a speaker of your language would not do this, in your translation you could express the emphasis in a way that would be natural in your language. Alternate translation: “A large number of queens and a large number of concubines” or “Many queens, and many concubines” | |
395 | 6:8 | vy12 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | וַעֲלָמ֖וֹת | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **marriageable women** in [1:3](../01/03.md). | |
396 | 6:8 | vks6 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom | וַעֲלָמ֖וֹת אֵ֥ין מִסְפָּֽר | 1 | Here, **without number** is an idiom that means “more than can be counted.” If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have that meaning or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and too many marriageable women to count” or “and more marriageable women than can be counted” | |
397 | 6:9 | ue94 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | אַחַ֥ת הִיא֙ | 1 | Here, the phrase **One is she** means “She is special” (the number **One** is used in contrast to the large numbers of other women described in the previous verse). If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “She is special” or “She is unique” or “She is special in comparison to other women” | |
398 | 6:9 | a2hh | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | יוֹנָתִ֣י תַמָּתִ֔י | 1 | See how you translated the phrases **my dove** and **my perfect one** in [5:2](../05/02.md). | |
399 | 6:9 | tej6 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | אַחַ֥ת הִיא֙ לְאִמָּ֔הּ | 1 | The phrase **one is she to her mother** could mean: (1) that the woman the man loves is special **to her mother** (with **one** being used in contrast to the large numbers of other women described in the previous verse). Alternate translation: “she is special to her mother” or “her mother thinks she is special” or “her mother thinks she is unique” (2) that the woman was the only child or the only daughter that her mother had. Alternate translation: “she is the only child of her mother” or “her mother’s only daughter” or “she is the only child of her mother” | |
400 | 6:9 | wmx6 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | בָּרָ֥ה הִ֖יא לְיֽוֹלַדְתָּ֑הּ | 1 | The phrase **pure is she to the woman who bore her** could mean: (1) that the woman was her mother’s favorite child or favorite daughter. Alternate translation: “the favorite child of the woman who bore her” or “the favorite daughter of the woman who bore her” (2) that the woman was pure or flawless in some way. Alternate translation: “flawless is she to the woman who bore her” | |
401 | 6:9 | ca42 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism | אַחַ֥ת הִיא֙ לְאִמָּ֔הּ בָּרָ֥ה הִ֖יא לְיֽוֹלַדְתָּ֑הּ | 1 | If you decided that **one** means “special” here and that **pure** means “favorite” then these two lines are parallel and mean basically the same thing because both these words then have similar meanings and the phrases **her mother** and **the woman who bore her** both mean the same thing. The second line is emphasizing the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words which is common in Hebrew poetry. It would be good to show this repetition to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. However, if it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine these two lines into one. Alternate translation: “her mother thinks that she is very special” or “she is very special to her mother” | |
402 | 6:10 | waey | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-extrainfo | מִי־זֹ֥את הַנִּשְׁקָפָ֖ה כְּמוֹ־שָׁ֑חַר יָפָ֣ה כַלְּבָנָ֗ה בָּרָה֙ כַּֽחַמָּ֔ה אֲיֻמָּ֖ה כַּנִּדְגָּלֽוֹת | 1 | The author does not say who is speaking here so you should not indicate explicitly who is speaking in the text of your translation. However, if you are using section headers to indicate who is speaking the speaker or speakers could be: (1) the man speaking to the woman he loves. If you are using section headers you can follow the example of the UST and include this verse under the section heading for 6:4-10 that indicates the man is speaking. (2) the **daughters** and the **queens** and **concubines** mentioned in the previous verse. If you are using section headers you can use a phrase for the section header such as “The daughters, the queens, and the concubines praise the woman” or “The other women praise the woman” or something comparable. | |
403 | 6:10 | g6e9 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion | מִי־זֹ֥את הַנִּשְׁקָפָ֖ה כְּמוֹ־שָׁ֑חַר יָפָ֣ה כַלְּבָנָ֗ה בָּרָה֙ כַּֽחַמָּ֔ה אֲיֻמָּ֖ה כַּנִּדְגָּלֽוֹת | 1 | The man is not asking for information, but is using the question form for emphasis. If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate these words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: “Look at this woman who looks down like the dawn, beautiful like the moon, pure like the sun, terrifying like the bannered army!” | |
404 | 6:10 | qk20 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification | הַנִּשְׁקָפָ֖ה כְּמוֹ־שָׁ֑חַר | 1 | Here, the man speaks of the sun as it dawns in the morning and shines down on the earth as though it were a person who could look down on the earth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the woman who shines like the sun as it rises early in the morning and brightens the sky” or “the woman who shines like the sun as it rises early in the morning and shines down from the sky” | |
405 | 6:10 | y3dp | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | הַנִּשְׁקָפָ֖ה כְּמוֹ־שָׁ֑חַר יָפָ֣ה כַלְּבָנָ֗ה בָּרָה֙ כַּֽחַמָּ֔ה | 1 | Here, the man first compares the woman to the sun in the morning as it dawns. He then compares the woman’s beauty to the beauty of **the moon**. He then compares the woman’s radiance to the radiance of **the sun**. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the basis of these comparisons as modeled by the UST. | |
406 | 6:10 | vb8c | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | אֲיֻמָּ֖ה כַּנִּדְגָּלֽוֹת | 1 | See how you translated the identical phrase “awe-inspiring like bannered armies” in [6:4](../06/04.md). | |
407 | 6:11 | j2z8 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-possession | אֶל־גִּנַּ֤ת אֱגוֹז֙ יָרַ֔דְתִּי | 1 | The speaker is using the possessive form to describe an area where walnut trees grow. If this is not clear in your language, you could clarify the relationship for your readers. Alternate translation: “To the the nut tree garden I went went down” or “To the place where walnut trees grow I went down” | |
408 | 6:11-12 | zyt8 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-extrainfo | אֶל־גִּנַּ֤ת אֱגוֹז֙ יָרַ֔דְתִּי לִרְא֖וֹת בְּאִבֵּ֣י הַנָּ֑חַל לִרְאוֹת֙ הֲפָֽרְחָ֣ה הַגֶּ֔פֶן הֵנֵ֖צוּ הָרִמֹּנִֽים & לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי נַפְשִׁ֣י שָׂמַ֔תְנִי מַרְכְּב֖וֹת עַמִּי־נָדִֽיב | 1 | It is difficult to know with certainty who is speaking in these two verses and because of this Bible scholars have different opinions about who is speaking here. Because the author does not say who is speaking you should not indicate who is speaking in the text of your translation. However, if you are using section headers to indicate who is speaking the speaker could be: (1) the man in both verses. If you decide the man is speaking in both these verses you can follow the example of the UST and include theses two verses under the section heading for 6:4-11 that indicates the man is speaking. (2) the woman in both verses. If you decide the woman is speaking in both of these verses you can put a section header at the top of 6:11 indicating that the woman is speaking. | |
