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Sng C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8

Sng 7 V1 V2 V3 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13

OET interlinear SNG 7:4

◄ ← SNG 7:4 ↓ → ► ║ ©

Hebrew word order

    1. Hebrew word
    2. Hebrew lemma
    3. OET-LV words
    4. OET-RV words
    5. Strongs
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. Gloss
    8. CAPS codes
    9. OET tags
    10. OET word #
    2. 405747
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -
    8. S
    9. -
    10. 283284
    1. שְׁנֵי
    2. 405748
    3. the two of
    4. -
    5. 8147
    6. S-Acmdc
    7. the_two_of
    8. -
    9. Y-1014
    10. 283285
    1. שָׁדַיִ,ךְ
    2. 405749,405750
    3. breasts of your
    4. -
    6. S-Ncmdc,Sp2fs
    7. breasts_of,your
    8. -
    9. Y-1014
    10. 283286
    1. כִּ,שְׁנֵי
    2. 405751,405752
    3. +are like two of
    4. -
    5. 8147
    6. P-R,Acmdc
    7. [are]_like,two_of
    8. -
    9. Y-1014
    10. 283287
    1. עֳפָרִים
    2. 405753
    3. fawns
    4. -
    5. 6082
    6. P-Ncmpa
    7. fawns
    8. -
    9. Y-1014
    10. 283288
    1. תָּאֳמֵי
    2. 405754
    3. twins of
    4. -
    5. 8380
    6. P-Ncmpc
    7. twins_of
    8. -
    9. Y-1014
    10. 283289
    1. צְבִיָּה
    2. 405755
    3. a gazelle
    4. -
    5. 6646
    6. P-Ncfsa
    7. a_gazelle
    8. -
    9. Y-1014
    10. 283290
    2. 405756
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-sof-pasuq
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 283291

OET (OET-LV) [fn] the_two_of breasts_of_your are_like_two_of fawns twins_of a_gazelle.

7:4 Note: KJB: Song.7.3

OET (OET-RV) Your neck is like a tower of ivory.
 ⇔ Your eyes are pools in Heshbon
 ⇔ by the gate of Bath Rabbim.
 ⇔ Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon,
 ⇔ looking to the face of Damascus.

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 7:1–10 The man praised the woman and she responded

In 7:1–9a the man sang another praise song to the woman, and then she responded in 7:9b–10. Here the man used a different order to describe her beauty. He began with her feet and moved upward to her head as the final focus. In other descriptions (4:1–5, 5:10–16, and 6:4–7) he began with the head and moved downward. Here, he described several parts of her body that he described earlier in the book (neck, eyes, breasts, hair, and head), and he mentioned some other parts for the first time. Notice that 7:3 is identical to 4:5a.

Scholars differ about whether the woman was dancing in this section. In 6:13 the woman said that she did not want spectators to look at her as though she were a dancer. In 7:1–10 the man did not describe her movements, but only her physical features. So, she was probably not dancing in this unit. Some scholars think that she was naked or dressed in transparent clothing, but that idea is not supported in the text.

These verses have many metaphors and similes, and scholars differ about how to interpret some of them. The Notes will discuss each one and give translation suggestions.

7:4a

Your neck is like a tower made of ivory;

Your neck is like a tower made of ivory: Here the man compared the woman’s neck to a tower, as he also did in 4:4. In 4:4 he compared her neck to the tower of David. Here he compared it to an ivory tower. Ivory is smooth and beautiful, so the comparison indicates that the woman’s neck was beautiful. A tower is straight and strong, and that comparison implies that she had a good character. She was firm and dignified.

