SNG 5:14 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:2–6:3: At night the woman searched for the man and praised him

Scholars differ about the meaning of this section and how it relates to the rest of the Song. In 5:2–7 the woman told the Jerusalem women that the man came to her door at night but went away. She told them that now she longed to see him and was searching for him. Then she asked them to give him a message if they saw him (5:8). They asked why she was so attracted to him (5:9), and she replied by describing him (5:10–16). Then they asked her where he went (6:1), and she told them that he went down to his garden (6:2–3).

The section contains several interpretation issues:

In 5:2–7 did the woman describe a dream or a real event, or is 5:2–7 a poetic way to describe her feelings and thoughts about the man? The woman described one type of event (probably dreamed or imagined) as she and the man related to each other. The author did not always tell about events in order, and he repeated certain themes to examine them from different points of view. The Song is not a simple story but a poem, and it uses various ways to describe the romantic love.
Section 3:6–5:1 told about the wedding of the man and woman. Does Section 5:2–6:3 tell about a time after they married? Although 3:6–5:1 told about the wedding of the man and woman, 5:2–6:3 may not refer to a time after the wedding. It may describe something they experienced more than once. In other sections also, the man and woman were apart at the beginning but together at the end (as in 1:2–2:7). If 5:2–6:3 refers to a time before their wedding,Some scholars view the whole book, Song of Songs, as a large chiasm. (For example, Dorsey suggests abcdcʹbʹaʹ, (1999, p.200.)) So, the section, 3:6–5:1 is the central and climactic part of the chiasm, and what comes before and after are related to the center, not chronologically but thematically. So, the material both before and after, may be pointing to the grand central climax, the wedding. What follows the wedding, 5:2–8:14, may actually repeat much of the material in 1:2–3:5. Again, this is more of a cyclical rather than chronological way of understanding the book. it describes the woman’s hopes and fears as she imagined her future with the man (as in 3:1–4). The dream might indicate that she feared that he had stopped loving her, but at the end of 6:2–3, she realized that he continued to love her faithfully.Some scholars believe that this section follows chronologically after the wedding. Some of these scholars interpret it as describing a time of conflict for the newly married couple. But the theme of marital conflict does not seem to fit the overall message or tone of the Song.
How should a translator interpret the figures of speech in this section? Some scholars interpret these figures as euphemisms for sexual organs and sexual activity. However, such interpretations may cause a translator to refer more explicitly to sexual matters than is normal or justified in the Song. (For more information, see “Standards for respectful speech and actions in the Song” in POEM 4:1–7.)

Paragraph 5:9–16 The woman described her beloved

In 5:9 the Jerusalem women asked the woman in what ways the man was so much better than other men. In 5:10–16 the woman answered with a poetic description of her beloved that uses many metaphors and hyperbole. Some verses describe the man as though he were a statue.

These verses are similar to 4:1–7 in which the man described the woman’s body. Here in 5:9–16 she described his body. It was rare in ancient Israel for a woman to describe a man’s body in detail like this. In 4:1–7 where the man described the woman, he spoke directly to her. However, in this section where the woman described him, she did not speak directly to him. She spoke to the women of Jerusalem about him.

The description in 5:9–16 has the similar phrases My beloved (5:10) and This is my beloved (5:16) near its beginning and end, forming an inclusio. It also mentions his golden head (5:11) near the beginning and his legs on bases of gold (5:15) near the end. The woman began by describing his head, then the rest of his body, and ended by mentioning his head again. In the description (5:11–16), four of the six verses describe parts of the man’s head (5:11–13, 16), which shows that the woman focused especially on his head. Her description of him may seem strange to modern readers, but she intended her description to show that he was completely desirable.

5:14–15

In 5:14–15 the author compared the man to a statue, and he used poetic figures of speech. He did not intend for readers to interpret the figures of speech literally.

5:14a

His arms are rods of gold

His arms are like golden rods,
His arms are strong like bronze cylinders/bars

His arms are rods of gold: This clause is a metaphor that compares the man’s arms to rods of gold. The word rods implies that the man’s arms were well-shaped and powerful. The word gold implies that his arms were precious like gold. It may also imply that the color of his skin was beautiful like gold.

Some other ways to translate the metaphor are:

Use a simile. For example:
His arms are like rounded bars of gold (NLT)
Use a simile and make the meaning more explicit. For example:
His arms are as precious/beautiful as golden bars/poles.

Translate the metaphor in a natural and appealing way in your language.

arms: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as arms can refer to either a person’s hand (from the wrist to the fingertips) or to his arm (from the shoulder to the fingertips).NIDOTTE, Volume 2, page 402, indicates that this word “covers the semantic range of ‘hand’ and ‘arm.’ (Manfred Dreytza). Scholars differ about whether it refers to the man’s arms or to his hands in this context.