409 | 6:11 | bfm1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure | אֶל־גִּנַּ֤ת אֱגוֹז֙ יָרַ֔דְתִּי | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: “I went down to the garden of the nut tree” | |
410 | 6:11 | ggi1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | יָרַ֔דְתִּי | 1 | Your language may say “gone” rather than **went** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “I had gone down” | |
411 | 6:12 | lt9y | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי | 1 | Here, the phrase ** I did not know** means “Before I realized it” or “Before I was aware.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “Before I realized it” or “Before I was aware” | |
412 | 6:12 | vhtx | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | נַפְשִׁ֣י שָׂמַ֔תְנִי | 1 | The phrase **my soul put me** probably means that the man imagined what comes next in this verse. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly as modeled by the UST. | |
413 | 6:12 | krcw | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | מַרְכְּב֖וֹת עַמִּי־נָדִֽיב | 1 | There are many different views among Bible scholars regarding what this phrase means and many different views among Bible scholars regarding what this entire verse means. The UST offers one possible interpretation for what this phrase means. See the section on 6:12 in the chapter 6 introduction for more information about how to translate this difficult verse. | |
414 | 6:13 | u681 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-extrainfo | שׁ֤וּבִי שׁ֨וּבִי֙ הַשּׁ֣וּלַמִּ֔ית שׁ֥וּבִי שׁ֖וּבִי וְנֶחֱזֶה־בָּ֑ךְ | 1 | It is difficult to know with certainty who is saying this. Because the author does not say who is speaking here you should not indicate who is speaking in the text of your translation. However, if you are using section headers to indicate who is speaking the speaker could be: (1) the young women of Jerusalem. If you decide this is who is speaking you can follow the example of the UST and indicate this with a section header above this verse. (2) friends of the man and woman. If you decide that this is who is speaking here you can place a section header above this verse indicating that friends of the man and woman are speaking. (3) the man. If you decide that this is who is speaking here you can place a section header above this verse indicating that the man is speaking. | |
415 | 6:13 | sbsq | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | הַשּׁ֣וּלַמִּ֔ית…בַּשּׁ֣וּלַמִּ֔ית | 1 | The word translated as **Shulammite** refers to someone who is from the town of Shulam. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “woman from Shulam … at the woman from Shulam” | |
416 | 6:13 | jl0j | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry | שׁ֤וּבִי שׁ֨וּבִי֙ הַשּׁ֣וּלַמִּ֔ית שׁ֥וּבִי שׁ֖וּבִי וְנֶחֱזֶה־בָּ֑ךְ | 1 | Here, the word **return** is repeated for emphasis. Repetition is a common feature of Hebrew poetry and it would be good to show it to your readers. However, if repeating a word would be confusing to your readers you can combine the repeated words. Alternate translation: “Return Shulammite, return and let us look at you” or “Please return Shulammite, and let us look at you | |
417 | 6:13 | sm5j | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person | מַֽה־תֶּחֱזוּ֙ בַּשּׁ֣וּלַמִּ֔ית כִּמְחֹלַ֖ת הַֽמַּחֲנָֽיִם | 1 | It is difficult to know with certainty who is saying this. Because the author does not say who is speaking here you should not indicate who is speaking in the text of your translation. However, if you are using section headers to indicate who is speaking the speaker could be: (1) the man. If you decide that the man is speaking here you can follow the example of the UST and indicate this with a section header above this part of the verse. (2) The woman speaking of herself in the third person. If you decide that this is who is speaking here you can place a section header above this verse indicating that the woman is speaking. | |
418 | 6:13 | rl3x | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis | כִּמְחֹלַ֖ת הַֽמַּחֲנָֽיִם | 1 | The speaker is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If your readers might misunderstand this, you could supply these words from the context. Alternate translation: “like you look at the dance of two armies” or “like you would look at the dance of two armies” | |
419 | 6:13 | rd4z | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | כִּמְחֹלַ֖ת הַֽמַּחֲנָֽיִם | 1 | The phrase translated as **like the dance of two armies** could be translated as: (1) **like the dance of two armies** as the ULT does and refer to a dance that is performed as entertainment for armies. Alternate translation: “like a dance performed before armies” (2) “like the dance of Mahanaim” (3) “like two rows of dancers” or “like two companies of dancers” and mean “like you like to watch two rows of people dancing” See the section in the chapter 6 introduction on this phrase for more information about how to translate this phrase. | |
420 | 7:intro | hqv7 | 0 | # Song of Songs 7 General Notes\n\n## Special concepts in this chapter\n\n### Beauty\n\nThe woman is described as the epitome of beauty in ancient Israel. Not all cultures share the same the same standards of beauty.\n\n## Important figures of speech in this chapter\n\n### Similes\n\nThere are many similes in this chapter. Their purpose is to describe the beauty of the woman. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile]]) | |||
421 | 7:1 | z7jk | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-extrainfo | מַה־יָּפ֧וּ פְעָמַ֛יִךְ בַּנְּעָלִ֖ים בַּת־נָדִ֑יב חַמּוּקֵ֣י יְרֵכַ֔יִךְ כְּמ֣וֹ חֲלָאִ֔ים מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֥י אָמָּֽן | 1 | If you are using section headings to indicate who is speaking and you decided in the previous verse that the woman said the words “Why do you look at the Shulammite like the dance of two armies” you will need to place a section header above this verse indicating that the man is now speaking. The man begins speaking directly to the woman in this verse and continues speaking to her until part way through [7:9](../07/09.md). | |
422 | 7:1 | v9et | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamation | מַה | 1 | Here, the word **How** is used as an exclamation to emphasize a statement about how **beautiful** the woman’s **feet** are in **sandals**. Use a natural way in your language to communicate this exclamation. | |
423 | 7:1 | oeoj | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure | מַה־יָּפ֧וּ פְעָמַ֛יִךְ בַּנְּעָלִ֖ים בַּת־נָדִ֑יב | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: “Daughter of a noble, how your feet are beautiful in sandals” | |
424 | 7:1 | foef | בַּת־נָדִ֑יב | 1 | The phrase **daughter of a noble** could: (1) be translated as **daughter of a noble** and mean that the woman was the daughter of a nobleman (a person of high social status). (2) be translated as “noble daughter” and mean that she had noble character. Alternate translation: “noble daughter” or “woman of noble character” | ||
425 | 7:1 | b72o | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | חַמּוּקֵ֣י יְרֵכַ֔יִךְ כְּמ֣וֹ חֲלָאִ֔ים מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֥י אָמָּֽן | 1 | The point of this comparison is that the **curves** of the woman’s thighs have an attractive shape like **ornaments** that are made by a skilled **craftsman**. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the basis of this comparison. Alternate translation: “The curves of your thighs have an attractive shape, like ornaments that are\nmade by the hands of a craftsman” or “The curves of your thighs are beautiful like the beautiful curves of jewel that a skilled craftsman has made” | |
