SNG 1:6 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:2–2:7: The woman and man admired each other

In Section 1:2–2:7, the woman and man praised each other, and they became more confident that they loved each other. In the introduction (1:2–4) the woman spoke about her desire for the man. Then she spoke of her humble life working in the family vineyard (1:5–6), and she seemed to question whether she was worthy for him to love her. Then he praised her, and she praised him. When she spoke at the end of the section (2:3–6), she felt secure that he loved her.

In this section, the woman used several comparisons to speak of her feelings about the man. She spoke as though he were a shepherd (1:7–8) or a king (1:4; 1:12), implying that he was like a shepherd or king to her in certain ways. He was also like a bag of myrrh (1:13), henna blossoms (1:14), and an apple tree (2:3–4) to her. The woman compared herself to “a rose of Sharon,” and “a lily of the valleys” (2:1). The man compared her to “a mare of Pharaoh’s chariots” (1:9). The Notes will discuss the meaning of each of these comparisons as it occurs in its section.

Lines 1:2–4 are the introduction to Section 1:2–2:7. In these lines, the poet summarizes the Song’s message and introduces its main characters: the woman, the man, and a group of young women. In the Song the woman spoke more often than the man spoke. After the title (1:1), she began the Song by saying that she wanted him to kiss her. She referred to him only as “him” or “you.” In Hebrew poetry, the authors do not introduce their characters as they do in stories, but in some languages it may be more natural to introduce them and identify them. Some ways to do this are:

Provide headings to identify the characters. Some headings may apply only to a verse or part of a verse. For example:
1:4e The Woman commented about the young women of Jerusalem You may need to use a different form the first time a character is introduced. For example:
1:2–4b A woman speaks to the man she loves
Use a speech introducer in the first part of the verse. If you use this option, you may want to indicate in some way that the speech introducer is not in the text itself. For example:
1:4e (The woman said to her beloved,) “Rightly do they love you.”
1:2a [There were a certain woman and man. She said to/about him,] “Let him kiss me…

Choose an option that fits your situation, and use it consistently throughout the book. You should also decide how you will refer to the speakers in the headings. Some ways to do that are:

woman, man, women (GNT)

beloved, lover, friends (NIV)

bride, groom, companions (REB)

she, he, others (ESV)

The woman often referred to the man as “my beloved” (RSV), and she also called him “the one whom my soul loves,” “the king,” and “my friend.” The man often referred to her as “my love” and also as “fairest among women,” “my dove,” “my sister,” “my bride,” and “queenly maiden.”

Paragraph 1:5–6 The woman spoke about herself to the young women of Jerusalem

In these two verses, the woman spoke to the women of Jerusalem. They were the same women who spoke in 1:3–4. She asked the women not to disapprove of her because her skin was darkened by the sun. Then she explained that her brothers became angry with her and made her work in the vineyards.

1:6a

Do not stare

Do^(plur) not gaze at me
Do^(plur) not look at me with disgust

1:6a-b

Do not stare because I am dark: In this verse the woman continued to speak to the young women of Jerusalem. Scholars have different views about the way she interpreted their attitude toward her here:

She thought that they stared at her because they disapproved of her.
She thought that they stared at her because they admired her and were amazed that she was so beautiful.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) for these reasons:

It seems likely that they did not approve of her because in 1:6d–e she explained to them why her skin was dark.
The Hebrew text of 1:6 uses a “play on words” that has three parts:
The women gazed at her (1:6a)
the sun gazed-at/burned her skin (1:6c)
her brothers burned with anger (1:6d) In 1:6c and 1:6d there is obviously a harsh sense, so it is likely that 1:6a also implies a harsh sense.

It is helpful to translate in a way that implies that the brothers had a harsh attitude toward their sister. Some English versions use an idiom. For example:

Don’t look down on me…. (GNT)

1:6b

because I am dark,

because I am swarthy
because you^(plur) think my darkened/tanned skin makes me ugly.

because: There are two ways to interpret the Hebrew connectorMost versions interpret the Hebrew relative pronoun in this context with a causal meaning, “because I am dark.” A few versions and commentaries interpret it as a relative pronoun, “who am dark.” that the BSB translates as for in this verse:

It introduces the reason that the people might stare at the woman. For example:
Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. (NIV) (BSB, CEV, GW, NASB, NET, NIV, NJPS, NLT, RSV, GNT)
It introduces a clause that describes the woman: “Do not stare at me who (I) am dark.” The literal wording is not natural in English, so English versions translate the connection in a different way. For example:
Don’t look at how dark I am, at how dark the sun has made me. (NCV) (NCV, NJB, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is followed by the majority of English versions.

1:6c

for the sun has gazed upon me.

from being burned by the sun.
It was the sun that burned my skin.

for the sun has gazed upon me: This clause tells what caused the woman’s dark skin. The sun burned the woman and made her skin dark. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

for the sun has burned my skin. (NET)

because I was scorched by the sun. (REB)

In some languages there may be a figure of speech to translate this meaning, as in the BSB.

It is important to translate in a way that implies harshness, like “scorched,” as in the RSV, or “burned.” A more neutral expression like “tanned” does not imply the right meaning in many cultures.

General Comment on 1:6a–c

In 1:6a–c there are two clauses that begin with a purpose word:

Do not stare at me because I am dark,

do not stare at me for the sun has gazed upon me.