Some other ways to translate the comparison are:

Your neck is as beautiful as an ivory tower (NLT)

Your neck is like a tower made of precious/pure ivory

7:4b

your eyes are like the pools of Heshbon

your eyes are like the pools of Heshbon: In this clause the man compared the woman’s eyes to pools (of water) of Heshbon. The text does not specify how her eyes were like pools. It may imply that her eyes reflected light like the water in the pools reflected it. The light shines on the water and makes it sparkle, and her eyes also sparkled like that.It is also possible that the comparison emphasizes the depth and mystery of her eyes, just as the pools in Heshbon are deep and mysterious. Here is another way to translate this:

Your eyes are like the sparkling pools in Heshbon. (NLT)

Heshbon: Heshbon was a city located in the land of Moab. It was east of the Jordan River valley. It may be helpful in your translation to indicate that Heshbon is a city.For more information about Heshbon, see the article by Lawrence T. Geraty in Anchor Bible Dictionary, Volume 3, pages 181–82. For example:

in the city of Heshbon (GNT)

7:4c

by the gate of Bath-rabbim;

by the gate of Bath-rabbim: The phrase by the gate of Bath-rabbim is part of an extended metaphor that describes the pools in Heshbon in 7:4b. This phrase does not describe the woman’s eyes. It tells where the “pools of Heshbon” were located. They were near the city gate called Bath-rabbim.

Some other ways to translate the phrase by the gate of Bath-rabbim are:

by the Bath-rabbim gate

near the city gate that people call Bath-rabbim Gate

7:4d

your nose is like the tower of Lebanon,

7:4e

facing toward Damascus.

7:4d-e

your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, facing toward Damascus: The clause your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, facing toward Damascus is a simile. It compares the woman’s nose to a tower in a particular place. Scholars have different views about what the word tower refers to here:

  1. It refers to a particular tower at or near Damascus. For example:

    Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon looking toward Damascus. (NIV) (BSB, NIV, NAB, NASB, NET, NJB, NJPS, NLT, GNT)

  2. It refers to any tower in Lebanon that overlooks Damascus. For example:

    Your nose is like a Lebanese tower facing Damascus. (GW) (RSV, ESV, GW)

  3. It refers to a mountain near Damascus. For example:

    Your nose is like the mountain of Lebanon that looks down on Damascus. (NCV) (CEV, NCV, REB)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with most English versions. Notice that the author also used a tower to describe the woman’s neck in 7:4a. There he referred to any tower made of ivory, but here in 7:4d he probably referred to a specific tower.

your nose is like the tower of Lebanon: Here the author compares the woman’s nose to a particular tower in the region of Lebanon. If a person stood on the tower, he could see the city of Damascus.

The author did not tell how the woman’s nose is like that tower. However, the tower was probably elegant, beautiful, and majestic. In some languages it may be necessary to make the comparison more explicit. For example:

Your nose is as fine as the tower of Lebanon overlooking Damascus. (NLT)

Your nose is as lovely as the tower of Lebanon that stands guard at Damascus.

tower of Lebanon: The phrase tower of Lebanon refers to a tower in the region of Lebanon. The word tower was used in 4:4. For more information on how to translate this word, see the note there.

Lebanon: Lebanon is mentioned in 3:9; 4:8, 11, 15; and 5:15. You should spell it in the same way in each of these places. For more information about Lebanon, see the note on “from Lebanon” in 4:8a–b.

facing toward Damascus: The phrase facing toward Damascus describes the tower of Lebanon, not the woman’s nose. This phrase indicates that the tower of Lebanon was near the city of Damascus so that people could look down from the tower and see the city. It may imply that the tower helped citizens to guard Damascus. When they climbed the tower, they could see whether an enemy was coming. Other ways to translate the phrase are:

from which guards/protectors can look down on the city o? Damascus

that stands guard at Damascus (GNT)

where a soldier/person can see if enemies are coming and warn the people of Damascus

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

צַוָּארֵ֖⁠ךְ כְּ⁠מִגְדַּ֣ל הַ⁠שֵּׁ֑ן

(Some words not found in UHB: two_of breasts_of,your [are]_like,two_of fawns twins_of gazelle )

The man is saying that the woman’s neck is like a tower that is adorned with ivory (not made of ivory) because the woman’s neck is beautiful, tall, and slender. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. 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]

