SNG 2:3 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 2:1–7 The man and woman praised each other

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

2:3a–b

Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men: Here the woman implied that the apple tree is the best type of tree in the wood. Then she implied that her beloved is the best man among all the other young men. Some other ways to translate this verse are:

Compared to other young men, my beloved is like a fruitful apple tree in a forest of trees without fruit.

Like an apple tree among the other trees, my love is more delightful than all the other young men.

It is good to translate this verse in a similar way as you translated 2:2.

2:3a

Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest

Like an apple tree among the other trees of the forest,
As a tree with delicious fruit is more desirable than unfruitful trees in the woods,
You^(sing) are like a fruitful tree among other trees with no fruit,

apple tree: Scholars are not sure exactly what type of tree the Hebrew text refers to here. It is not certain that the tree was the same tree that people call apple tree in English.Some scholars argue that the apple tree was unknown in ancient Israel and that the meaning of the Hebrew word that the BSB translates as “apple tree” is uncertain. Some other suggestions include “apricot” or “quince.” However, other scholars point out that the apple tree was known in Mesopotamia and could easily have been known in Israel. The important facts for a translator to consider are that the tree had edible fruit and a pleasant scent.

If the apple tree is unknown in your language, some other ways to translate it are:

Use a general term to describe a tree that bears fruit that is good to eat. For example:
fruit tree
Use a word for another edible fruit tree with a pleasant smell. For example:
apricot tree
mango tree

The apple tree was a symbol for romantic love. If people in your culture do not think of an apple tree or any other fruit tree as a symbol for love, you may include a footnote with this information. For example:

In the Hebrew culture, this kind of tree was a symbol for romantic love.

among the trees of the forest: The apple tree is located among the other trees in a forest. It is near them but it is different from them. It is delicious and fragrant compared to the other forest trees.

trees of the forest: The phrase trees of the forest refers to the other common trees of the forest that do not produce fruit. The word forest does not refer to a tree farm or orchard. The trees in this verse were uncultivated trees.

2:3b

is my beloved among the young men.

so too is my beloved among the other young men.
my love is more desirable than other young men.
my beloved. None of the other men are like you^(sing).

is my beloved among the young men: The woman’s words here are parallel to what she said in 2:2b. There she compared the apple tree with forest trees. Here she compared the man to other men in a similar way. Just as the apple tree was better than the other trees, so her beloved was better than other young men. He was the most desirable among all of them. It is good to translate this statement in a similar way as you translated 2:2b.

General Comment on 2:3a–b

In some languages it may be necessary to change the order of the clauses. For example:

^3bAmong the young men, my lover is ^3alike an apple tree in the woods! (NCV)

2:3c

I delight to sit in his shade,

With great delight I sat in his shadow, (RSV)
Sitting in his shade is delightful,
Being with you^(sing) refreshes me like sitting in the shade,

I delight to sit in his shade: The statement I delight to sit in his shade is a figure of speech. It indicates that the man refreshed the woman, as if she were sitting in the shade of an apple tree (see 2:3a).There is a subtle transition from apple tree to the man. As Roland Murphy says, “The metaphors of “shadow” and “fruit” melt into the reality of their relationship, symbolizing the delights of love.” Part of this “melting” is due to the ambiguity in Hebrew where the masculine person marker might refer to either the man or the tree. Most English versions take the pronoun to refer to the man and therefore translate it “his shadow” and “his fruit.” In the climate of Israel, people need shade so that they can have relief from the hot sun. When the woman was with the man, he refreshed her, just as sitting in the shade of an apple tree refreshes people and pleases them with its coolness.

Some other ways to translate this are:

I sit in his delightful shade (NLT)

I love/want to sit resting in his shade

The word sit can also have the general meaning “to be in the presence of.” Another way to translate the meaning is:

Your shade brought me pleasure (CEV)

Sitting near him is a delight to me.

Use an option that is natural in your language.

in his shade: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as in his shade can refer to the man’s shadow or to the shade of the tree. This sort of ambiguity is common in the Song, and the author probably had a poetic purpose for it.This kind of ambiguity also occurred in 1:13 where it seemed unclear grammatically whether the woman was referring to the bag of myrrh or the man. This was also true in 1:14 with the man and the henna blossoms.

In some languages it is confusing or impossible to translate the ambiguity. If that is true in your language, you can indicate that the man is the focus of the comparison, not the tree. Most English versions follow this option.

shade: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as shade refers here to the cool shade under a tree. It also has figurative meanings. It is a metaphor for “protection,” and it can also mean “refreshment.” Here the meaning “refreshment” is probably in focus.

In some languages a word like shade implies a wrong meaning. It is important to use a natural way in your language to speak about the coolness and refreshment that trees provide.