In some languages it may be difficult to translate two purpose clauses in the same sentence like this. If that is true in your language, you may be able to combine the clauses. (Notice the implied information before the second purpose clause.) For example:

Don’t stare at me just because the sun has darkened my skin. (CEV)

1:6d

My mother’s sons were angry with me;

My older brothers were angry with me,
The sons of my mother were upset with me,

My mother’s sons were angry with me: In 1:6d-e the woman explained that she was exposed to the sun, not by her own choice, but because her brothers were angry with her. In some languages it may be helpful to make this connection explicit. For example:

That happened because my brothers became angry with me

My mother’s sons: This phrase refers to the woman’s brothers who were sons of her mother. They may have a different father or the same father. Use the appropriate term in your language for this relationship. Some English versions use the more general term “brothers.”

In some languages it is necessary to specify whether the brothers were older or younger than the woman. Probably at least some of her brothers were older because in 8:8a her brothers said that they “have a little sister.”

were angry with me: The reason for the brothers’ anger with the woman is not stated in the text, and the context also does not indicate the reason.

1:6e

they made me a keeper of the vineyards,

so they made me take care of the family vineyards.
they forced me to take care of the vineyards,
and they sent me out to guard the family vineyards

they made me a keeper of the vineyards: The word they refers to the woman’s brothers. Their decision to make her keeper of the vineyards was a result of their being angry with her (1:6d). In some languages it may be helpful to make this connection explicit. For example:

so they made me

The context implies that they forced her rather than just appointed her to care for the vineyard. It was because of their decision that she was often in the sun. She had no choice. Here is another way to translate this:

they forced me to care for their vineyards… (NLT)

keeper of the vineyards: The phrase keeper of the vineyards indicates that the woman took care of the family vineyards. Her responsibilities probably included protecting the vineyards, cultivating them, and pruning the vines. To do that work, she had to spend many hours in the hot sun. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

to watch over the vineyards

work in the vineyard (CEV)

vineyards: The word, vineyards, refers to farms where people plant and cultivate grapes. Grapes can be eaten as fruit or used to make wine.

Some ways to translate vineyards are:

grape farm

fields of grape plants

1:6f

but my own vineyard I have neglected.

Then I was not able to care for my own vineyard!
but I was not able to take care of myself, my own vineyard.
so I had to neglect my appearance.

but: The statements in 1:6e and 1:6f contrast with each other. The Hebrew text does not have a conjunction. It indicates the contrast within the statements themselves. Most English versions also emphasize the contrast within the statements, often by adding the word “own.” Some versions also add a conjunction.The UBS Handbook points out that the contrast here is also indicated by a chiastic structure between the two clauses. For example:

but my own vineyard I have not kept! (ESV)

so I haven’t tended my own vineyard! (NCV)

Show the contrast in a natural way in your own language.

my own vineyard I have neglected: This clause indicates that the woman did not take care of her own vineyard. The word vineyard is often used as a metaphor in the Song. In this verse also, it is a metaphor. It refers to the woman’s appearance, not to a real vineyard.Some scholars believe that in this context the phrase “my own vineyard” refers here to the woman’s sexuality. They suggest that the woman had not been able to guard her own sexuality and so was no longer a virgin. This view raises serious moral problems regarding what was considered proper sexual behavior in ancient Israel. It also does not seem appropriate in the context of the biblical canon. Here in the Song, this interpretation does not seem to be consistent with the woman’s virtuous character. She was forced to work long hours outside in the hot sun. As a result, her skin was burned and very dark.

In some languages this metaphor may be confusing, or it may communicate a wrong meaning. If that is true in your language, there are two other possibilities for translation:

Keep the metaphor and indicate its meaning. For example:
so I couldn’t care for myself—my own vineyard (NLT)
Translate only the meaning of the metaphor. For example:
I had no time to care for myself. (GNT)
and so I neglected my complexion. (CEV)

Use an appropriate option for your language in this context.

uW Translation Notes:

אַל־תִּרְא֨וּ⁠נִי֙ שֶׁ⁠אֲנִ֣י שְׁחַרְחֹ֔רֶת

not look,at_me who,I dark

The phrase Do not look at me could mean: (1) the woman does not want people to look at her with contempt. Alternate translation: [Do not look at me with contempt, that I am black] or [Do not look at me disapprovingly, that I am black] (2) the woman does not want people to stare at her in admiration of her beauty. Alternate translation: [Do not stare at my beauty, that I am black]

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

שֶׁ⁠אֲנִ֣י

who,I

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]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

שֶׁ⁠אֲנִ֣י שְׁחַרְחֹ֔רֶת

who,I dark

Solomon assumes that his readers will understand that 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 include this information. Alternate translation: [that my skin is black] or [that my skin is very dark]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

שֶׁ⁠שֱּׁזָפַ֖תְ⁠נִי הַ⁠שָּׁ֑מֶשׁ

whom,it,has_looked_on_me the,sun

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

שֶׁ⁠שֱּׁזָפַ֖תְ⁠נִי הַ⁠שָּׁ֑מֶשׁ

whom,it,has_looked_on_me the,sun

The author assumes that his readers will understand that the sun scorched me means “the sun made my skin color turn very dark.” You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [that the sun darkened my skin]

נֹטֵרָ֣ה אֶת־הַ⁠כְּרָמִ֔ים כַּרְמִ֥⁠י שֶׁ⁠לִּ֖⁠י לֹ֥א נָטָֽרְתִּי

keeper DOM the,vineyards vineyard_of,my_own which_[belongs],to,me not kept

Alternate translation: [as caretaker of the vineyards— I have not taken care of my own vineyard]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

כַּרְמִ֥⁠י שֶׁ⁠לִּ֖⁠י לֹ֥א נָטָֽרְתִּי

vineyard_of,my_own which_[belongs],to,me not kept

The woman is probably using the phrase my vineyard to refer to her skin. 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 [I have not protected my complexion from the sun]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear SNG 1:6

Hebrew word order