SNG 7:13 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:4–8:4: The man praised the woman and sang about springtime

In this section the man described the woman in two separate speeches (6:4–10 and 7:1–10). Some verses are difficult to understand, especially 6:11–13, and it is important to think about them carefully. The woman responded to the man in 7:11 and continued to speak to the end of the section at 8:4.

The verse numbering in the Hebrew text is different from the BSB and a majority of English versions. The Hebrew text begins chapter 7 where the BSB begins 6:13, so in chapter 7 the verses in the Hebrew text are one number higher than the verse numbers in the BSB. For example, 6:13–7:13 in the BSB is 7:1–14 in the Hebrew text (and also in the NJB and NJPS). It is helpful to be aware that some commentaries follow the Hebrew verse numbering. The Notes will follow the verse numbers in the BSB (along with the majority of English versions).

Paragraph 7:11–13 The woman invited the man to go with her to the fields and vineyards

In these verses the woman responded to the man’s praise (in 7:1–9a) by inviting him to go out into the fields and vineyards with her to enjoy the springtime. As trees and flowers were blooming, their love for each other was also growing. Here she invited him to go there, as he also invited her in 2:10–13.It is also interesting to notice that 8:2a–b is similar to 3:4e–f.

In 7:11–13, all the events are probably not arranged in the order that they happened (as is common in poetry). It is also possible that these verses describe the woman’s desires and feelings or a dream that she had before her wedding (3:6–5:1),Old Testament scholar, David Dorsey, takes a non-chronological approach to the Song. In his book, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament (1999) he proposes a thorough-going symmetrical chiastic structure for the book. (Also see his article, “Literary Structuring in the Song of Songs” in Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 46 (1990) 81–96.) The structure he proposes is a-b-c-d-cʹ-bʹ-aʹ where the central unit “d” describes the wedding day, the climactic portion of the Song. Some scholars differ on the details of his proposed chiastic structure while agreeing in principle with the chiastic approach, while other scholars question whether such a book-level chiastic structure is actually present. But in spite of the disagreements, viewing the book chiastically or cyclically does help to resolve some problems that chronological/narrative approaches tend to overlook. When we look at some of the material in the second half of the Song, much of it appears to be from a pre-wedding perspective (a wedding seems to be described in 3:6–5:1). A symmetrical chiastic or cyclical approach may provide us with a better vantage point for addressing such challenging issues. In the case of this unit, the similarities with 2:10–13 seems fairly clear. So it seems possible, if not likely, that this unit could also be viewed as part of a courtship poem. rather than an event that happened in her life. The exact meaning of 7:11–13 is difficult to determine, but the verses do seem to look forward to the future.

7:13a

The mandrakes send forth a fragrance,

The mandrake flowers give their sweet smell, (NCV)
The “love fruit” plants smell sweet now,

The mandrakes send forth a fragrance: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as mandrakes refers to a certain kind of plant that has sweet-smelling flowers. The phrase The mandrakes send forth a fragrance indicates that the scent of the mandrake plants was in the air.

In that culture people believed that eating the fruit of the mandrake plant (or sometimes even smelling it) aroused sexual desire. They also believed that the fruit helped men and women to produce children. Mandrake flowers and fruit were often used as romantic symbols.In Hebrew, the word mandrake (duddaʾim) sounds similar to the word for “my beloved” (dodiy). In Genesis 30:14–16 Rachel asked Leah to give her mandrakes to help her conceive a child. After that, Rachel did conceive and give birth to Joseph.

In some languages the mandrake plant is not known, or people do not know about its connection with love. If that is true in your language, you may need to indicate the plant’s function in some way. Some ways to do that are:

Use a descriptive term for the plants. For example:
the love plants
Include a footnote to explain the function of the plants. For example, the CEV has this footnote:
The Hebrew text has “mandrake,” a plant that was thought to give sexual powers. (CEV)

send forth a fragrance: The phrase send forth a fragrance implies that in the springtime; the mandrake plants produce flowers and fruits that smell sweet. Springtime was considered a special time for romantic love. Some other ways to translate 7:13a are:

You can smell the scent of mandrakes (GNT)

The mandrake flowers give their sweet smell (NCV)

The love fruits send out their perfume

7:13b

and at our door is every delicacy, new as well as old,

and all the best/exquisite fruits are near our entrance.
and nearby are all the other delights

and at our door is every delicacy, new as well as old: This part of the verse is a metaphor. The phrase every delicacy, new as well as old refers to all the joys and pleasures that the man and woman have as they show their love to each other. The word that the BSB translates as at can also mean “near,” or “beside.” Some other ways to translate the metaphor are:

Use metaphors. For example:
and the finest fruits are at our door, new delights as well as old (NLT)
Use similes. For example:
The pleasures of our love are like all kinds of delicious fruit, new and old, growing right at our doorway.
Translate the meaning without figures of speech. For example:
As we love each other, we enjoy every delight.

at our door: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as at our door is more literally “at/near our openings.” This phrase is part of the metaphor. It refers to whatever places the couple will meet to share their romantic love. In this context the place is the countryside itself, which is filled with the delights of springtime. This metaphor implies that a house in the countryside is similar to their house in the forest (1:16–17).

In some languages it is more natural to use a more general expression than door. For example:

all around us

near our place

at our openings/doors

every delicacy, new as well as old: The phrase every delicacy, new as well as old includes all the best kinds of fruit, those that ripen early in the season as well as those that ripen later. The phrase probably includes other delights, as well as fruits. Some other ways to translate the meaning are:

all choice fruits, new as well as old (RSV)

new delights as well as old (NLT)

every delicacy: The phrase every delicacy refers to the very best quality and most delicious food. The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as delicacy has a general sense that describes any choice thing. Literally, it probably refers specifically to the delicacy of fruits. However, it is also a metaphor that refers to the delights of love that the man and woman experience together. See the preceding notes for translation examples.

7:13c

that I have treasured up for you, my beloved.

My love, I have saved them for you alone.
that I have kept/reserved for you, my darling.

that I have treasured up for you, my beloved: The clause that I have treasured up for you, my beloved refers back to “every delicacy” in 7:13b. They represent the delights of love, so here the woman indicated that she keeps the delights of her love for the man she loves. Her romantic love is reserved only for him.

Some other ways to translate 7:13c are:

Darling, I have kept for you… (GNT)

which I have saved for you alone, my beloved.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-unknown

הַֽ⁠דּוּדָאִ֣ים נָֽתְנוּ־רֵ֗יחַ