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

הַ⁠שֵּׁ֑ן

(Some words not found in UHB: two_of breasts_of,your [are]_like,two_of fawns twins_of gazelle )

See how you translated the term ivory in [5:14](../05/14.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

עֵינַ֜יִ⁠ךְ בְּרֵכ֣וֹת בְּ⁠חֶשְׁבּ֗וֹן עַל־שַׁ֨עַר֙ בַּת־רַבִּ֔ים

(Some words not found in UHB: two_of breasts_of,your [are]_like,two_of fawns twins_of gazelle )

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. It may be that the woman’s eyes sparkle or shine in the light like when light shines on water, that her eyes look mysterious and deep (and possibly dark) like a deep pool of water, or that her eyes reflect light like a pool of water. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. 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]

Note 4 topic: translate-names

בְּ⁠חֶשְׁבּ֗וֹן

(Some words not found in UHB: two_of breasts_of,your [are]_like,two_of fawns twins_of gazelle )

The word Heshbon is the name of a city.

Note 5 topic: translate-names

עַל־שַׁ֨עַר֙ בַּת־רַבִּ֔ים

(Some words not found in UHB: two_of breasts_of,your [are]_like,two_of fawns twins_of gazelle )

Bath Rabbim is the name of this gate. Alternate translation: [by the gate called Bath Rabbim] or [by the gate that people call Bath Rabbim]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

אַפֵּ⁠ךְ֙ כְּ⁠מִגְדַּ֣ל הַ⁠לְּבָנ֔וֹן צוֹפֶ֖ה פְּנֵ֥י דַמָּֽשֶׂק

(Some words not found in UHB: two_of breasts_of,your [are]_like,two_of fawns twins_of gazelle )

The man is saying that the woman’s nose is like the tower of Lebanon that faces toward the city of Damascus because the woman’s nose was high and/or long (attractive in that culture) and beautiful and made her look dignified and impressive like the tower of Lebanon. This tower was high and was used as a military watch tower. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state the meaning explicitly. 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]

TSN Tyndale Study Notes:

7:4 sparkling pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim: The pools of Heshbon, formed by a brook, can still be seen today near the ruins of Heshbon on the east coast of the Dead Sea.
• The tower of Lebanon is probably a metaphor for Mount Hermon, a high mountain that overlooks the valley of Damascus, the capital of Syria. The majestic beauty of the woman’s nose rises above her other facial features.

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

    1. OET-LV words
    2. OET-RV words
    3. Strongs
    4. Hebrew word
    5. Hebrew lemma
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. Gloss
    8. CAPS codes
    9. OET tags
    10. OET word #
    1. the two of
    2. -
    3. 7502
    5. 405748
    6. S-Acmdc
    8. -
    9. Y-1014
    10. 283285
    1. breasts of your
    2. -
    3. 7692,1978
    5. 405749,405750
    6. S-Ncmdc,Sp2fs
    8. -
    9. Y-1014
    10. 283286
    1. +are like two of
    2. -
    3. 3418,7502
    5. 405751,405752
    6. P-R,Acmdc
    8. -
    9. Y-1014
    10. 283287
    1. fawns
    2. -
    3. 6065
    5. 405753
    6. P-Ncmpa
    8. -
    9. Y-1014
    10. 283288
    1. twins of
    2. -
    3. 8394
    5. 405754
    6. P-Ncmpc
    8. -
    9. Y-1014
    10. 283289
    1. a gazelle
    2. -
    3. 6476
    5. 405755
    6. P-Ncfsa
    8. -
    9. Y-1014
    10. 283290

OET (OET-LV) [fn] the_two_of breasts_of_your are_like_two_of fawns twins_of a_gazelle.

7:4 Note: KJB: Song.7.3

OET (OET-RV) Your neck is like a tower of ivory.
 ⇔ Your eyes are pools in Heshbon
 ⇔ by the gate of Bath Rabbim.
 ⇔ Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon,
 ⇔ looking to the face of Damascus.

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 logo mark

◄ ← SNG 7:4 ↑ → ► ║ ©