426 | 7:1 | vesl | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֥י אָמָּֽן | 1 | The phrase **the work of the hands of a craftsman** further describes the **ornaments**. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly by adding an explanatory phrase such as “which are” to show that this phrase is describing the **ornaments** and not introducing something new. Alternate translation: “which are the work of the hands of a craftsman” | |
427 | 7:1 | fc12 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche | מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֥י אָמָּֽן | 1 | The man is using one part of a **craftsman**, the **hands**, to represent all of the **craftsman** in the act of making ornaments. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the work of a craftsman” or “which a craftsman has made” | |
428 | 7:2 | u88e | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exmetaphor | שָׁרְרֵךְ֙ אַגַּ֣ן הַסַּ֔הַר אַל־יֶחְסַ֖ר הַמָּ֑זֶג | 1 | The man is speaking of the woman’s **navel** as if it were a **rounded bowl** used for serving wine. The point of this comparison is that the woman’s **navel** is nicely rounded like a **rounded** wine **bowl**. The phrase **that never lacks spiced wine** describes what is inside the bowl and probably means that in a similar way to how **spiced wine** excites the man and gives him joy so her **navel** excites him and gives him joy. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly or use a simile to express the meaning. Alternate translation: “Your navel is beautifully rounded and causes me to feel excited” or “Your navel is beautifully rounded like a round wine bowl and it causes me to feel excited like drinking spiced wine” or “Your navel is beautifully rounded like a bowl and gives me joy and excitement like when I drink spiced wine” | |
429 | 7:2 | ylpb | אַל־יֶחְסַ֖ר הַמָּ֑זֶג | 1 | The phrase that the ULT translates as **that never lacks** could be: (1) an assertion and therefore be translated as an assertion as modeled by the ULT. (2) a strong wish. Alternate translation: “let it never lack spiced wine” or “may it never lack spiced wine” | ||
430 | 7:2 | l46c | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | הַמָּ֑זֶג | 1 | The phrase **spiced wine** refers to wine that is mixed with spices. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of wine, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a descriptive phrase. Alternate translation: “wine that people have added spices to” | |
431 | 7:2 | lpza | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exmetaphor | בִּטְנֵךְ֙ עֲרֵמַ֣ת חִטִּ֔ים סוּגָ֖ה בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּֽים | 1 | The man is speaking of the woman’s **belly** as if it were **a heap of wheat**. The point of comparing the woman’s **belly** to **a heap of wheat** is that **wheat** was a very common food in Israel and so was considered nourishing and satisfying to the appetite. The man is expressing that the woman satisfies him. The man is also comparing the color of her **belly** to **wheat** since harvested **wheat** is a pleasant golden beige or tan color. He is also comparing the pleasant shape of her **belly** to the pleasant shape of a **heap of wheat**. The phrase **encircled with the lilies** describes what is around the **heap of wheat** and probably means that in a similar way to how **a heap of wheat encircled with the lilies** looks beautiful so her **belly** is beautiful. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly or use a simile to express the meaning as modeled by the UST. Alternate translation: “Your belly is as beautiful as a heap of wheat that is encircled with lilies and it satisfies me” or “The shape and color of your belly is beautiful” or “Your belly is beautiful and satisfying” | |
432 | 7:2 | cz8d | סוּגָ֖ה בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּֽים | 1 | Alternate translation: “which has lilies all around it” | ||
433 | 7:3 | jw6n | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | שְׁנֵ֥י שָׁדַ֛יִךְ כִּשְׁנֵ֥י עֳפָרִ֖ים תָּאֳמֵ֥י צְבִיָּֽה | 1 | See how you translated this in [4:5](../04/05.md). | |
434 | 7:4 | uv17 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | צַוָּארֵ֖ךְ כְּמִגְדַּ֣ל הַשֵּׁ֑ן | 1 | Here, the man compares the woman’s **neck** to a **tower** that is adorned with **ivory** (the tower was decorated with ivory, not made of ivory). The appearance of a **tower** decorated with **ivory** would be beautiful in appearance and tall and slender. By comparing the woman’s **neck** to a **tower of ivory** the man is saying that the woman’s **neck** is both beautiful and tall and slender. Your language may have a comparable expression for complementing a woman’s neck in this way that you could use in your translation or you could state the basis of the comparison. Alternately, if it would help your readers, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Your neck is beautiful and slender” or “Your neck is beautiful and tall like a tower that people have adorned with ivory” or “Your neck is lovely and tall like a tower decorated with ivory” | |
435 | 7:4 | xgt7 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | הַשֵּׁ֑ן | 1 | See how you translated the term **ivory** in [5:14](../05/14.md). | |
436 | 7:4 | h4ih | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | עֵינַ֜יִךְ בְּרֵכ֣וֹת בְּחֶשְׁבּ֗וֹן עַל־שַׁ֨עַר֙ בַּת־רַבִּ֔ים | 1 | The man is speaking of the woman’s **eyes** as if they were clear **pools* of water in the city of **Heshbon**. The man does not say how the woman’s eyes are like **pools in Heshbon**. The point of comparison may be that the woman’s eyes sparkle or shine in the light like when light shines on water or it may be that her eyes look mysterious and deep (and possibly dark) like a deep pool of water or it may be that her eyes reflect light like a pool of water does. Your language may have a comparable expression for complementing a woman’s eyes that you could use in your translation or you could state one or more of these points of comparison or if you have been translating metaphors with similes you could use a simile here. Alternate translation: “Your eyes shine like the sun reflecting off the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath Rabbim” or “Your eyes are deep and mysterious like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath Rabbim” | |
437 | 7:4 | md6s | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names | בְּחֶשְׁבּ֗וֹן | 1 | **Heshbon** is the name of a city. | |
438 | 7:4 | r1vf | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names | עַל־שַׁ֨עַר֙ בַּת־רַבִּ֔ים | 1 | **Bath Rabbim** is the name that of this gate. Alternate translation: “by the gate called Bath Rabbim” or “by the gate that people call Bath Rabbim” | |
439 | 7:4 | a4vg | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | אַפֵּךְ֙ כְּמִגְדַּ֣ל הַלְּבָנ֔וֹן צוֹפֶ֖ה פְּנֵ֥י דַמָּֽשֶׂק | 1 | The man is speaking of the woman’s **nose** as if it were **the tower of Lebanon* that faces toward the city of **Damascus**. This tower was high and was used as a military watch tower to look out for enemy attacks. The point of comparison is that the woman’s nose was high and/or long (which was considered attractive in that culture) and beautiful and made her look dignified and impressive like **the tower of Lebanon**. Your language may have a comparable expression for complementing a woman’s nose that you could use in your translation or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternately, if it would help your readers, you could state the point of comparison. Alternate translation: “Your nose is beautiful and makes you look dignified” or “Your nose is long and beautiful like the tower in Lebanon that faces Damascus” or “Your nose is high and beautiful like the tower in Lebanon that faces Damascus” | |