It refers to his arms. For example:
His arms are rods of gold… (NIV) (BSB, CEV, ESV, NET, NIV, NLT, REB, RSV)
It refers to his hands.There are several commentators who think that “hand” is a sexual euphemism for the man’s genitals. However, it is better for translators to translate the image as it is without translating sexual meanings that are probably not implied here. For example:
His hands are golden, rounded… (NJB) (GW, NASB, NCV, NJB, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The meaning arms fits the description of being like rounded gold. It is also more parallel to “legs” in the next verse (5:15), since both arms and legs are larger limbs of the body.

5:14b

set with beryl.

decorated with precious/expensive stones/jewels.
that are beautifully decorated.

set with beryl: The phrase set with beryl indicates here that jewels, such as beryl, were embedded in the gold. Some other ways to translate this phrase is:

covered with jewels (CEV)

with inlaid jewels

adorned/decorated with jewels

beryl: The exact meaning of the Hebrew word that the BSB translates as beryl is uncertain. Some English versions use a general term, such as jewels (RSV). Other versions use a specific type of jewel, such as chrysolite, beryl (BSB), or topaz. In this verse the author did not focus on a specific jewel but on the beauty and value that the jewels added to the gold and to the man’s glory. It is fine to use a general term here.

5:14c

His body is an ivory panel

His abdomen is like polished ivory, (NET)
His torso/chest is as beautiful/precious as carved ivory

His body is an ivory panel: In this phrase the author continued to compare the man’s body to a statue. People sometimes used ivory to carve statues. Ivory comes from the tusks (teeth) of elephants, and it is valuable and beautiful. The phrase His body is an ivory panel indicates that the man’s body was as beautiful as ivory.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

His body is like polished ivory (NIV)

His body is beautiful/precious like the tusk/teeth of elephants

His body: Some commentators think that “stomach” actually refers to the loins in the area of the man’s genitals. This interpretation is speculative and should not be followed. The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as His body has several meanings. In this context it probably refers to the outside of the man’s body, especially the stomach or abdominal area, possibly up to the chest. Some other ways to translate it are:

His abdomen (NET)

His torso/belly

an ivory panel: The phrase ivory panel indicates that people work on the ivory in some way to make it more beautiful. They may polish it or carve it. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

polished/shining ivory

carved/decorated ivory

5:14d

bedecked with sapphires.

inlaid with lapis lazuli.
inlaid with expensive blue jewels.

bedecked with sapphires: The phrase bedecked with sapphires indicates that the ivory in 5:14c was decorated with the blue jewels called sapphires. It probably implies that the sapphires were embedded in the ivory. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

decorated with sapphires (CEV)

covered with sapphires (GW)

adorned with beautiful/precious stones

glowing with lapis lazuli (NLT)

sapphires: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as sapphires refers to a blue gem stone, probably “lapis lazuli,” as in the NLT. If lapis lazuli is not known in your area, some other ways to translate it are:

Use a different precious stone that is blue or bluish. For example:
sapphires (RSV)
Use a general term for jewels. For example:
blue jewels
precious stones

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יָדָי⁠ו֙ גְּלִילֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב מְמֻלָּאִ֖ים בַּ⁠תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ

hands_of,his rods_of gold set with,chrysolite

Here the woman is speaking of the man’s arms as if they were rods of gold mounted with topaz because rods of gold were powerful, had an attractive color and a finely rounded shape; and topaz would have made the rods of gold more beautiful. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [His arms are powerful, nicely rounded, and beautiful like rods of gold mounted with topaz]

יָדָי⁠ו֙

hands_of,his

The word that the ULT translates as arms could: (1) refer to arms in which case you can use the ULT’s translation. (2) refer to “hands.” Alternate translation: [His hands are]

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

בַּ⁠תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ

with,chrysolite

A topaz is a beautiful gemstone used in jewelry and also to decorate other things. Bible scholars are not certain exactly what stone topaz refers to. Many different stones have been proposed such as topaz, chrysolite, beryl and others. If your readers are familiar with these types of stone, you could use one of them, or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [with beautiful stones] or [with jewels]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מֵעָי⁠ו֙ עֶ֣שֶׁת שֵׁ֔ן מְעֻלֶּ֖פֶת סַפִּירִֽים

parts_of,his_lower polished_of ivory encrusted sapphires

Here the woman is speaking of the man’s belly as if it was a plate of ivory covered with sapphires. By making this comparison, she is saying that the man’s belly looks especially attractive since ivory and sapphires were not only rare and costly but also quite beautiful. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [his belly is beautiful and precious] or [his belly is handsome]

מֵעָי⁠ו֙

parts_of,his_lower

Alternate translation: [his stomach is]

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

שֵׁ֔ן

ivory

The word ivory refers to the tusks of 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.

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

סַפִּירִֽים

sapphires

The word sapphires refers to beautiful blue gemstones. 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 gemstones] or [with beautiful blue gemstones]

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 5:14

Hebrew word order