2:3d

and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

and his fruit is sweet in my mouth.
and his fruit tastes sweet.
and you^(sing) are desirable to me like sweet fruit.

and his fruit is sweet to my taste: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as his fruit is ambiguous in this context. There are two ways to interpret it here:

It means his fruit (it refers to something sweet or desirable about the man himself). For example:
His fruit tastes sweet to me. (GW) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GW, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT, REB, RSV)
It means “its fruit” (it refers to the tree’s fruit). For example:
…and its fruit is sweet to my taste. (GNT) (GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with almost all English versions. It is the man who is in focus, not the tree.

his fruit: The phrase his fruit is a metaphor. It refers to something about the man that is “delicious” or “refreshing” like fruit. It does not refer to edible fruit that belongs to the man. In this context his fruit may imply the man’s kisses. But it probably refers more generally to various ways that he showed his love for the woman.

In some languages the metaphor may not be understood. If that is true in your language, some other ways to translate it are:

Use a simile. For example:
He is like sweet/delicious fruit to me.
Use a simile and indicate the meaning in some way. For example:
He is desirable/wonderful to me like sweet fruit.
Like sweet fruit, he delights me.

is: Here the Hebrew text does not have a verb like is. The woman referred to her present feelings about the man, and that agrees with her statement in 2:3c. Use a natural way in your language to describe present or ongoing feelings.

sweet to my taste: The phrase sweet to my taste describes something that is pleasant to a person when he tastes it. In this context it is used as a metaphor. It means that the man’s characteristics pleased the woman. Be sure that your translation of the phrase does not only refer to tasting sweet but can refer in general to the pleasure that the man gives the woman. For example:

pleases me very much.

fills me with delight.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

כְּ⁠תַפּ֨וּחַ֙ בַּ⁠עֲצֵ֣י הַ⁠יַּ֔עַר כֵּ֥ן דּוֹדִ֖⁠י בֵּ֣ין הַ⁠בָּנִ֑ים

like,an_apple_tree among,the_trees_of of,the_forest yes/correct/thus/so lover_of,my between the,sons

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 state that explicitly. Alternate translation: [As apple trees are more pleasant than other trees, so you, my beloved, are more pleasant than other men] or [As apple trees are more delightful than other trees, so you, my beloved, are more delightful than other men]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

כְּ⁠תַפּ֨וּחַ֙ בַּ⁠עֲצֵ֣י הַ⁠יַּ֔עַר כֵּ֥ן דּוֹדִ֖⁠י בֵּ֣ין הַ⁠בָּנִ֑ים

like,an_apple_tree among,the_trees_of of,the_forest yes/correct/thus/so lover_of,my between the,sons

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]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

כְּ⁠תַפּ֨וּחַ֙

like,an_apple_tree

An apple tree is a tree that produces apples, a round, pleasant-tasting fruit. Bible scholars are not certain that the word the ULT translates as apple refers to what we now call an apple. It could refer to an apricot or another type of fruit. If your readers would not be familiar with these types of trees, you could use the name of something similar in your area, or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [Like a tree that produces pleasant tasting fruit] or [Like an apricot tree]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

בַּ⁠עֲצֵ֣י הַ⁠יַּ֔עַר

among,the_trees_of of,the_forest

The writer assumes that the reader will understand that the trees of the forest refers to the other trees of the forest, those which were considered common when compared to the beautiful, fruit-bearing apple tree. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could include this information. Alternate translation: [among the other trees of the forest] or [compared to the common trees of the forest]

דּוֹדִ֖⁠י

lover_of,my

See how you translated the phrase my beloved in [1:13](../01/13.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

בֵּ֣ין הַ⁠בָּנִ֑ים

between the,sons

Here the writer assumes that the reader will know that the sons refers to the other young men. In the previous verse the man compared the woman to the other “daughters”. Here the woman compares the man she loves to the other young men, whom she calls sons. You could include this information if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [among the other young men] or [when compared to all the other men]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בְּ⁠צִלּ⁠וֹ֙ חִמַּ֣דְתִּי וְ⁠יָשַׁ֔בְתִּי וּ⁠פִרְי֖⁠וֹ מָת֥וֹק לְ⁠חִכִּֽ⁠י

in,shade_of,his delight and,I_sat and,fruit_of,his sweet to,palate_of,my

Here the woman continues speaking of the man as if he were an apple tree. The word shadow refers to the shade of the apple tree which gives protection from the sun. I sat represents being near or in the presence of the man. Here the woman speaks of her pleasurable feelings as if they were his fruit which is sweet to my palate. If it is possible in your language, you should try to retain the images used here or substitute a comparable image. However, if it would be helpful in your language, you could 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. Like sweet fruit, he is delightful to me]

בְּ⁠צִלּ⁠וֹ֙ חִמַּ֣דְתִּי וְ⁠יָשַׁ֔בְתִּי

in,shade_of,his delight and,I_sat

Alternate translation: [In his shade I took delight, and I sat]

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 2:3

Hebrew word order