440 | 7:5 | jn22 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | רֹאשֵׁ֤ךְ עָלַ֨יִךְ֙ כַּכַּרְמֶ֔ל | 1 | Mount **Carmel** is beautiful and majestic looking and adds beauty to what is below it. The point of this comparison is that the woman’s head is beautiful and majestic like Mount **Carmel** and it increases the beauty of the rest of her body. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the basis of this comparison. Alternate translation: “Your head is beautiful and majestic like Mount Carmel” | |
441 | 7:5 | p1hm | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | כַּכַּרְמֶ֔ל | 1 | **Carmel** refers to the mountain called Mount Carmel. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly as modeled by the UST. | |
442 | 7:5 | nixx | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | וְדַלַּ֥ת רֹאשֵׁ֖ךְ כָּאַרְגָּמָ֑ן | 1 | Here, the work **purple** refers to wool cloth that was dyed a purple-red color. The phrase **the loose hair of your head is like purple** could mean: (1) that the woman’s hair was a deep shiny black that looked like a black-purplish color when the sun radiated on it. Alternate translation: “and the loose hair of your is head shiny and black” or “and the loose hair of your head looks shiny purplish-black as the sun shines on it” (2) that her hair made her look like a queen (purple was a color associated with royalty). Alternate translation: “and the loose hair of your head is like royal cloth” | |
443 | 7:5 | hkk7 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | מֶ֖לֶךְ אָס֥וּר בָּרְהָטִֽים | 1 | The man is speaking of the beauty of the **tresses** of the woman’s hair as if they could capture hold *a king**. The man means that the woman’s **tresses** are so beautiful that they captivate his attention. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Your tresses are so beautiful that a king is not able to stop admiring them” or “Your hair is so beautiful that a king is not able to stop admiring it” or “the king is captivated by your tresses” | |
444 | 7:5 | njmj | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | מֶ֖לֶךְ אָס֥וּר | 1 | It is implied that the man speaking is the **king** spoken of here. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “your king is held captive” or “I, your king, am held captive” | |
445 | 7:5 | xe8w | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive | מֶ֖לֶךְ אָס֥וּר בָּרְהָטִֽים | 1 | If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who did the action, implies that the woman’s hair did it. Alternate translation: “the tresses hold the king captive” or “your tresses hold the king captive” | |
446 | 7:5 | l5e5 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | בָּרְהָטִֽים | 1 | Here, the term **tresses** refers to the woman’s hair which hangs down from her head. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “in the long locks of your hair” or “in the flowing locks of your hair” | |
447 | 7:6 | bag7 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamation | מַה־יָּפִית֙ | 1 | See how you translated the similar phrase “You are beautiful” in [6:4](../06/04.md). | |
448 | 7:6 | z5in | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamation | מַה־יָּפִית֙ וּמַה־נָּעַ֔מְתְּ | 1 | Here, the word **How** is used as an exclamation to emphasize the beauty of the woman. The word **how** is again used as an exclamation to emphasize how **lovely** the woman is. Use an exclamation that is natural in your language for communicating the woman’s beauty and lovliness. | |
449 | 7:6 | mtn9 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | אַהֲבָ֖ה בַּתַּֽעֲנוּגִֽים | 1 | The man is praising the delightfulness of romantic love. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “romantic love has many delights” or “how delightful romantic love is” or “romantic love is very delightful” | |
450 | 7:6 | hqx3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns | אַהֲבָ֖ה בַּתַּֽעֲנוּגִֽים | 1 | If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **love**, you could express the same idea with a verb as modeled by the UST or in some other way that is natural in your language. | |
451 | 7:7 | jy1s | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | זֹ֤את קֽוֹמָתֵךְ֙ דָּֽמְתָ֣ה לְתָמָ֔ר | 1 | The point of this comparison is that the woman is tall like a **palm tree**. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the point of comparison explicitly as modeled by the UST or express this meaning in plain language. Alternate translation: “You are tall” | |
452 | 7:7 | f6me | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | לְתָמָ֔ר…לְאַשְׁכֹּלֽוֹת׃ | 1 | Here, the term **palm tree** refers to specifically to a date palm, which is the type of palm tree that produces dates. Date palm trees are tall and thin and produce a small sweet brown fruit called a date. The term **clusters** refers to the **clusters** of dates that hang down from a date palm tree. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of tree or its fruit, you could use the names of something similar in your area or you could use more general terms or you could explain what a date palm is and the type of fruit it produces in a footnote. Alternate translation: “a tall and slender fruit tree … its clusters of fruit” or “a tall fruit tree … like its clusters of delicious fruit” | |
453 | 7:7 | jr1v | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | וְשָׁדַ֖יִךְ לְאַשְׁכֹּלֽוֹת | 1 | The point of this comparison is that the woman’s **breasts** are plump and nicely rounded like the **clusters** of dates that grow on and hang down from date palm trees. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the point of comparison explicitly or you could express this meaning in plain language. Alternate translation: “and your breasts are plump and round” or “and your breasts are plump and round like its clusters” | |
454 | 7:8 | rpxa | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | אָמַ֨רְתִּי֙ אֶעֱלֶ֣ה בְתָמָ֔ר אֹֽחֲזָ֖ה בְּסַנְסִנָּ֑יו | 1 | Here, **go up** means “go to” and **the palm tree** refers to the woman the man loves. The phrase **fruit stalks** refers to the woman’s breasts as the previous verse indicates. **I will grab hold of its fruit stalks** means that the man wanted to caress the woman’s breasts and enjoy being intimate with her. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly Alternate translation: “I will go to the woman I love and caress her breasts and enjoy being intimate with her” or “I will go to the woman I love and enjoy touching her breasts and being close to her” | |
455 | 7:8 | p7ge | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | אָמַ֨רְתִּי֙ | 1 | Here, the phrase **I said** means that the man said or thought to himself the words **I will go up the palm tree; I will grab hold of its fruit stalks**. If it would help your readers, you could use a more natural word or phrase in your language to introduce something a person says or thinks to themself. Alternate translation: “I thought to myself” | |
456 | 7:8 | evx4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | בְתָמָ֔ר | 1 | See how you translated the term **palm tree** in the previous verse. | |
457 | 7:8 | bbvd | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-declarative | אֶעֱלֶ֣ה בְתָמָ֔ר אֹֽחֲזָ֖ה בְּסַנְסִנָּ֑יו | 1 | The man is using a future statement to indicate his intent or desire to do something. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a more natural form for indicating something someone intends to do or desires to do. Alternate translation: “I want to go up the palm tree; I want to grab hold of its fruit stalks” or “I have determined to go up the palm tree and grab hold of its fruit stalks” | |
458 | 7:8 | hqz3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | אֶעֱלֶ֣ה | 1 | Your language may say “come” rather than **go** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “I will come up” | |
459 | 7:8 | zfb8 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | וְיִֽהְיוּ־נָ֤א שָׁדַ֨יִךְ֙ כְּאֶשְׁכְּל֣וֹת הַגֶּ֔פֶן וְרֵ֥יחַ אַפֵּ֖ךְ כַּתַּפּוּחִֽים | 1 | The phrase **let your breasts be like the clusters of the vine** and the phrase **let the smell of your nose be like apples** are both similes. The man means “let your breasts be sweet and enjoyable like the clusters of the vine” and “let your breath be pleasant like the pleasant smell of apples.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the basis of these comparisons or you could use equivalent expressions from your culture. Alternate translation: “And, please, let your breasts be sweet and enjoyable like the clusters of the vine, and let the smell of your breath be pleasant like the pleasant smell of apples” | |
460 | 7:8 | s1bf | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | וְיִֽהְיוּ־נָ֤א שָׁדַ֨יִךְ֙…וְרֵ֥יחַ | 1 | The man is expressing a wish or desire. If it would help your readers, you could use a more natural form in your language for expressing a wish or desire. Alternate translation: “And, please, may your breasts be … and may the smell of” | |
461 | 7:8 | sih4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | כְּאֶשְׁכְּל֣וֹת הַגֶּ֔פֶן | 1 | The phrase **like the clusters of the vine** refers to **clusters** of grapes that grow on grapevines. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “like the clusters of the grapevine” | |
462 | 7:8 | z5l1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy | וְרֵ֥יחַ אַפֵּ֖ךְ כַּתַּפּוּחִֽים | 1 | The man is using the term **nose** to refer to what the nose produces (breathes out), breath. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and let the smell of your the breath be like apples” or “and let the smell of the breath coming from your nose be like apples” | |
463 | 7:8 | qrda | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis | וְרֵ֥יחַ | 1 | The man is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If your readers might misunderstand this, you could supply these words from the context as modeled by the ULT which supplies the words “let the” here. | |
464 | 7:8 | f9is | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | כַּתַּפּוּחִֽים | 1 | An apple is a round hard fruit about that can grow to be as big as an adult’s fist. It has a sweet taste and a pleasant smell. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of fruit, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “like sweet fruit” or “like fragrant fruit” or “like fruit” | |
465 | 7:9 | btth | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | וְחִכֵּ֕ךְ כְּיֵ֥ין הַטּ֛וֹב הוֹלֵ֥ךְ לְדוֹדִ֖י לְמֵישָׁרִ֑ים דּוֹבֵ֖ב שִׂפְתֵ֥י יְשֵׁנִֽים | 1 | The man compares the woman’s kisses (**mouth**) to **wine** in the first line of this verse and then the woman continues this simile in the following two lines. The man is saying that the woman’s kisses are like **wine** because **wine** is pleasant tasting and has a powerful effect on the body when drunk freely. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the basis of this comparison. Alternate translation: “and let your mouth be pleasant tasting and intoxicating like the best wine. May my mouth be like pleasant and intoxicating wine which goes down to my beloved smoothly, gliding over the lips of those who sleep” | |
466 | 7:9 | qkwu | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | וְחִכֵּ֕ךְ | 1 | The man is expressing a wish or desire. If it would help your readers, you could use a more natural form in your language for expressing a wish or desire. Alternate translation: “and may your mouth be” | |
467 | 7:9 | yrg1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy | וְחִכֵּ֕ךְ | 1 | Here, **mouth** represents the kisses which come from the woman’s **mouth**. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: “and let your kisses be” | |
468 | 7:9 | fuvm | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-extrainfo | הוֹלֵ֥ךְ לְדוֹדִ֖י לְמֵישָׁרִ֑ים דּוֹבֵ֖ב שִׂפְתֵ֥י יְשֵׁנִֽים | 1 | Some Bible scholars think the speaker in this part of the verse: (1) is the woman. Because the author does not say who is speaking here you should not indicate the speaker explicitly in the text of your translation. However, if you are using section headers to indicate who is speaking, as the UST does, you can indicate that the woman is now speaking. (2) continues to be the man. If you decide that the man is still speaking you do not need a header above this portion, but if you are using headers, you will need a header above the next verse indicating that the woman is speaking (since Bible scholars agree that the speaker is the woman beginning in 7:10 and continuing through at least 8:3). | |
469 | 7:9 | thlw | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | הוֹלֵ֥ךְ | 1 | Your language may say “coming” rather than **going** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “coming down” | |
470 | 7:9 | lns1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | הוֹלֵ֥ךְ לְדוֹדִ֖י לְמֵישָׁרִ֑ים דּוֹבֵ֖ב שִׂפְתֵ֥י יְשֵׁנִֽים | 1 | The phrases **Going down** and **gliding** both refer to **the best wine** mentioned earlier in the verse. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “Wine which is going down to my beloved smoothly, gliding over the lips of those who sleep” or “Wine which is going down to my beloved smoothly, wine which is gliding over the lips of those who sleep” | |
471 | 7:9 | i415 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | לְמֵישָׁרִ֑ים דּוֹבֵ֖ב | 1 | Here, the word **smoothly** means “freely” and refers to freely flowing **wine**. The word **gliding** here means “flowing.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “freely, flowing over” | |
472 | 7:10 | k7zq | אֲנִ֣י לְדוֹדִ֔י | 1 | See how you translated the identical phrase in [Song of Songs 6:3](../06/01.md). | ||
473 | 7:11 | xmwk | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | לְכָ֤ה | 1 | Your language may say “Go” rather than **Come** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “Go” | |
474 | 7:11 | c7tx | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure | לְכָ֤ה דוֹדִי֙ | 1 | If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: “My beloved, come” | |
475 | 7:11 | evc9 | נָלִ֖ינָה בַּכְּפָרִֽים | 1 | Alternate translation: “and stay overnight in a village somewhere” | ||
476 | 7:11 | d0wu | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | בַּכְּפָרִֽים | 1 | The word which the ULT translates as **in the villages** has two possible meanings in the original language. Here, it could mean: (1) **in the villages** as modeled by the ULT’s translation. (2) “among the henna bushes” (henna bushes produce flowers). If you choose this option see how you translated the phrase “henna blossoms” in [1:14](../01/14.md). Alternate translation: “among the henna bushes” or “among the wildflowers” or “among the henna blossoms” | |
477 | 7:12 | iii6 | נַשְׁכִּ֨ימָה֙ | 1 | Alternate translation: “Let us wake up early and go” or “Let us get up early and go” | ||
478 | 7:12 | w3p4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | נַשְׁכִּ֨ימָה֙ | 1 | Your language may say “come” rather than **go** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “Let us come early” | |
479 | 7:12 | xm75 | פָּֽרְחָ֤ה הַגֶּ֨פֶן֙ | 1 | See how you translated the similar phrase “had the vine budded” in [6:11](../06/11.md). | ||
480 | 7:12 | fe54 | הֵנֵ֖צוּ הָרִמּוֹנִ֑ים | 1 | See how you translated the similar phrase “Had the pomegranates bloomed” in [6:11](../06/11.md). | ||
481 | 7:12 | q3a4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns | אֶתֵּ֥ן אֶת־דֹּדַ֖י לָֽךְ | 1 | If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **love**, you could express the same idea with a verbal phrase as modeled by the UST or in some other way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “I will make love with you” | |
482 | 7:13 | v61b | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | הַֽדּוּדָאִ֣ים נָֽתְנוּ־רֵ֗יחַ | 1 | The term **mandrakes** refers to the mandrake plant which produces flowers that have a strong pleasant smell. People in that culture thought that smelling or eating fruit from the mandrake plant would arouse a person’s sexual desire and would help women to conceive children. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of plant, you could use the name of a plant in your area that people think increases sexual desire and/or helps women to conceive children or you could use a more general term. Alternately, you could explain what a mandrake plant is in a footnote. Alternate translation: “The love flowers give off their scent” or “The scent of the love flowers is in the air” | |
483 | 7:13 | alp4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | וְעַל־פְּתָחֵ֨ינוּ֙ כָּל־מְגָדִ֔ים חֲדָשִׁ֖ים גַּם־יְשָׁנִ֑ים דּוֹדִ֖י צָפַ֥נְתִּי לָֽךְ | 1 | Here, the woman is speaking of the different pleasurable experiences that she and the man will experience together as they express their love as if they were **every choice fruit** that were stored **above** their **doors** (In that culture fruit was often kept on a shelf above doors). The woman speaks of her love that she kept to give give to the man she loves as if it were **choice fruit** that she has **stored** (reserved) for the man. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning with a simile or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and we are surrounded by delightful pleasures, new ones and old ones, pleasures that I have been saving to give to you, my beloved” | |
484 | 7:13 | xbk7 | וְעַל־פְּתָחֵ֨ינוּ֙ כָּל־מְגָדִ֔ים | 1 | Alternate translation: “and above the entrance of our house are every one of the best fruits” | ||
485 | 7:13 | c2ah | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom | חֲדָשִׁ֖ים גַּם־יְשָׁנִ֑ים | 1 | Here, the phrase **new ones and also old ones** means “new fruits and also old fruits” and refers to fruit that is ripe (the old fruit) and fruit that has not yet ripened (the new fruit). This phrase as a whole is an idiom which means “all kinds of fruit.” If it would help your readers you could translate the meaning of the idiom or make it explicit that “new ones and also old ones” refers to ripe and unripe fruit. Alternate translation: “fruit that is not yet ripe and also sweet ripe fruit” or “all kinds of fruit” | |
486 | 7:13 | jsb8 | דּוֹדִ֖י צָפַ֥נְתִּי לָֽךְ | 1 | Alternate translation: “My beloved, I have saved these so that I can give them to you” or “My beloved, I have saved my love so that I can give it to you” | ||
487 | 8:intro | d35n | 0 | # Song of Songs 8 General Notes\n\n## Special concepts in this chapter\n\n### Kisses\n\nThe kisses in this chapter are a type of kiss that was only done between a husband a wife. It is an intimate kiss. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])\n\n### Passion\n\nChapter 8 describes the passion that can exist between a husband a wife. The feeling of strong desire for one another. | |||
488 | 8:1 | dp21 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom | מִ֤י יִתֶּנְךָ֙ כְּאָ֣ח לִ֔י יוֹנֵ֖ק שְׁדֵ֣י אִמִּ֑י | 1 | Here, the woman is using the idiom **Who will give you** to express her wish that the man she loves could be **like a brother** to her (so that she could publicly **kiss** him). If it would help your readers, you could an equivalent idiom from your language that expresses a desire or a wish or you could state the meaning in plain language. Alternate translation: “How I wish that you were like a brother to me, who nursed at the breasts of my mother” or “How I desire that you were like a brother to me, who nursed at the breasts of my mother” | |
489 | 8:1 | nh74 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-extrainfo | מִ֤י יִתֶּנְךָ֙ כְּאָ֣ח לִ֔י יוֹנֵ֖ק שְׁדֵ֣י אִמִּ֑י | 1 | In the culture at the time time the author wrote this poem it was not socially acceptable for someone to show public affection towards someone they were married to and/or loved romantically but it was acceptable for siblings to give each other non romantic kisses of affection in public (the word **outside** means “in public” here). If it would help your readers you could tell your readers in a footnote that the woman desires that the man she loves be **like a brother** to her so that she could show public affection toward him. | |
490 | 8:1 | tdby | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry | מִ֤י יִתֶּנְךָ֙ כְּאָ֣ח לִ֔י יוֹנֵ֖ק שְׁדֵ֣י אִמִּ֑י | 1 | The phrase **who nursed at the breasts of my mother** describes the word **brother** and has almost the same meaning as the term **brother**. Saying the same thing in slightly different ways is a common feature of Hebrew poetry. If saying the same thing twice might be confusing for your readers, you could combine the phrases into one. Alternate translation: “Who will give you like a brother to me” | |
491 | 8:1-2 | wx6j | rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical | אֶֽמְצָאֲךָ֤ בַחוּץ֙ אֶשָׁ֣קְךָ֔ גַּ֖ם לֹא־יָב֥וּזוּ לִֽי & אֶנְהָֽגֲךָ֗ אֲבִֽיאֲךָ֛ אֶל־בֵּ֥ית אִמִּ֖י תְּלַמְּדֵ֑נִי אַשְׁקְךָ֙ מִיַּ֣יִן הָרֶ֔קַח מֵעֲסִ֖יס רִמֹּנִֽי | 1 | The woman is using a hypothetical situation (the situation of the man being **like a brother** to her and her finding him **outside**) to express what she would then do. Alternate translation: “If you were like a brother to me and if I found you outside, then I would kiss you. Yes, if you were like a brother to me then they would not despise me. If you were like a brother to me then I would lead you; I would bring to the house of my mother who taught me and I would make you drink from the wine of spice, from the juice of my pomegranate” | |
492 | 8:1 | ftwb | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | גַּ֖ם | 1 | Here, the word **Yes** is used to strongly affirm what follows it in this sentence. Use a natural form in your language for expressing a strong assertion or strong emphasis. | |
493 | 8:2 | c9tl | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | אֲבִֽיאֲךָ֛ אֶל־בֵּ֥ית אִמִּ֖י | 1 | See how you translated the similar phrase **I had brought him to the house of my mother** [3:4](../03/04.md). Alternate translation: “I would take you to the house of my mother” | |
494 | 8:1 | xesp | rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result | לֹא־יָב֥וּזוּ לִֽי | 1 | By saying **they would not despise me** the woman is expressing the result of what would happen if the man she loved were **like a brother** to her and she found him **outside** and kissed him. Use a natural form in your language for expressing reason-result expressions. Alternate translation: “then they would not despise me” | |
495 | 8:2 | qs1q | אֲבִֽיאֲךָ֛ אֶל־בֵּ֥ית אִמִּ֖י תְּלַמְּדֵ֑נִי | 1 | Alternate translation: “I would bring you to the house of my mother who taught me” | ||
496 | 8:2 | kdoj | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | אַשְׁקְךָ֙ מִיַּ֣יִן הָרֶ֔קַח | 1 | The phrase **I would make you drink from the wine of spice** means “I would cause you to drink (by giving you) spiced wine.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “I would cause you to drink spiced wine” or “I would give you spiced wine to drink” | |
497 | 8:2 | snjj | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | מִיַּ֣יִן הָרֶ֔קַח | 1 | See how you translated the similar phrase “spiced wine” in [7:2](../07/02.md). | |
498 | 8:2 | c7vj | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-euphemism | אַשְׁקְךָ֙ מִיַּ֣יִן הָרֶ֔קַח מֵעֲסִ֖יס רִמֹּנִֽי | 1 | The woman is politely and poetically referring to giving herself sexually to the man by speaking of the action of giving herself to the man as if she were making him **drink from the wine of spice** and drink **from the juice of my pomegranate**. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a polite way of referring to this in your language, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “I will give myself to you as if I were making you drink from the wine of spice and making you drink pomegranate juice” or “I will give myself to you as if I were giving you spiced wine to drink and giving you pomegranate juice to enjoy” | |
499 | 8:2 | vskh | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | מֵעֲסִ֖יס רִמֹּנִֽי | 1 | Here, the term the ULT translates as **juice** refers to fresh new wine that is sweet. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “from my fresh pomegranate wine” or “from my sweet pomegranate wine” | |
500 | 8:2 | mx5r | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-extrainfo | מֵעֲסִ֖יס רִמֹּנִֽי | 1 | The phrase **from the juice of my pomegranate** could further describe the **wine of spice** mentioned in the previous line (and be referring to wine that has spices and pomegranate wine mixed with it) or it could refer to a pomegranate wine that is separate from the **wine of spice**. Because it does not make a difference in how this phrase is translated you do not need to decide one way or another in your translation but if it would help your readers you could make a footnote indicating this. | |
501 | 8:3 | vpti | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | שְׂמֹאלוֹ֙ תַּ֣חַת רֹאשִׁ֔י וִֽימִינ֖וֹ תְּחַבְּקֵֽנִי | 1 | This verse is identical to [Song of Songs 2:6](../02/06.md). Translate this verse exactly as you translated [2:6](../02/06.md). | |
502 | 8:4 | z8a4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-oathformula | הִשְׁבַּ֥עְתִּי אֶתְכֶ֖ם בְּנ֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם מַה־תָּעִ֧ירוּ ׀ וּֽמַה־תְּעֹֽרְר֛וּ אֶת־הָאַהֲבָ֖ה עַ֥ד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּֽץ | 1 | Besides excluding the phrase “by the female gazelles or the does of the field”, this verse is nearly identical to [Song of Songs 2:7](../02/07.md). You should translate this verse in a similar way to how you translated [Song of Songs 2:7](../02/07.md), but because this verse does not have the phrase “by the female gazelles or the does of the field” you should not include that phrase in this verse. | |
503 | 8:5 | ljjf | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-extrainfo | מִ֣י זֹ֗את עֹלָה֙ מִן־הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר מִתְרַפֶּ֖קֶת עַל־דּוֹדָ֑הּ | 1 | The author does not say who is speaking about the couple here so you should not indicate who you think is speaking explicitly in the text of your translation. However, if you are using section headers to indicate who is speaking, as the UST does, the speakers here are most likely the “daughters of Jerusalem” who spoke several times earlier in the book and who were addressed in the previous verse. | |
504 | 8:5 | a5w5 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion | מִ֣י זֹ֗את עֹלָה֙ מִן־הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר מִתְרַפֶּ֖קֶת עַל־דּוֹדָ֑הּ | 1 | Here, the phrase **Who is that** is a rhetorical question that is used to create a sense of expectation and interest. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate these words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way as modeled by the UST. | |
505 | 8:5 | wu6i | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | עֹלָה֙ | 1 | The phrase **coming up** is used by the author because the group of people described is traveling **from the wilderness** to Jerusalem. They must travel upward in elevation in order to reach Jerusalem because **the wilderness** is low in the Jordan valley and Jerusalem is built on hills and is therefore high. Use a word or phrase that expresses moving upward in elevation. Alternate translation: “moving upward” or “arising” | |
506 | 8:5 | gd2i | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-go | עֹלָה֙ | 1 | Your language may say “going” rather than **coming** in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: “going up” | |
507 | 8:5-7 | df81 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-extrainfo | תַּ֤חַת הַתַּפּ֨וּחַ֙ עֽוֹרַרְתִּ֔יךָ שָׁ֚מָּה חִבְּלַ֣תְךָ אִמֶּ֔ךָ שָׁ֖מָּה חִבְּלָ֥ה יְלָדַֽתְךָ & שִׂימֵ֨נִי כַֽחוֹתָ֜ם עַל־לִבֶּ֗ךָ כַּֽחוֹתָם֙ עַל־זְרוֹעֶ֔ךָ כִּֽי־עַזָּ֤ה כַמָּ֨וֶת֙ אַהֲבָ֔ה קָשָׁ֥ה כִשְׁא֖וֹל קִנְאָ֑ה רְשָׁפֶ֕יהָ רִשְׁפֵּ֕י אֵ֖שׁ שַׁלְהֶ֥בֶתְ יָֽה & מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֗ים לֹ֤א יֽוּכְלוּ֙ לְכַבּ֣וֹת אֶת־הָֽאַהֲבָ֔ה וּנְהָר֖וֹת לֹ֣א יִשְׁטְפ֑וּהָ אִם־יִתֵּ֨ן אִ֜ישׁ אֶת־כָּל־ה֤וֹן בֵּיתוֹ֙ בָּאַהֲבָ֔ה בּ֖וֹז יָב֥וּזוּ לֽוֹ | 1 | The author does not say who is speaking here so you should not indicate who you think is speaking explicitly in the text of your translation. However, if you are using section headers to indicate who is speaking, as the UST does, you can place a header above this section indicating who the speaker is. Here the speaker could be: (1) the woman. (2) The man. | |
508 | 8:5 | iobz | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown | הַתַּפּ֨וּחַ֙ | 1 | See how you translated the phrase **apple tree** in [2:3](../02/03.md). | |
509 | 8:5 | cf0x | חִבְּלַ֣תְךָ | 1 | The phrase the ULT translates as **was in labor with you** could: (1) refer to the process of a mother being in labor and be translated as the ULT models. (2) refer to the act of conception. Alternate translation: “conceived you” | ||
510 | 8:6 | jr5m | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | Set me as a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm | 0 | This could mean: (1) because seals were very important, people always kept them around their neck or on their hand. The woman wants to be with the man constantly like a seal, or (2) a seal shows who owns the thing that has the seal on it, and the woman wants herself as the seal on the man’s heart and arm to show that all of his thoughts, emotions, and actions belong to her. (See also: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile]]) | |
511 | 8:6 | yzj4 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | for love is as strong as death | 0 | Death is very strong because it overcomes even the most powerful people of the world. | |
512 | 8:6 | tci8 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | as unrelenting as Sheol | 0 | “as tough as Sheol.” Sheol never allows people to come back to life after they have already died. Love is as persistent as Sheol because it never changes. | |
513 | 8:6 | fvz9 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | its flames burst out … any other fire | 0 | Love is very powerful like fire. | |
514 | 8:6 | tw71 | burst out | 0 | Alternate translation: “burn suddenly” | ||
515 | 8:7 | baf6 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | Surging waters cannot quench love | 0 | Love is so strong that it is like a fire that is so hot that it cannot be put out even with an ocean full of water. | |
516 | 8:7 | j6mc | Surging waters | 0 | Alternate translation: “Oceans of water” or “Huge amounts of water” | ||
517 | 8:7 | dd1i | cannot quench | 0 | Alternate translation: “cannot extinguish” or “cannot put out” | ||
518 | 8:7 | e1ej | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | nor can floods sweep it away | 0 | Love never changes and always stays the same so it is like something that not even a powerful flood can move. | |
519 | 8:7 | dju9 | floods | 0 | In Israel, water from the rain flows into deep and narrow valleys. This creates a flood of water so powerful that it can move huge boulders and trees. | ||
520 | 8:7 | kqk9 | sweep it away | 0 | Alternate translation: “carry it away” or “wash it away” | ||
521 | 8:7 | jwh1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical | אִם־יִתֵּ֨ן אִ֜ישׁ אֶת־כָּל־ה֤וֹן בֵּיתוֹ֙ בָּאַהֲבָ֔ה בּ֖וֹז יָב֥וּזוּ לֽוֹ | 1 | The author is using a hypothetical situation to illustrate a truth. Alternate translation: “Even if a man will give all the wealth of his house in exchange for love,\nthey will utterly despise him” or “Suppose a man will give all the wealth of his house in exchange for love, they will utterly despise him” | |
522 | 8:7 | g5ja | gave | 0 | offered to give | ||
523 | 8:7 | l4u3 | all the possessions in his house | 0 | Alternate translation: “everything he owns” | ||
524 | 8:7 | n3pn | for love | 0 | Alternate translation: “in order to get love” or “in order to buy love” | ||
525 | 8:8 | au5a | little sister | 0 | Alternate translation: “young sister” | ||
526 | 8:8 | t852 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion | What can we do … in marriage? | 0 | The speaker uses this question to introduce what he wants to say. Alternate translation: “This is what we will do … in marriage.” | |
527 | 8:9 | mpf5 | 0 | # General Information:\n\nThe young woman’s brothers continue to speak among themselves. | |||
528 | 8:9 | x3j1 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | If she is a wall … If she is a door | 0 | The little sister ([Song of Songs 8:8](./08.md)) has very small breasts that either have not grown or are very small. | |
529 | 8:9 | am5u | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | we will build on her a tower of silver … we will adorn her with boards of cedar | 0 | The brothers decide to decorate the little sister with silver and cedar, symbols of riches, so that she will be more likely to attract a good husband. | |
530 | 8:9 | cnw3 | will adorn her | 0 | Alternate translation: “will decorate her” | ||
531 | 8:10 | n2vy | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | I was a wall | 0 | The phrase **I was a wall** is a metaphor. | |
532 | 8:10 | mc78 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile | my breasts are now like fortress towers | 0 | Fortress towers are tall. | |
533 | 8:10 | rll2 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy | I am in his eyes as one | 0 | Here eyes are a metonym for judgment or value. Alternate translation: “I am in his judgment as one” or “he thinks of me as one” | |
534 | 8:10 | b5uu | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit | brings peace | 0 | You may need to make explicit to whom the woman brings peace. Alternate translation: “brings him peace” | |
535 | 8:10 | hi47 | peace | 0 | Alternate translation: “well-being” | ||
536 | 8:11 | tt74 | 0 | # General Information:\n\nPossible interpretations: (1) The woman contrasts the way she wants to give herself to the man, who will give her his love, to the way Solomon leases out his vineyard to those who will give him money. (2) The man contrasts the woman, whom he will not give to another man, to Solomon’s vineyard, which he gave to other men. | |||
537 | 8:11 | x2c3 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names | Baal Hamon | 0 | This is the name of a town in the northern part of Israel. | |
538 | 8:11 | mz3u | gave the vineyard | 0 | leased, agreed to let other people pay him so they could grow grapes in the vineyard | ||
539 | 8:11 | b1b3 | to those who would maintain it | 0 | Alternate translation: “to people who would take care of it” | ||
540 | 8:11 | h77m | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis | Each one was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit | 0 | It may be helpful to state that this payment was for the fruit of the vineyard. Alternate translation: “Each man was supposed to give Solomon a thousand shekels as payment for the fruit of the vineyard” | |
541 | 8:11 | t2dp | rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-bmoney | to bring a thousand shekels of silver | 0 | “to bring 1,000 shekels of silver.” (See also: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]]) | |
542 | 8:11 | e3jp | shekels | 0 | Alternate translation: “coins” | ||
543 | 8:11 | mm2j | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-apostrophe | Solomon | 0 | Some versions understand the woman to be speaking directly to Solomon. Others understand her to be speaking in an apostrophe to her friends, to the man, or to herself. | |
544 | 8:12 | za66 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | My vineyard, my very own | 0 | The woman refers to herself as a vineyard, as in [Song of Songs 1:6](../01/05.md). Here she emphasizes that she and no one else will decide what she does with the “vineyard.” | |
545 | 8:12 | gc75 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom | is before me | 0 | This is an idiom that means the a person has the right to do what they want with something. Alternate translation: “is at my disposal” or “is mine to do with as I desire” | |
546 | 8:12 | tl1c | the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon | 0 | The woman knows that Solomon has leased out the vineyard so he can get money, but she does not want money. | ||
547 | 8:12 | t7u1 | the two hundred shekels | 0 | The speaker has not mentioned these before, but the hearer would understand that she is speaking of the money that those who worked the vineyard would have left for their own after they paid Solomon. | ||
548 | 8:13 | dp6s | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-you | You who live | 0 | The man is speaking to the woman, so “you” and “live” are feminine singular. | |
549 | 8:13 | zm5h | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy | listening for your voice | 0 | The voice is a metonym for what the person says. If your language has a word for thinking only of what one is listening for, you could use it here. Alternate translation: “waiting to hear you start speaking” or “waiting to hear what you have to say” | |
550 | 8:13 | ew6z | let me hear it | 0 | Alternate translation: “let me hear your voice.” | ||
551 | 8:14 | vrp7 | my beloved | 0 | This phrase refers to the man whom the woman loves. In some languages it may be more natural for her to refer to him as “my lover.” See how you translated this in [Song of Songs 1:13](./12.md). Alternate translation: “my dear one” or “my lover” | ||
552 | 8:14 | zh44 | like a gazelle or a young stag | 0 | See how you translated this in [Song of Songs 2:9](../02/08.md). | ||
553 | 8:14 | yhn7 | gazelle | 0 | a type of slender deer-like animal with long curved horns | ||
554 | 8:14 | gp9l | stag | 0 | an adult male deer | ||
555 | 8:14 | mqx9 | rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor | the mountains of spices | 0 | “the mountains that have spices all over them.” The woman uses this metaphor to invite the man to make love to her. See how the man uses the metaphor of a mountain of myrrh and a hill of frankincense in [Song of Songs 4:6](../04/06.md). |